Expert perspective; social skills groups for children and teens with special needs
The Autism News | English
By Dr. Kari Miller | LA Special Education Examiner
In this edition of expert corner, Dr. Jennifer Cassatly, Psy.D., Los Angeles clinical psychologist, discusses social skills groups.
What are social skills and why are they important to kids?
Social skills allow us to make and maintain friendships and to react appropriately to others in social settings such as in school, at home and in the community. These skills also permit us to understand body language and facial expressions so that we receive feedback about how others are feeling and reacting to us.
Well-developed social skills improve relationships with others and allow us to effectively interact with our environment. Social skills help us know what is appropriate to say or do in various settings. Social skills are also important in the development of empathy for others and in sharing and being a member of a team. They help us handle conflicts and disagreements.
What are benefits of social skills groups?
When children have difficulty interacting with others, their feelings of self-worth usually suffer. They may also experience difficulty with school work if they become worried or anxious about friendships. For these children and teens, social skills groups are a wonderful way for them to learn successful interaction patterns that lead to improved relationships. Children with better developed social skills tend to be better liked by peers, have more positive interactions with teachers and others they with whom they interact, and tend to be happier than those children who struggle with social skills.
What are social skills groups?
Social skills groups are an ideal setting to help children and teens develop adaptive social skills in a positive and structured small group of peers of the same age. Members have common social challenges, and through their interactions with one another, they acquire more adaptive interpersonal skills as well as increased self-confidence and greater understanding of their environment. They have the chance to learn from one another, practice new patterns of interaction, increase their self-awareness of their own feelings, and recognize the emotional states of others.
Who benefits from participating in social skills groups?
All children and adolescents can benefit from group interaction. In particular, children and teens who profit the most are those who struggle with: behavior problems, shyness, low self-confidence, forming friendships, social or separation anxiety, sharing or playing well with others, or have been diagnosed with a developmental delay such as autism or Asperger’s Disorder.
What happens in social skills groups?
Children and teens have the opportunity to interact with each other and receive feedback about their behavior. The adult facilitator teaches children proper ways to interact with other members and structures the interactions so that the children learn appropriate interaction patterns.
How can I evaluate and select an appropriate social skills group for my child?
Since there are a many types of social challenges that children and teens experience, parents should identify particular goals for their child before beginning to look for a social skills group. A potential group should have goals that are consistent with your child’s needs. It is also important for parents to find out what types of counseling techniques and activities are provided by the leader. It is important to be sure that the therapist is a licensed psychologist and has training in leading therapy groups and in working with children your child’s age.
How can I find a social skills group for my child?
There are many groups being offered in Los Angeles but it is sometimes hard to find them. You can check with your school to learn if any groups are being offered. If they don’t have any active social skills groups, ask them to refer to you someone in the community. You can ask your pediatrician or any other professionals for referrals. You may be able to find social skills groups through local community agencies.
How can I check the credentials of a psychologist providing social skills training?
These sites can be useful in verifying a therapist’s license and determining if they have had any complaints against them:
For marriage and Family Therapists (MFT) and Licensed Social Workers (LCSW)
Dr. Cassatly is a clinical psychologist in LA. She provides group counseling (including social skills groups for children age 8 to 10 and pre-teens), individual counseling for children and adults, and psychological testing. She is a part-time professor in the School of Education at Loyola Marymount University and has been actively involved in A Home Within, a non-profit organization serving youth in foster care. She can be contacted via her website.
Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-10067-LA-Special-Education-Examiner~y2009m6d22-Expert-perspective-social-skills-groups-for-children-and-teens-with-special-needs
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