Exploring the social world

Individual therapy:

During individual therapy, students will explore a variety of emotional and behavioural paradigms that address their personal deficits. A variety of learning models are utilized, including Social Thinking concepts and language developed by Michelle Garcia Winner and her team in San Jose California. New clients may be required to participate in individualized therapy before being placed in an appropriate group. Individualized Therapy is offered to all clients ages 4 -18.

Group Therapy:

Groups are designed to develop social and emotional awareness, leading to acquisition of new positive and responsive social behaviour. Learning takes place in a fun and interactive learning environment. Students explore concepts with their peers and practice implementing the social techniques and strategies that they are learning. Social Thinking concepts and language are an integral aspect of group learning at Group Perspectives.

Session summaries and take home activities are also provided to participants to further explore concepts and teach parents and guardians about what has been learned during the sessions. Groups are structured based on the age, goals and perspective taking abilities of participants, to insure best possible learning opportunities and outcomes.

ADD/HD Focus Groups

The next ADD/HD focus groups begin the week of Sept/Oct 2012. We can accomodate ages 6 - 18 and will start groups with a minimum of 2 - 3 well matched individuals.

These introductory 10 week programs address and facilitate a variety of areas of learning for the child/youth with diagnosed or undiagnosed ADD/HD and like challenges.

Each small group 1 hr session introduces, explores and provides learning in the following areas -

Self Awareness

Self Regulation  

Emotional awarness and regulation

Hyperactivity

Anxiety

Executive Functioning

Self Esteem

Making and maintaining friendships

Direct teaching, role play, discussion, games and other activities are all used to facilitate individual learning styles.

Parents of younger youth receive 10-15 minutes with the group facilitator so that they may also learn and understand more about what their child in learning, as well as methods by which they can provide further support at home and other environments. Participants are also give practice material to further enhance learning and generalization throughout the week.

Early Intervention, D.I.R. Floortime

See Dr. Oppenheimer and the DIR-Floortime information for further descriptions

Teen Social Drop In Group

2nd & Last Friday Evenings of each month - see teen page for details.

An opportunity for teens to get together in a supported Social Thinking environment where they can participate in various games and activities. Participant driven activities and directly supported by our staff. Small fee.

Summer Camp programs:

Summer camp programs for 2012 will be available for the following age groups:

Students will be introduced to and/or have the opportunity to increase their social and emotional awareness, learn new social and behavioural thinking concepts and strategies, thus improving emotional/mental health and interpersonal relations.

Informational Seminars and Training Workshops:

Group Perspectives offers parents and educational staff in our client’s school environment support and guidance based on the therapy being received at Group Perspectives. This aids in faster and deeper social awareness, development and skill acquisition Educational staff who learn how to implement these concepts and techniques gain valuable strategies they can use with all their present and future students.

Group Perspectives also provides community education to increase the understanding and awareness of social cognitive deficits associated with autism spectrum disorders (particularly high-functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome), ADHD, nonverbal learning disorder and similar challenges.