Key Skill Groups

Each of the following groups is broken down into 6-week modules which allows for new children to join in every 6 weeks. It is likely, however, that all modules in a particular key skill area will be necessary in order to address your child’s needs. Games and activities are used to teach these specific skills, along with discussion and role-plays. Homework is assigned at each session and reviewed the following session in order to help your child practice the key skills in his or her daily life. The groups meet for 50 minutes and the last 10 minutes is a parent check-in. Each group is composed of 3-5 children. Please contact Dr. Rich for the current group schedule.

Curriculums

Social Communication

• Conversational Skills (greetings, starting conversations, ending conversations, interrupting, changing topics, knowing if someone is bored vs. interested)
• Play Language (how to join in, how to say “no” nicely, how to accept “no” for an answer, expressing an opinion, listening to other’s ideas, giving compliments, showing interest in a friend)
• Conflict Negotiation (social problem-solving, techniques for taking turns, expressing emotion during conflict, correcting a friend nicely, how to accept responsibility, apologizing, giving in gracefully)
• Social Cues (reading the face, reading the body, reading the voice tone, understanding sarcasm/jokes, perspective-taking, what social cues are you giving off?)

Coping Skills

• Recognizing Feeling States (in others, in own body, impact of thoughts, impact of behavior, emphasis on anger/frustration and anxiety)
• Relaxation (progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing, guided imagery to calm the mind, exercise/movement, relaxing activities)
• Combating Negative Thinking (recognizing negative thoughts, link between negative thoughts and emotions, link between negative thoughts and behavior, coping statements, seeing the glass half-full)
• General Strategies for Coping(talking it out, journaling, drawing, ways to “let it go”, distraction, picking your battles, planning ahead for problem situations)
• Matching the Technique to the Situation or Emotion (at school, at home, in public, on playdates, when angry, when sad, when anxious, when silly, when impulsive)

Mindfulness

• Breathing (various techniques for becoming aware of the breath, controlling the breath, understanding how breathing affects physiology, using the breath to center oneself). A focus on the breath allows for greater control over thought processes—which leads to greater control over behavior.
• 5 Senses (how to experience different sensations to the fullest, emphasis on listening activities). Slowing down regular, every day life events enables children to recognize various urges and impulses. Plus, being in the present moment helps to train attention and concentration.
• Movement (yoga, walking, exercise, and muscle relaxation). Allows children to use movement as a way to calm their minds and bodies.
• Managing Thoughts and Feelings (sitting with thoughts, sitting with feelings, acceptance of self, acceptance of others). Increases ability to self-regulate and cope with negative thoughts and feelings—how to let it go.

Girl Smarts

• Girl Talk (greetings, starting conversations, ending conversations, interrupting, changing topics, knowing if someone is bored vs. interested).
• Nuances of Girl Interactions (reading the face, reading the body, reading the voice tone, understanding sarcasm/jokes, perspective-taking, what social cues are you giving off?)
• Friendships (getting to know someone, determining levels of friendship, how to develop a friendship—not too slow, not too fast, qualities of a friend—in others and yourself, how to be a good hostess versus guest)
• Dealing with Mean Girls (self-esteem building including body image issues, how to handle teasing or rejection from other girls, recognizing appropriate and inappropriate social behavior in self and others, cliques—being on the inside and being on the outside)

Requirements

• Child age: 8-12 years old
• Intake is required
• Adult, preferably a parent, is present for the final 10 minutes of each group and responsible for your child’s homework completion.

Contact Dr. Rich for more information.