Beyond Social Skills: Gaining Perspective on Our Thoughts, Feelings and Worries (Ages 9-12)

For kids who are learning to navigate friendships.

Your child knows they need support, but they’re convinced so many things are wrong with them. They are anxious about school, friends, making decisions, and pretty much anything and everything. All this anxiety keeps them from enjoying just being a kid.

You’ve realized your child is a bit of a pessimist. It’s all gloom and doom the moment they don’t get their way. It’s honestly a bit miserable to be around them. They are always comparing themselves to others, saying they aren’t good enough or that they’re a failure. They put so much pressure on themselves to just fit in!

You’ve noticed your child is fixated on what others think, the latest Tik Tok trends, what’s in fashion, and are they fitting in. They talk as if they have friends, but where are the invites? You question if they actually have the friendships they claim they do, or is this something they are anxious about as well..

Ultimately, all this worrying is stressing you out. It makes them moody, sarcastic and rude, and you’re miserable dealing with it all. Yet, there is a glimmer of hope. Your child wants to change, or is open to not feeling so anxious all the time. Your child doesn’t need a social skills group, instead they need a group to be social in. One that works on reducing anxiety, improving self confidence and self esteem. A group that also gives your child a social outlet to realize they aren’t the only one over thinking things, and they’re not as alone as they might feel at times.

➤ Our Beyond Social Skills group for kids ages 9-12 will help your child master these skills like…

For your hyperactive ADHD child

Being more aware of the impact of their behaviors and words on others
Increasing ability to slow their body and mind down when appropriate
Noticing thoughts and feeling more in control

For your inattentive ADHD child

Being more aware of their needs and knowing how to speak up
Gaining mastery of thoughts and feeling more in control
Noticing and being more in tune with themselves and others

For your Autistic child

Increasing flexible thinking skills
Learning and using practical concrete skills to manage their emotions and interactions with peers
Effectively communicating their own needs

➤ Our Beyond Social Skills group for ages 9-12 yrs also helps kids...

Listen more
Be less reactive towards peers
Speak up and be assertive
Ask appropriate questions
Improve self awareness of emotions and how those emotions are impacted by others
Increase tolerance of frustrating situations
Decrease anxious thoughts about social situations and peers
Decrease anxious over-thinking thoughts

Decrease pessimist thinking
Create a unique voice that is focused on moving forward
Be less shy or socially ‘awkward’
Find a community of like minded kids that are also anxious and with ADHD or Autism
Increase sense of self and awareness of others
Improve self confidence and self talk
Smile and laugh more

➤ Our Beyond Social Skills group for kids ages 9-12 will help parents...

Worry less about your child’s ability to handle stress and anxiety
Feel more confident in seeing your child make friends and be more relaxed in social groups
Notice improvement in your child’s confidence and self talk
Understand the skills and concepts necessary for growth and social-emotional skills

➤ Our Beyond Social Skills group is the most effective way to take your child from feeling anxious and insecure to being confident and excited to go to school.

Here’s why…

We use a therapist designed curriculum that specifically targets anxious beliefs that prevent your child from being their best confident self.
We teach building friendships through playing, while also using cognitive-behavioral techniques to reduce social anxiety, improve assertiveness and decrease the negative self talk that controls their day.
We know that kids don’t learn from worksheets. We use a combination of unstructured and structured activities to help kids learn skills in a real setting, which transfers to home and school.
This group utilizes curriculum that is inspired by evidence-based practices from CBT, DBT, Mindfulness and Drumming Circle.
We provide weekly updates on the group’s curriculum to keep you involved and help your child utilize these skills outside of group sessions.
We know kids need to feel like they fit in and are part of a group. We facilitate group sessions that foster understanding, empathy, and working as a team. This improves kids’ sense of belonging and creates a safe space to be their true self.

➤ This group may be the best fit for your child if they are:

Ages 9-12
Creative or artsy
Ready and aware of how their anxiety impacts them socially
Motivated and ready to talk about their feelings and challenges
Wanting to find their ‘place’ and be part of a group with shared experiences
Able to sit and focus

➤ This group may not be the best fit for your child if:

Their impulsivity (or wiggles) may impact their ability to sit still and concentrate
They are not yet ready for action steps related to their anxiety
They struggle significantly with social interactions
They would benefit from working on their social skills
Their negative self talk is attention seeking in nature

We also offer two advanced groups: Social Connections: Social Skills Group For Tech & Engineering Guys
Club Creative: Creative Arts Inspired Social Connections Group for Girls

I'm Mirela

I help kids ages 9-12 tackle the thoughts and feelings that get in the way of good self esteem and social confidence.

➤ The Specifics:

The group investment is $100 weekly, paid in 1-month blocks.
The group is 55 minutes per week and is led by Mirela Frank, LCMHCA.
We provide weekly updates on goals.