Parent-assisted intervention focusing on adolescents who are having difficulty making or keeping friends offered in a 16-week class program for adolescents attending middle school or high school.
How does all this work?
The intervention includes separate parent and adolescent sessions that meet at the same time for 90 minutes each week over a 16-week period.
The group focuses on skills such as:
- How to use appropriate conversational skills
- How to choose appropriate friends
- How to appropriately use electronic forms of communication
- How to appropriately use humor and assess humor feedback
- How to start, enter and exit conversations between peers
- How to organize successful get-togethers with friends
- How to be a good sport when playing games/sports with friends
- How to handle arguments and disagreements with friends and in relationships
- How to handle rejection, teasing, bullying, rumors/gossip, and cyber bullying
- How to change a bad reputation
Parents and adolescents are required to do homework assignments each week so they can generalize what they learn in session to home, community, and school environments. This is done in order to gain assurance that parents and adolescents are engaging with each other through effective communication. Creating learning patterns that will last is the goal of the homework given each week.
What Can I Expect?
Adolescents will meet in a small group format and receive specific instruction dealing with various behavioral tendencies.
Concrete rules and steps of social etiquette are presented in lessons that include role-playing and modeling for both appropriate and inappropriate behaviors. Adolescents rehearse the lesson taught and receive in-session coaching by multiple social coaches. Homework is then given at the end of each lesson that will include real life practice to better emphasize learning these important social skills.
Parent sessions are held at the same time as the adolescent sessions. It is mandatory that at least one parent consistently attend the program every week. The parent group provides social coaching, assistance with the generalization of skills learned each week, and guidance on interpersonal problem solving.
By the middle of the intervention, parents will often report, “My teen no longer stays in his room when company comes, but comes out to interact more.” By the end of the intervention, many teens will be having regular get-togethers with small groups of peers.
Who Can Benefit?
Our program is helpful for adolescents diagnosed with:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- ADHD
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Social Phobias
- Bipolar Disorder
- OCD
In addition to diagnosed disorders, our program has also been proven beneficial for shy, introverted or socially awkward adolescents.
Call Us Today to Change Your Adolescent’s Life Tomorrow
Call today for a free prescreening phone interview to establish your adolescent’s appropriateness for this program. Adolescents must have motivation to attend and adequate verbal skills to ensure the ability to follow the lessons presented. At least one parent must agree to attend classes each week and assist with the completion of homework.
Together, we will work with you as a team to accomplish your adolescent’s ultimate goal – making friends!
Click here for our adolescent brochure.
Application Pre-requisites:
What are the participation requirements?
- Have friendship problems
- Adolescents in middle school or high school
- Adolescents agree to participate in the program voluntarily
- Adolescents must consistently attend the program
- Parent must be willing to participate
Application Process:
- Call our office at (714) 658-0797 to complete phone screen and arrange to receive an enrollment packet.
- Complete and return enrollment packet.
- Attend an intake appointment (parent and adolescent) for 30 – 45 minute intake appointment to determine if our program is appropriate for you and your adolescent.
Middle School Dates and Availability
Duration: 16 weeks
Planned Terms: Year Round
High School Dates and Availability
Duration: 16 weeks
Planned Terms: Year Round