You can make that date you’ve been dreaming of, tell a funny joke, host a party, even deal with rejection. Those social situations can seem daunting for some, yet many are manageable with the right social coaching. Think PEERS.
An awkward dating moment for Shaun, who has autism, and Carly on ABC’s “The Good Doctor.”
PEERS, short for the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, is a 16-week, deep-dive social skills training program for those on the spectrum and their parent or caregiver. Over the weeks, the structured group training sessions focus on a number of skills. Key topics include how to:
- Pick appropriate friends.
- Appropriately use text, email, social media sites.
- Use humor and figure out how the joke went over.
- Get in and out of conversations between peers.
- Hold successful gatherings with friends.
- Get a date and handle dating.
- Settle disputes with friends and others.
- Handle teasing, bullying, and gossip.
PEERS was developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson, an assistant clinical professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, who has since trained thousands of educators, mental health professionals, and families in the PEERS method. There are PEERS programs in more than 70 countries.
The instruction is classroom-based and incorporates a variety of teaching techniques from role-playing to behavioral rehearsals to virtual coaching, which uses apps, to make it easier to learn in a supportive environment. Click on the link to find certified PEERS providers in your area.
