Social Skills Groups
Social Skills: Child Group (Ages 6-12)
LittleStar’s child social skills group is a 10-week social skills intervention for autistic school-age children who are interested in learning how to make and keep friends. During each group session, the children are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialization activities. Skills include back-and forth conversation, finding common interests, sportsmanship, sharing, handling disagreements, and more. Parents attend three separate sessions throughout the course of group treatment and are taught how to assist their children in making and keeping friends. Parents will provide feedback through coaching during weekly socialization homework assignments and will help the children use their learned skills to foster new relationships. Social skills group may be appropriate for children with autism spectrum disorder who have a desire to make friends. A virtual screening with the child present will assess your child’s interests and goals and determine if they are a good fit for group. Parent participation is required and participant assent will be obtained prior to and throughout group.
Social Emotional Learning Child Group (ages 6-12)
LittleStar’s Social Emotional Learning group is a 12 week intervention for autistic children. The group dives into concepts from the AIM curriculum to discover new coping skills and mindfulness strategies. Skills are presented through direct instruction, hands on tasks, and role playing. This course fuses mindfulness, acceptance and commitment therapy, and applied behavior analysis to help children engage in Acceptance, Identify their values, and Move towards their goals! AIM group may be appropriate for children with autism spectrum disorder that have difficulty working through their emotions. A virtual screening with the child present will assess your child’s interests and goals and determine if they are a good fit for group. Parent participation is required and participant assent will be obtained prior to and throughout group.
PEERS Social Group for Teens (Ages 13-17)
PEERS for Adolescents is a 16-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated autistic teens in middle and high school who are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends. During each group session, teens are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialization activities. Lesson topics include finding common interests, using electronic communication, using and responding to humor, entering and exiting conversations, being a good host during get togethers, being a good sport, handling arguments and disagreements, changing a bad reputation, responding to bullying/ harassment, and more. Parents attend separate sessions at the same time and are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends by helping to expand their teen’s social network and providing feedback through coaching during weekly socialization homework assignments. Parent participation is required and participant assent will be obtained prior to and throughout group.
PEERS for Adults (ages 18+)
PEERS for Adults is a 14-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated autistic adults who are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends. During each group session, adults are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills during socialization activities. Topics include finding friends, beginning and ending conversations, coping skills, using and responding to humor, hosting get-togethers, dating etiquette, financial literacy, job etiquette, conflict resolution, and more. A trusted adult is strongly encouraged to attend separate sessions 3 times throughout the course and are taught how to advocate for and assist the adult with content discussed including navigating relationships, understanding their rights, promoting safety, and helping practice skills discussed in group. Participant assent is required and will be obtained prior to and throughout group.
Social Skills Group Interest Form
Need More Info?
For more information on upcoming events, click the links below or contact Jennifer Baker at [email protected].
Or call 317-495-5302
Meet our Staff
Jennifer Baker, MA, BCBA
Psychological Services Director
Jennifer is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with 9 years of experience in the field working with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental delays. Jennifer oversees our initial assessments for ABA treatment, social skills groups for all ages, and parent training webinars at LittleStar. She received her undergraduate degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a minor in Human Sexuality from Indiana University and completed her master’s program at Ball State University in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
Jennifer’s background is in community-based services where she consulted with teachers and school faculty across the Indianapolis area to facilitate successful transitions for LittleStar learners to school and community settings. Her clinical interests include interdisciplinary collaboration, social skills training, group and classroom-based interventions, and the fusion of acceptance and commitment therapy with applied behavior analysis. She is a passionate human rights advocate who believes in every learner’s right to live a happy, safe, and independent life.
For more information on upcoming events, click the links below or contact Jennifer Baker at [email protected].
Or call 317-495-5302