Social Skills Groups for Children and Teens in Northern Virginia.

At Elevated Outcomes, our Social Skills Groups are designed to help children and teens develop the critical social and communication skills they need to build meaningful relationships, navigate social settings, and grow into confident, socially adept individuals. Our groups use evidence-based practices and interactive activities to create a supportive environment where participants can practice new skills in a fun and engaging way.

Who benefits from Social Skills Groups?

Our Social Skills Groups are ideal for children and teens who struggle with social interactions, including those with:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

  • ADHD

  • Anxiety or social phobias

  • Difficulty with peer relationships

  • Challenges in understanding social norms

Each child is carefully matched to a group based on their developmental level, specific needs, and social goals to ensure an optimal learning experience.

Our Approach

Our approach integrates evidence-based methodologies such as Social Thinking®, ACT Therapy, Unstuck and On Target®, PEERS®, and Social Learning Theory to support children in understanding social nuances, developing emotional resilience, and promoting flexible thinking. We also incorporate verbal behavior techniques to enhance communication skills, ensuring that learners can effectively express themselves in various social settings. By blending structured learning with interactive, naturalistic play, we help participants generalize new skills across diverse social contexts, making social growth feel natural and sustainable.

What Are Social Skills Groups?

Social Skills Groups are structured sessions led by experienced therapists that focus on teaching and reinforcing essential social behaviors. These groups typically involve a small number of participants, grouped by age and social-emotional needs, to ensure that each child receives personalized support. Activities are designed to help children learn, practice, and master skills. Our social skills groups cover a range of social and communication skills, including but not limited to:

  • Initiating and maintaining conversations

  • Understanding social cues (e.g., body language, facial expressions)

  • Conflict resolution and problem-solving

  • Perspective-taking and empathy

  • Managing emotions and self-regulation

  • Navigating group dynamics and cooperative play

  • Assertiveness and advocacy skills

Program Overview

Each group meets once a week for 60 minutes, with sessions typically running for 8-12 weeks. Groups are organized by age and developmental level to create a comfortable and relatable environment for participants.

Program Highlights:

  • Small Group Size: Maximum of 4-8 children per group to allow for individualized attention.

  • Flexible Scheduling: After-school and weekend times are available to accommodate family schedules.

  • Age Ranges Served: Groups are offered for elementary, middle school, and high school students.

  • Parent Involvement: Our program includes optional parent sessions to provide guidance on how to support and generalize social skills outside of group settings