Social Skills and Therapeutic Support Groups

The Center offers a variety of social skills groups and peer pairs for young children, adolescents and teens with autism, PDD or Asperger's syndrome. These unique groups provide an opportunity for children and adolescents to interact with others in a structured play setting to learn basic friendship skills, such as using eye contact, greeting others, perspective taking, taking turns and practicing conversation.

In addition to children’s groups, the Center also runs therapeutic support groups for parents and teens. These groups help individuals and couples process their feelings and get input from others who are experiencing similar things in their lives.

Current support groups offered:
(Cost: $30 per person)
Mondays
July 16 & 23
Support and Resource Group for Parents of Children with Autism Ages 0-4
6-7:30 p.m.

Current social skills groups offered:
(Cost: $360 due first day of class - $60/session)

Need help registering? Give us a call at (630) 305-4196 or email lfca@lilfriends.com

Mondays

May 7-June 18 (excluding May 28)
I Can Do It
4-5 p.m.
Ages: 6-7

Conversation Skills
5:15-6:15 p.m.
Ages: 10 1/2 -12

June 18-July 30 (excluding July 9)
CLAP
12-12:45 p.m.
Ages: 3-4

Tuesdays

May 1-June 5
Teen Group
5-6 p.m.
6-7 p.m.

Mondays & Wednesdays

June 25-July 18 (excluding July 2 & 4)
Cooking Skills
4:30-5:45 p.m.
Ages: Teens

Wednesdays

May 9-June 20 (excluding May 30)
Ladder of Friendship
4-5 p.m.
Ages: 8 1/2 -10

Feelings Detective
5:15-6:15 p.m.
Ages: 10-11

Thursdays

June 14-July 26 (excluding July 5)
Teen Group
3-4 p.m.
4-5 p.m.

Additional groups can be formed based on age and interest, please apply.

Apply Today

Need help registering? Give us a call at (630) 305-4196 or email lfca@lilfriends.com

Social Skills Groups- click HERE for an application

Therapeutic Support Groups- click HERE for an application

Descriptions of Social Skills & Support Groups

Groups may not be running currently, but can be formed based upon interest. To submit an application, please click on the links above.

Social Detective
As part of this social group, participants will learn to identify the facial expressions for different emotions; what makes them feel that emotion; how others might feel when they display that emotion; and what they can do when they feel that emotion. A special workbook goes along with this group and parents are given activities to work on at home.

Preschool CLAP Group
The Preschool CLAP (Communication, Language, And Play) group is for children ages 3-4 with Autism, PDD and other related conditions. The group will focus on building communication skills, following routines, and participating in play-based activities such as songs, games, and sensory play.

Functional Life Skills Social Group – Kitchen Skills
This group is for teens with High Functioning Autism/Asperger’s who like to eat, but lack skills in the kitchen. The group will focus on participants learning their way around the kitchen by following a recipe, using tools and small appliances, and cleaning up afterwards.

Friendship Group - Conversation Skills
This group will work on conversation skills such as how to recognize when: someone is confused about what you are saying, recognizing when someone does not believe you, judging when to give another person the opportunity to talk, introducing a new topic, figuring out how to be a part of the conversation through body language, understanding facial expressions and gestures, and learning how to give and accept compliments. Participants will learn to create file folders in their heads about the likes and dislikes of the people they most frequently interact with. Working together, they will make and serve a simple snack. Each session ends with playing a turn-taking game.

Friendship Groups "I Can Do It"
Children will work on a number of essential skills when participating in the Center's Friendship Groups. Our younger participants will practice appropriate behaviors during challenging situations such as losing a game, working as a team, trying something new, and going to and having a birthday party. Our older students will work on Conversation Skills such as when to start a conversation; knowing when someone is interested in talking and when they are not; how to start a conversation, how to stay on topic; and how to maintain a conversation. All sessions will end with a fun structured group activity.

“We Can Make It Better” Dealing With Conflict Resolution
These groups will have children and adolescents practicing problem solving around conflict resolution regarding problems they may face in everyday life. The groups will read stories where they identify problem behavior and each child will determine how to make the situation better. The story will then be rewritten showing how the problem was resolved. The children will role play the new story. Parents will receive materials so they can practice the skills at home.

Teen Social Groups
The Teen Social Group is a structured group utilizing the Social Thinking concepts in which participants learn how to communicate effectively in a supportive social environment. Activities will include role play, video modeling, and community outings.

Peer Pairs
Peer Pairs are ideal for children who are not quite ready to socialize as part of one of our existing structured groups. As part of a peer pair, two children will be matched up to work on social skills. Children or adolescents will be selected for peer pairs that have similar needs to maximize the therapy time.

Playdate
This group will be developing the skills to have a friend over to play - greeting, sharing, turn taking, staying with a friend, flexibility in how a game or activity is done. During group, we will have snack and play a board game as well.

Therapeutic Support Groups for Parents, Couples and Individuals With ASD
Facilitated by a licensed counselor, the focus of these groups will be to discuss issues, feelings and emotions with other parents and/or couples. Parents will meet others who can relate to their situations and explore common situations in their families. In the group, parents will have the opportunity to work through problems they face every day in the schools, at home, with extended family and in the community. The ultimate goal of the group will be to identify the positive aspects of each family in order to best support both the family and child’s needs.

Confidence & Bully Prevention
The participants in this social group will be learning why a person is a bully and how to deal with them. While the group members are learning about "bully proofing" themselves they will develop tools for self-advocacy. Group members will also enjoy a snack, conversation, working together, and playing a board game.

Additional support groups are available for individuals with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism, PDD or Asperger's syndrome.