This psycho-educational program for children and adolescents is designed to teach pro-social or “life skills”. This intensive intervention improves psychological skill competence, moral reasoning, and social problem solving skills.
Social skills are skills that enable a child or teen to interact and communicate (verbally and non-verbally) in a meaningful way with others. Social skills allow for healthy problem-solving, decision making, self-management, and peer relations. Good social skills are critical to successful functioning in life. These skills enable youth to know what to say, how to make good choices, and how to behave in diverse situations. The extent to which children and adolescents possess good social skills can influence their academic performance, behavior, social and family relationships, and involvement in extracurricular activities. Social skills are also linked to the quality of the school environment and school safety.
Every child has his/her own temperament or “natural or inborn manner of thinking, behaving, and/or reacting. Some children enjoy higher levels of social activity while other children prefer less. However, social competence, or the ability to get along with others, can be learned. This means that social behaviors can be practiced and improved. Children do not need to be the most popular person in their class, but research highlights the protective factors associated with having a close relationship with a peer. Youth with poor social skills have been shown to:
- Experience difficulties in interpersonal relationships with parents, teachers, and peers,
- Experience lower self esteem and poorer frustration tolerance,
- Show signs of depression, aggression and anxiety,
- Are more likely to fail to meet teacher expectations,
- Are at increased risk for unfavorable school outcomes, such as poor interactions with teachers, poor academic performance, and high rates of disciplinary problems,
- Are more likely to drop out of school and use drugs and alcohol when older,
- Demonstrate poor academic performance,
- Show a higher incidence of involvement in the criminal justice system as adults,
Concerns that may emerge for parents about their child’s social abilities may include:
- Can my child attend to relevant social cues?
- Can my child accurately interpret social cues?
- Can my child consider various response options?
- Can my child respond in a pro-social manner?
The Social Skills groups at Petrus Psychology Professional Corporation incorporate an evidenced -based psycho-educational program for children and adolescents that is designed to teach pro-social or “life skills”. These skills include social skills, anger management, and moral reasoning.
