Child and Adolescent Social Skills Training Programs

The Social Skills Training Program consists of structured group activities for youth ages 4 to 17, who are having difficulties making and/or keeping friends. The group setting enables children to learn and practice social behaviors necessary to improve peer acceptance and friendships.

Groups meet at the Center for Psychological Services, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 139 Temple Avenue, Hackensack, NJ. Each group is led by doctoral fellows in the Psychology Department at Fairleigh Dickinson, and consists of about four to six children no more than three years apart in age. A fall and spring series of the program is offered with each series consisting of eight weekly group sessions. A limited summer series of six or eight weekly sessions may be available. The number of groups conducted each year varies in accord with the the number of referrals we receive at different age levels. Each child must attend a screening interview prior to attendance in the program.

Training

Each session consists of 60 minute group activities wherein the children learn to initiate and maintain positive interaction with their peers. Specific social skills such as how to initiate a conversation, share, solve a conflict, and cooperate are presented by the leaders and then practiced by the group members as they participate in games and fun activities. Children receive immediate feedback about their behavior and positive incentives (e.g. praise, stickers) are provided to reinforce prosocial behaviors. While the children are receiving social skills training, their parents meet in a separate group session for instruction support.

Registration

Parents interested in enrolling their child in the Social Skills Training Program should call our Center at 201-692-2645 for a registration form . The fee is $350 for the eight-session program. The total fee is due at the first session. For further information, contact our clinic group coordinator or Dr. Linda A. Reddy, Director of the Children's Social Skills Training Programs.

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