Therapy Associates offers a social skills therapy group for elementary school age children.  This group is held each Wednesday from 4pm to 5:30pm.  This weekly program combines traditional group therapy with an activity based, interactive social skills curriculum.  Each session includes a social skills lesson and an experiential application activity.  The curriculum is based on evidence based research in working with children struggling with social issues. Topics addressed in the treatment include:

 -          Dealing with Anger

 -          Problem Solving
-          Accepting Change
-          Following Instructions
-          Using Self-Control

-          Accepting Consequences

-          Dealing with Failure

-          Improving Self-Image

-          Listening

-          Thinking Before Acting

 Plus many other important social skills.

The objective of the group is to create experiential learning.  Children often gain more from experiential learning than from traditional clinical office therapy.  This group serves as a “laboratory” allowing children to experience emotional discomfort and then given opportunities to process the emotion and develop improved coping skills.

Parents are encouraged to augment the children’s group therapy with family therapy sessions as well.  It is recommended that the parents participate in a family therapy session one time per month with their child and the therapist to review and evaluate progress and troubleshoot problems at home and at school.  You can schedule therapy sessions with your child’s therapist at any time.  The therapists will make efforts to keep parents updated on their child’s progress in therapy. 

This is an open-ended group for elementary school age children.  The curriculum includes 16 specific social skills lessons.  Children are encouraged to attend the group as long as they and their parents feel that it is beneficial.