PEERS® SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAM
Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relationship Skills (PEERS®)
The Switzer Learning Center’s PEERS® Certified Providers teach teens and young adults to develop age-appropriate social skills. Through evidence-based interventions developed by UCLA, our providers and teen or young adult cohorts engage in opportunities to practice these skills during socialization activities. With the support of their parents or other caregivers, teens and young adults participating in the PEERS Social Skills Programs gain valuable skills to help build and maintain relationships.
- PEERS® Social Skills Program for Adolescents Ages 12-17
- PEERS® Social Skills Group for Young Adults Ages 18-35 Years
PEERS® Social Skills Program for Adolescents
Ages 12-17
PEERS® Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) is a 14-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated adolescents in middle school or high school who are interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends. During each group session adolescents are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialization activities (e.g. playing sports, board games, etc.). Parents are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends by providing feedback through coaching during weekly socialization homework assignments.
During each group session adolescents are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialization activities (e.g. playing sports, board games, etc.).
Parents are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends by providing feedback through coaching during weekly socialization homework assignments.
What are the participation requirements?
• Have friendship problems
• Teens in middle school or high school
• Teens must be interested in attending the program
• Teens must agree to participate in the program voluntarily
• Teens must consistently attend the program
• Parent must be willing to participate
Teens will learn about:
• Developing and maintaining friendships
• Conversational skills
• Entering and exiting conversations
• Electronic communication
• Using humor appropriately
• Organizing get-togethers
• Being a good sport
• Handling disagreements
• Changing a bad reputation
• Handling teasing, bullying and cyberbullying
Classes are held in the evening one night per week for 14 weeks. Group instruction is provided in English. Regular attendance is imperative. Parent participation is required.
PEERS® Social Skills Group for Young Adults
Ages 18-35 Years
PEERS® for Young Adults is a 16-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated adults who are interested in making and keeping friends and/or developing romantic relationships. Young adults and social coaches (including parents or other caregivers) attend weekly group sessions for 90 minutes per week. Young adults are taught social skills through didactic lessons and role-play demonstrations, and practice these skills during group socialization activities. Social coaches attend separate sessions simultaneously and are taught how to assist young adults in making and keeping friends and/or dating.
What are the participation requirements?
• Have friendship problems
• Young adults ages 18-35 years old; graduated from high school
• Young adults must be interested in attending the program
• Young adults must consistently attend the program
• Young adults must agree to participate voluntarily in the program
• Young adults must have a consistent social coach willing to attend the program each week
Young adults will learn about:
• Developing and maintaining friendships
• Conversational skills
• Entering and exiting conversations
• Appropriate use of humor
• Electronic communication
• Dating skills
• Organizing get-togethers
• Handling direct and indirect bullying
• Handling disagreements
• Handling dating pressure
Enrollment is limited. Classes are held in the evening one night per week for 16 weeks. Group instruction is provided in English. Regular attendance is imperative. Social coach participation is required.
Groups are currently offered twice per year beginning in February and September but enrollment is ongoing. Group placement is determined by clinician at intake appointment based on group dynamics.
Please call 310-328-3611, ext. 332 or contact PEERS@switzercenter.org to begin the enrollment process.