social skills therapy
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social skills therapy
| Fri, 02-23-2007 - 1:36pm |
Hi- I'm relatively new to this board. I have a 7 year old son in between a few diagnonis'(sp)...but somewhere on the spectrum. We just started seeing a psychologist, and he has recommended social skills therapy.
Has your child been involved in this type of therapy, and did it help?
Thanks in advance for any input you can offer! =)

Our 9 year old aspie has been receiving social skills therapy in school and it's helped him a lot. He works with the speech therapist once a week and the district's autism consultant once a week. The SLP works with him on social language skills. (i.e. what is and isn't appropriate to say to somebody, understanding idioms, etc.) The AC works with him on how to approach potential friends, how to read body language, etc. The AC also calls out 2 or 3 of his more understanding classmates and they work as a group.
Of all of the different therapies he's received over the last 4 years, I'd say this has been the most valuable. At first, I didn't understand how anybody could be "taught" how to be socially appropriate, but we've seen major improvements.
The best part is that it's helped his confidence.
Amy
Yes, we have also had our 9 year old in lots of social skills groups and therapies, and I would rank this very high in what had helped him become so successful at having and keeping friends, and also now able to manage in more socially challenging settings with more socially advanced peers. Ds has had lots of practise in focused settings with assistance from therapists and it seriously does transfer to being on his own.
The therapies have varied from 2 kids to 5 or 6 kids, board games to conversation skills and role-playing what to do when in tough situations, art projects and cooperative projects to simpler eye contact, physical coordination, ball-tossing share-the-fun type activities. I also think some of his school social skills groups have worked on politeness, body space, societal rules, etc.
Sara
My DS (12) is also about to start some social skills training with his Child Psych. I am encouraged to hear some of you have had a positive experience with it.
Helen :)
Aussie Mum to Addison (HFA, OCD, TS, ADHD Nov94) & Eloise (NT May2000)
Thanks for all the responses.!
I am really excited for him to start this group.
He tries to be social in his own way...=) but sometimes
his approach isn't always appropriate! Hopefully this will help him.
I have a 3 yr old who has play group therepy. I am very pleased w/his progress. I really hope since he is so young that this will take a huge part of kindergarden.
Good Luck
Nora
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