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Uncovering potential
for over 50 years
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A southern California
school and therapy
center for students, ages
six months to 21 years,
who have special needs
in the areas of language,
learning and behavior, as
well as typical peer models
through Grade Six.
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Concepts Taught in Social Skills Groups
We teach skills that will be useful to our students throughout their lives. We work with the students to modify these basics skills so that they fit with their personality and abilities.
Whole body listening: Anyone who has a child with Attention Deficit Disorder or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder knows that a child can learn and hear things even if they do not look like they are listening. We teach students how to look like they are paying attention: body still, feet on the floor, hands in their lap, head and eyes looking toward the person who is speaking, ears open and mouths quiet.
Relaxation: Life is stressful, especially for individuals with special needs. We teach our students how to sit quietly, take deep breaths in through the nose and out through the mouth, close their eyes and relax.
Use of “I feel” messages: We teach our students to speak about their feelings and opinions about a situation in a non-threatening manner. They learn to say, “When you did ________, I felt _______”, instead of making accusations and/or arguing. This helps in problem solving because the most frequent responses to an “I feel” statement are “I didn’t know you felt that way” or “I didn’t mean for you to feel that way.” Learning to use “I feel” messages boosts self-confidence and self-awareness. It helps students build an emotional language vocabulary.
Assertive Communication: We teach the students the difference between aggressive, passive and assertive communication. This gives our students one more tool in their toolbox for problem solving and self-awareness. It fosters the ability to express needs and feelings without hurting others. It also promotes positive communication and healthy relationships.
Anger Management: We teach students degrees of anger using an “anger thermometer.” We teach them about the underlying feelings and issues of anger by using the analogy of a volcano to show what happens “below the surface” that leads to an eruption. After the students understand these concepts, we move on to teach them about coping strategies such as taking a timeout, going for a walk, talking to someone, listening to music, seeking sensory input, and the use of relaxation techniques.
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