PEERS® or the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, is a social skills training intervention for adolescents and young adults. This program, developed by Elizabeth Laugeson at UCLA , has a strong evidence base for use with teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorders, but it is also appropriate for teens and young adults with ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socioemotional problems. Recent research has demonstrated that gains made over the course of this program are maintained 3-5 years later (Laugeson et al., 2013).
How do we enroll?
The first step in the process is to do a phone screen with just the parent(s). The phone screen is free, takes about 20-30 minutes, and gives us a chance to see if the group sounds like it could be a good fit. From there, we will meet for a 50-minute intake with the teen or young adult as well as the parent(s). To schedule a phone screen, please send us a message here: Contact Us
Can both parents participate in the weekly sessions?
Yes. One parent is required to come consistently each week as the primary "social coach." As long as this primary social coach is coming consistently, a second parent can attend as much or as little as they are able. Although parents sometimes substitute for each other, if needed, we strongly discourage this any more than 2 -3 times for the duration of the program, as having one consistent coach typically yields better outcomes for group members.
What are teen/young adult groups like?
They are often fun and engaging. Members of the group usually grow to enjoy – and sometimes even look forward! – to each meeting, feeling safe among like-minded youth, and learning through our weekly group activities.
What is the "learning environment" like?
Overall, we use a solution-focused and strengths-based approach. While presenting the new lesson each week, we use a "Socratic method" of teaching, which challenges group members to ask and answer questions, to think about other people's perspectives, and to understand why the social skills we teach are important. To help different types of learners, we utilize visual aids, role-play demonstrations, and structured practice opportunities. We are often able to provide group members with accommodations upon request to support their learning process, whenever possible.
What are parent/coach groups like?
Parents often find our "social coach" groups supportive and informative. The purpose of the parent group is to help parents understand how they can most effectively support their teens or young adults with learning and applying the skills in the real world outside of our group. Parents, in the role of "social coaches," will learn to help teens and young adults with using these skills in between our weekly meetings. Then, our ultimate goal is for parents to feel prepared to offer social coaching to their teen or young adult even after our program ends.
Do we take insurance?
Currently, we are only contracted with Kaiser for the PEERS® program. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to set up contracts with traditional insurance for comprehensive programs like this. PEERS® is similar to a semester course, a unique learning opportunity and a valuable long-term investment in your child’s social and emotional education.
1633 Fillmore Street Suite 107
Denver, CO 80206
720-645-8827
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