Social Skills Training (SST) for Houston, TX Families
Social skills training is an evidence-based strategy for teaching social skills, according to the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice (NCAPE). To be called evidence-based, researchers and providers must have published substantial and high-quality studies demonstrating that social skills training improves ASD outcomes.
Social skills training strategies:
Social Scripts: Individuals can use social scripts to play role-playing games. They can act out frequent social scenarios with the behavior therapist or another adult using written scripts.
Narratives of social life: Individualized written stories (sometimes with accompanying graphics) are developed by behavior analysts to help people better understand how to act in specific situations. The story contains particular facts about their social deficit, as well as their and other people’s thoughts, which are important aspects of the plot. It allows the behavior analyst to incorporate “what ifs” into the story to help people comprehend how choosing different behaviors in social circumstances can benefit them.
Comic Strip Conversations: Behavior therapists can use “thought bubbles” to indicate what people are feeling during a social encounter while creating social stories in a comic strip format. This social skills training strategy can be highly beneficial because people who lack social skills also struggle to be compassionate. A picture of a child biting his friend, with his friend’s thought bubble saying, “I am upset because my friend bit me,” might be an example. “I’m not interested in playing with my pal any longer.”
Autism/Social Skill Treatment in Houston, TX
Early diagnosis and intervention, such as during preschool or before, are more likely to have a significant favorable impact on symptoms and later skills, according to research. Learn more about autism early intervention.
Because symptoms of ASD and other illnesses, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), sometimes overlap, it’s critical that treatment focuses on the individual’s needs rather than the diagnostic diagnosis.
Fill out our contact form today or call us at one of our many ABA treatment locations: Southlake & Keller Office: (817) 442-9022; Missouri City & Riverstone Office: (346) 368-4412
Treating Autism and Poor Social Skills in Houston, TX
There is no cure for autism spectrum condition, and no single treatment works for everyone. The goal of treatment is to improve your child’s capacity to function by minimizing symptoms of autism spectrum disorder and promoting development and learning. Early intervention in your child’s preschool years can aid in the development of important social, communicative, functional, and behavioral skills.
The variety of autism spectrum disorder therapies and interventions available at home and in schools can be bewildering, and your child’s needs may vary over time. Give us a call today to discuss treatment and intervention services.
We use treatment that focuses on creating those much-desired peer relationships while also working through group skills needed to prepare your child for the classroom, because social skills rely on interaction with others.
Skills taught can include:
- Tolerance for sharing toys School preparation skills (e.g., attending, waiting, transitioning, complying, following group instructions, raising hand, etc.)
- Interacting with peers and exchanging pleasantries
- Imitating peer play and following guidance from peers
- Playing basic games and taking turns with toys
- Peer-to-peer gifting and receiving
- Imitating peers’ basic and complicated acts (both from close up and from a distance)
Contact us about our clinics serving Houston, Dallas, Ft. Worth and surrounding areas!