How We Treat
(PEERS Therapy) Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills
PEERS® has been expanded to develop other social skills geared toward career advancement, dating, friendship, educational classes, and other life experiences.
The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is an evidence-based treatment program focusing on the development of social skills for children, adolescents, and young adults with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or other intellectual and developmental disabilities.
NOW OFFERING PEERS® GROUPS VIA TELEHEALTH
Research suggests that the PEERS® program is effective both in person and online. Studies have found that both in-person and online versions of PEERS lead to significant improvements in social skills, communication, and quality of life for individuals with social difficulties.
A recent study by the PEERS team at UCLA, published in the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, compared the effectiveness of the in-person and online versions of the PEERS program and found that they were both equally effective in improving social skills and reducing social anxiety in adolescents and young adults with ASD. The study included a randomized control trial where participants were assigned to either the in-person or online version of the program, and found that both groups showed significant improvement in social skills and a reduction in social anxiety symptoms. This suggests that the online version of the program can be a valuable alternative for individuals who may have difficulty accessing in-person services.
PEERS Program Skills
Developed by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson at UCLA, PEERS uses
lessons and role-play demonstrations to teach individuals how to:
For school-aged children, the PEERS curriculum focuses on:
- Handle conflict and rejection
- Make friends and keep them
- Engage in appropriate conversational skills
- Understand and use sense of humor appropriately
- Navigate electronic communication
- Listening and following directions
- Starting conversations with friends
- Asking for help
- Greeting peers and adults
- Transitioning to other activities
PEERS® Telehealth Programs at CCG® Offer:
- Quality teaching and supervision from certified PEERS® providers
- Presentations and video role plays for each lesson
- Virtual hang outs with other group members
- Support for parents in social coaching
- Breakout rooms with support of social coaches for teens to engage in behavioral rehearsals
- Convenience of an after school group that you do not have to travel for
- Evidence-based practice to enhance your or your loved one's social skills
Recommended Reading:
- PEERS for Young Adults Social Skills Training for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Social Challenges
Book by Elizabeth Laugeson (2017) - The Science of Making Friends: Helping Socially Challenged Teens and Young Adults
Book by Elizabeth A. Laugeson (2013) - Social Skills for Teenagers with Developmental and Autism Spectrum Disorders: The PEERS Treatment Manual
- Book by Elizabeth A. Laugeson(2010)
