Service Details

In some cases, the most devastating effects of psychological and mental disorders are their effects on the social aspect of life. Humans are social creatures and thrive on interaction with others. Without this, depression and isolation are inevitable, leading to further detrimental consequences on one’s mental health. Equipping people who otherwise have no social skills or practice in social skills with the necessary tools is becoming a prominent technique in psychotherapy.

What are social skills?
Social skills are the behaviors, verbal and non-verbal, that we use in order to communicate effectively with other people. Social skills are governed by culture, beliefs and attitudes. They continuously change and develop throughout our lives.

Our success in life is greatly determined by our social skills. Social skills enable people to function well in any social situation. This includes work, school and interpersonal relationships.

Some examples of social skills are:
• Eye contact with others during conversation
• Smiling when greeting people
• Shaking hands when meeting someone
• Using the right tone and volume of voice
• Flirting
• Expressing opinions to others
• Perceiving how others are feeling and showing empathy
• Appropriate emotional responses (e.g. crying when something bad happens; laughing when someone says something funny).

What is social skills training (SST)?
Social skills training is a type of psychotherapy that works to help people improve their social skills so they can become socially competent. SST is predominantly a behavioral therapy but cognitive therapy can also be used in some situations to maximize the success of SST. This psychotherapy can be done one-on-one or in a group situation.

We provide a full array of services that begin with comprehensive assessments of social skill difficulties and/or behavioral problems at school, work, or at home. Interventions include social skills training, individual/family counseling, and the development of behavior plans for disruptive behaviors at home or in school, sensitivity training, school consultations, and community workshops. The following services are:

Assessment
• Social skill needs assessment
• Behavioral problem assessment
• Diagnostic evaluations

Social skills training
• Individual
• Group
• Individual/Family counseling

We utilize a primarily cognitive-behavioral approach to teach social skills to children, adolescents, and adults who have social-communication difficulties. We have several therapists who work under the auspices of SST.

Effectiveness
Social skills training can be very effective if you have self-efficacy. If you are consistent and determined, practice your skills and come back for follow-ups, you are likely to benefit from SST.