Social Skills Groups in NJ
Types of Social Skills Groups
Diagnosis
After discussing your medical history and specific therapy goals, our mental health counselors will work with you to determine which type of social skills group therapy is best suited to your mental health needs. Each group, whether social skills groups for young adults or children, is based on diagnoses and has its own specific therapy approaches and activities. This means these support groups will consist of clients who all have Autism, shyness, or another diagnosis.
Children & Teenagers
For children and teenagers who learn differently or have learning disabilities, picking up on social cues might be difficult without proper guidance and direction. Traditionally, society has taken it for granted that children learn social skills the same way. However, these assumptions are based on neurotypical children. As our understanding of human social development grows, our ability to help non-neurotypical children also grows. This is our focus in our social skills groups for young adults and children in NJ.
Adults
Recent developments in our understanding of the human being as a social organism can also help us teach non-neurotypical adults valuable social skills. Our therapists are trained to help non-neurotypical adults and adults with learning disabilities finally receive the appropriate intervention training they should have received as a child. We run groups designed to help adults cultivate the skills necessary to succeed in our modern world.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is an integral part of our social skills groups in NJ. This interactive type of therapy takes advantage of our human desire for play and companionship to teach clients valuable skills in a structured and safe space. Our mental health therapists specialize in play therapy. It is a fun and interactive way to develop social skills.
Therapy Based on Your Needs
At GATE, our licensed therapists work with you to devise the best plan for your needs. Trust us to help you reach your mental health goals.
How Do Social Skills Groups Work?
Social skills group is a type of group therapy that has members engage in activities, role-playing, and games designed to help participants learn various social cues, set and respect boundaries, and other skills vital to functioning in our society. Our mental health therapists create a safe environment for our clients to learn and practice these vital skills without fear of rejection or other adverse social consequences.
Who Can Benefit From Social Skills Groups?
Social skills groups can be especially useful for those who struggle with social skills due to a developmental disability or introverted personality. Our mental health experts thoroughly understand how various disabilities affect a person’s social skills, and they use these groups to target specific areas for improvement. We treat every client with compassion and patience as they work towards achieving their goals.
Autism
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability that can greatly affect a person’s ability to interact in social situations. Many people with ASD struggle to pick up on social cues and distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate public behavior. Social skills groups can give individuals with ASD an opportunity to build their social skills in a neutral environment.
ADHD
While ADHD is primarily viewed as a learning disability, it can also affect a person’s ability to focus in social situations for extended periods of time. People with ADHD also tend to interject in conversations because they can’t help from voicing thoughts as soon as they think of them. Social skills groups can teach people of all ages with ADHD how to remain patient in conversations and speak when it’s most appropriate.
Shyness
If you don’t struggle with a developmental disability but you find it difficult to be in social situations because of general shyness, social skills groups can help you break out of your shell. Whether you’re afraid of saying the wrong thing or you don’t want to seem bothersome, our mental health therapists can help show you that your voice deserves to be heard. We’ll build your confidence and help guide you toward a more social future.
Benefits of Social Skills Groups
Improved Communication
Both our child and adult clients learn improved communication skills in social skills therapy. Learning to communicate effectively can be difficult for people with learning disabilities or other non-neurotypical attributes. Our targeted and specifically tailored approach aids participants in social skills groups to develop vital communication skills in a safe and controlled setting.
Problem-Solving Skills
Through simulation, role-playing, and play therapy, our clients learn and practice problem-solving skills that they can apply in real-life situations during interpersonal conflict or other stressful situations.
Healthy Social Behaviors
Our clients will also learn how to set and respect healthy boundaries, handle conflicts, and healthily express their emotions. Not everybody learns in the same way. That is why our social skills group therapy is designed to help each individual succeed in learning vital social skills and grow in their mental health.
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