Navigating the Teen Scene
Adolescence can be a confusing time for teens and their families, a period when social development and status with peers are essential. For teenagers with social challenges, this time can be an even more puzzling and intense. This is a crucial time to teach Social Thinking ® and how it relates to independence and self-esteem.* At Communication Works (CW), we believe that it is important to provide our adolescents with specific tools and strategies and carefully teach these skills in a fun and supportive manner.
Communication Works’ social learning services teach teens to communicate and connect in order to build and maintain personal relationships. Our weekly groups offer a safe and relaxed setting in which those of similar abilities and ages can discuss and practice social learning concepts and strategies. Individual sessions focus on specific goals developed by the client and therapist.
Our Program
Sessions explore a wide range of topics involved in life, school, and work situations:
- Building friendships and relationships
- Understanding the hidden social rules
- Understanding nonverbal language
- Social networking
- Conversational skills
- Problem solving and negotiating
- College preparation
- Organization and time management
- Interviewing and job skills
- Building self-esteem and confidence
- Anxiety management
We help our clients understand the hidden social rules and learn perspective-taking (reading the thoughts of others) in order to adapt to their social world.
Structure
Our social learning groups and individual sessions meet 1–2 times weekly under the guidance of an experienced, licensed, and certified therapist. Groups end with a parent/caregiver wrap-up to inform and help parents/caregivers guide their children into being as independent as possible in their ever-changing social world.
Social groups are especially designed for teens needing help with the various transitions in life:
- Preparation for high school or college – social networking, navigating “the scene,” friendship skills
- School admissions and/or job preparation – interviewing skills, conversational skills, presenting “your best self”
- Preparation for independent living – self-advocacy skills, making healthy choices, time management, building confidence
“Build bridges instead of walls and you will have a friend.” - Anonymous
"Thanks for seeing me. Frankly, things have been going great lately. Yesterday I got an email from a girl who said she wants to see a movie with me sometime, and today a couple of guys in my class were talking about going out to lunch tomorrow, so I asked if I could come and they said yes. Hallelujah! I listened about what you said about making an action plan, and I have you to thank for my success. Thank you, A." - 16-year old teen boy
Click here to download Teen flyer (PDF)
*Treatment based on ideas created by Michelle Garcia Winner, www.socialthinking.com