Does your child have difficulty connecting with others? Do they want to make friends but struggle?
For some, knowing what how to navigate social situations and figure out what is expected can be unnatural and/or very challenging. When a child struggles with reading or math, we may get them a tutor. For children with social skills difficulties, their challenges may linger while they are in need of support.
There are lots of reasons why children and teens may have less developed social skills. Some children may have been identified as being on the autistic spectrum, having ADHD, have been developmentally delayed or could just be socially immature. Our highly trained and experienced team of therapists utilize effective strategies to help kids build the critical skills. We use methods such as Social Thinking, a Cognitive-Behavioral oriented approach that can help kids understand social skills in a concrete and developmentally appropriate manner. Other techniques may include role playing, use of video modeling, and assertiveness training.
If you know or suspect your child is struggling socially and want to learn more about help that is available, please call (248) 851-5437 or text (248) 871-7622.
Working with one of our clinicians is a great way for your child to open up about their struggles to engage in meaningful friendships. Our therapists are deeply knowledgeable about social skill development and appropriate interventions to support your child in growing their social-emotional wheelhouse.
Great question! While a group setting is certainly beneficial, working on social skill development in individual therapy is valuable because the client receives one-on-one attention tailored to their specific set of needs. The therapist is able to solely focus on your child’s point of view, particular social challenges, and provide them with a very safe space to try new things, make mistakes, and grow from them.
Absolutely. Forming meaningful therapeutic relationships is where our therapists shine! In the beginning, meeting with a therapist might be intimidating, especially for an individual who struggles socially. But our clinicians are skilled at meeting the client where they are at and engaging them appropriately in a variety of activities aimed at building trust and openness in the therapy space. If it’s not the right fit with a therapist, our intake team will work diligently with you to find a better fit!
While our therapists do not diagnose autism formally, they are certainly able to make evidence-based recommendations tailored to your child’s specific situation and if you should seek further assessment. From there, our therapists will partner with assessment providers to better understand your child’s mental health and neurodivergence, in order to provide your family with the most appropriate treatment goals.