Social Thinking® Groups
San Diego, CA
Our Approach to Social Communication for Socially Quirky Clients
Our approach is very relationship-based. There is an emphasis on putting groups of kids together based on their personalities, interests, strengths, and challenges. This creates groups that are energetic, fun, and lively.
Our experience is that the value of social groups is as much about having peers who are excited to see them and the friendships that are formed, as much as it is about the concepts and strategies we teach.
Parents and caregivers are a critical part of our clinic. Most parents end up forming close connections and getting their kids together outside of group meetings. The waiting room often becomes an informal support group for parents where they can talk and connect with each other while their children are in their sessions.
What Your Child Will Learn in a Social Communication Group
​We understand the social challenges kids face today. In order to have healthy friendships, kids need to understand not just the “how”, but the “why”
of social interactions. Groups focus on skills such as:
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Make and keep friends in ways that are expected for their age
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Participate in the back-and-forth of conversations
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Be a more effective problem solver
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Determine the motive and intent of others
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Work collaboratively as part of a group in school
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Advocate for their needs
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Use strategies to improve emotional regulation
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At the heart of what we teach is the understanding that we think about people when we are around them. Then we modify our behaviors based on what we think they may be thinking about us!
What to Expect When You Join a Social Communication Group
Social groups typically consist of 4-6 similar-age students. A typical group meeting includes:
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A check-in time with each other when students can talk about what they've been doing since we met the previous week
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A chance to bring up any specific topics or issues they'd like to talk about
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Dedicate time for instruction of social communication concepts (tailored to the needs of the students in the group so it will look different for each group)
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Collaborative and fun group activities such as games, collaborative Lego building, and just hanging out and talking (for teens)
At the end of our sessions, we check in and debrief with parents while students hang out in an area with beanbag chairs and a couch and talk or watch cartoons
One-on-One Therapy for Executive Functioning
San Diego, CA
Our Approach to Working on Executive Function Skills
Sessions typically take place weekly, for one hour. During the first 4 weeks of therapy, we focus on:
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Learning how to break large assignments into smaller tasks
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How to schedule tasks on a calendar (digital or paper)
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How to estimate how long an assignment may take and figure out if the student tends to think things will take more or less time than they actually do
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Tracking time on an analog clock to develop the ability to feel the passage of time and determine a start, midway, and end point on the clock
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Addressing procrastination and motivation when needed
As we progress through therapy, we eventually have students bring in their backpacks, laptops, and assignments and we show them how to implement the different strategies/tools we have been teaching.
What Your Child Will Learn in Therapy for Executive Functioning
​We understand how executive function challenges can impact success at school, work, and socially. challenges kids face today. In order to address the full picture, we use proven tools and strategies in real-life scenarios to build skills that students need today and throughout their entire lives. One-on-one therapy for executive functioning focuses on overarching skills such as:
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Time management
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Identifying and managing distractions, increasing attention
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Managing tasks and meeting deadlines
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Prioritize tasks and activities effectively
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Strategies and tools to decrease procrastination
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Problem-solving
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Self-advocacy and self-awareness