Not Your Typical Social Skills Group

Delivery:   Online 

Group Size:   Max 10

Day/Time:   Mondays 5-630 pm MST

Cost:   $80/month

This Group meets online every week on Monday at 5:00-6:30 pm (MST).  Some group members log out after an hour, based on their own attention regulation and needs.  All members will have access to the ''cheat sheets'' including small talk, giving support, solving problems, self-advocacy, and group rules.

As the folk log in they are greeted by Angel, for a check-in to see how their week has been going. If someone is struggling at school, at home or socially, Angel will facilitate the support activities (active listening, being supportive, brainstorming solutions IF the person wants)

These shared joys and challenges provide the real-life impetus for learning about the connection between our thoughts (perspectives), our emotions (and how our body feels emotions), and our actions (behaviours). Angel provides visuals, a quick verbal explanation, and the conversation continues.  

Often the conversation, based on something that comes up, will shift to another topic.  Angel checks in to be sure everyone is comfortable with the topic change, and only when folk are comfortable does the conversation proceed.  This is a ground-floor technique for modeling boundaries, consent, and recognizing that group needs are different from individual needs. 

At the close of the meeting Angel summarizes, and offers any pertinent resources for those interested, and gives reminders for the next meeting. 

Skill Competency Measurements:

The following are the categories that Angel directs their attention to, and makes notations after every session in order to measure the members' progress and ensure the program is meeting their needs. 

Humour: We learn about humour, types of humour, the of humour, and the risks.  We also work on beginning to connect our use of humour with avoidance, defensiveness, and the need for attention. 

Emotional Awareness and Regulation: Emotional awareness is building our competency in recognizing the signs that our body gives us as to how we are feeling before those feelings are overwhelming.  Regulation is the ability for us to choose how to respond to our emotions: Ie we choose the consequences through our actions.  This includes learning about self-care, how to communicate feelings, and building healthy filters to be aware of our bodies' messages without experiencing sensory overload.  It also includes being aware of our sensory needs, accommodating them, and advocating for accommodations as needed.

Empathy, Compassion, and Perspective Taking: We work on creating awareness around other folks and their experiences, the validity of different perspectives, and attaching the consequences to showing compassion or ignoring someone's boundaries. This is also a key part of interpersonal relationship building. 

Attention Regulation: All group members are encouraged to do what they need in order to pay attention.  Some need to have their camera on, some need to have it off.  Others need to move around, stim etc.  The rule is "If you need to move around, turn your camera off so you don't distract others.  If you need to make noise, turn your mic off so you don't distract others".  They do not have to ask permission to speak, typically, and are encouraged to not conversation hog so others can also share.  

Self-Advocacy: This skill is vital to the adult success of individuals who are ND, as there will be times in their professional and personal lives when they need others to understand that their actions are due to their own personality, neurological processing, and sensory systems.  Angel tracks and supports self-advocacy by teaching the framework for advocating for one's self, (the how, when, and why) and supports the right of the teens to DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES when they want to self-advocate versus when they choose to mask, and when they choose to not care what others think. 

Resilience Building: One of the most impactful skills that protect our ND folk from experiencing anxiety, depression, and isolation is being able to recognize their strengths, the persons in their lives who support them, and their self-esteem.  These traits are noted, supported, and fostered in the group. 

Creative Problem Solving: Being able to consider solutions for our own dilemmas, to consider past dilemmas, and to recognize the need for new solutions that fit the challenge rather than repeat past mistakes is a valuable adulting skill that begins to really develop in this age group.  Angel tracks indications and uses real-life situations to support learning and growth in this area. 

Consent, Respect, Sexual Health: Many folks still lack filters at this age and conversations may turn towards dating, crushes, consent, relationship respect, sexual health, and flirtation.  These conversations are never stifled but are guided to be respectful of others.  The ability to navigate these topics with clear communication and respect for others is also tracked. 

Reports are available upon parental request, or teen request.  Both the attendee and parent receive the  copy.