What is PEERS®?
The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is an evidence-based social skills treatment for preschoolers, teens and young adults who have autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. Developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson and Dr. Fred Frankel in 2005, peers is used around the globe.
Peers is for:
- For motivated teens in middle school or high school who are interested in learning ways to help make and keep friends and/or handle conflict and
- Teens and parents attend 12 weekly telehealth sessions virtually for 90 min each
- Teens are taught important social skills through lessons and role play demonstrations and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in
- Parent attend their own telehealth sessions s and are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping Parents participation is
Topics of Instruction:
- How to use appropriate conversational skills
- How to find common interests by trading information
- How to appropriately use humor
- How to use electronic forms of communication
- How to enter and exit conversations between peers
- How to handle rejection, teasing, and bullying
- How to handle rumors and gossip
- How to be a good host during get-togethers
- How to make phone calls to friends
- How to choose appropriate friends
- How to be a good sport
- How to handle arguments and disagreements
- How to change a bad reputation
- Dating etiquette (young adult group)
What are the participation requirements?
- Difficulty making and keeping friends
- Teen group (12-17) Adult Group (18-35)
- Must agree to participate in the program
- Consistent attendance
- Parent/social coach participation in group and home
- Internet access with speaker and camera (laptop/desktop computer is preferred)
Dates and Availability
New Groups Starting the Second week of January 2023:
PEERS® for Adolescents Telehealth Group
Duration: 12 weeks Days: Monday
Planned Terms: Year round Time: 6:00 to 7:30pm Where: Telehealth
PEERS® for Young Adults Telehealth Group
Duration: 12 weeks Days: Thursday
Planned Terms: Year round Time: 6:00 to 7:30 pm Where: Telehealth