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The goal of this program is to teach social and nonverbal communication
skills to children, adolescents, and adults in an enjoyable and engaging
way. Research has repeatedly demonstrated that the ability to develop
and maintain relationships is critical to social and emotional growth
and development. Since most social and nonverbal communication skills
are not formally taught, people are expected to learn them on their
own. When, for a variety of reasons, people do not develop these
skills, they experience difficulties. It is our job to figure out
what gaps they have and to begin teaching the needed skills. Our
curriculum is designed to actively engage students in the learning
process, giving them a wide variety of opportunities to develop,
practice and fine-tune their skills.
The focus of
our program is on the development of skills such as:
- Nonverbal
Communication Skills
- Listening
Skills
- Conversation
Skills
- Joining
In Skills
- Friendship
Skills
- Game Playing
- Sharing
- Teamwork
- Dealing
with Teasing
- Dealing
with Conflict
- Assertiveness
Social Skills
Assessment
Generally, children are referred to Beyond Words because an adult
in their lives has concerns about their social development and their
ability to handle social situations. Our assessment consists of
a number of components. During the initial appointment, a clinical
psychologist or LPC meets with the parent(s) and the child to discuss the
basic reasons why the child has come for the appointment. This meeting
also provides an opportunity for the psychologist/LPC to begin to get
to know the child. The child then meets individually with one of the Beyond Words
therapists and is given measures that assess the ability to communicate
nonverbally. At the same time the parents are interviewed regarding
their specific concerns about the child. The parents' perspective
on their child's needs is critical to developing a successful plan
for a child. The next phase of the assessment involves having the
parent and the child's teacher complete a series of questionnaires
regarding the child's strengths, areas of difficulty, and social
skills. All of the information is then interpreted and a follow
up appointment is held to discuss the results and make recommendations
for services.
Treatment Options
Following the evaluation, all available information is collected
and interpreted to determine the child's needs and possible treatment
options. Social Skills training can take several forms. Many children
have deficits in their knowledge of basic social skills and have
difficulty either interpreting or accurately sending nonverbal messages.
For most of those children, social skills therapy groups where they
can learn and practice skills with other children under the guidance
of a trained therapist is the best way to provide assistance. For
other children, working one on one with a therapist is a better approach.
Other children are best served in either individual psychotherapy
or in a group therapy setting led by a psychologist or professional
counselor.
Social
Skills Therapy Groups—We offer one-hour after school
therapy groups with a focus on basic social skills and nonverbal
communication skills. Children are placed in groups of four to
six according to shared age, developmental level, and skills needs,
and they meet with trained therapists on a weekly basis. Goals
and curriculum are based on initial and ongoing assessment and
organized by therapists in close consultation with clinical psychologists.
Therapists encourage reading others' nonverbal cues, provide feedback
on the accuracy of students' nonverbal messages, and break down
basic skills, such as listening and joining in, into simple steps.
In addition to verbal instruction and coaching, students regularly
practice the skills as they form relationships with their peers.
These classes are available at our main center (near I-85 and
Clairmont Road), as well as at our satellite location in Roswell.
Individual Therapy—50 minute sessions of one-on-one social skills
therapy.
Summer
Programs—Two-week sessions of three-hour social skills therapy groups. Therapy
groups consist of 3-6 participants and 2-3 therapists. Participants
engage in role-plays, discussions, games, and other creative exercises
with a focus on developing basic social skills and nonverbal communication
skills.
Interviewing
Skills—Exercises designed to help children represent
themselves successfully in school interviews.
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Contact
Us At:
phone:
(404) 633-0250 fax: (404)
475-0331
main address:
1762 Century Blvd., Suite B, Atlanta, Georgia 30345
satellite office:
1115 Upper Hembree Road, Suite C-2, Roswell, Georgia 30076
e-mail: admin@beyondwordscenter.com
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