The SSC Social Squad Group Programs are all about promoting social communication skills and confidence. These skills often get overlooked or missed by vulnerable populations and therefore need to be explicitly taught. The SSC Social Squad offers a fun and natural way to approach social communication and life skill development which can improve generalisation of important skills into everyday life. We want our clients to feel that they are valuable members of their community and for them to feel independent and empowered.
As well as teaching important social skills, we also target important higher-level language skills, executive functioning skills and life skills.
Within the group programs we reinforce and build on concepts that many of the children may have encountered before in their individual sessions but the benefit of a group is that the theory learned can be applied in a functional, motivating and naturalistic group setting.
This group is currently not being run. Please contact us to find out more or be put on the waiting list.
Social Squad therapy goals
Goals that may be targeted include:
- Introducing yourself
- Understanding and repairing conversation breakdowns
- Requesting clarification or help when needed
- Safely using and interacting on social media platforms
- Organising own time and belongings
- Effectively managing and handling small amounts of money
- Noticing own energy levels and adjusting energy/alertness levels to suit the situation
- Writing with adequate legibility e.g. filling in a form
- Solving problems
What is Social Communication?
Social communication skills play a vital role in our ability to form meaningful social relationships and enable us to function happily and successfully in everyday life. Children with social communication difficulties are less likely to initiate interactions with peers.
Who is Social Squad useful for?
Our current Social Squad group programs are aimed at 2 main age groups:
Preteens - aged 9-12 (middle to upper primary school)
Teenagers - aged 13 -18 (highschoolers)
Many of our participants have been engaged in 1:1 therapy through their primary school years and into high school.
The groups are particularly suited to preteens and adolescents with social communication goals. When forming the groups we aim to match children by age and skill levels.
Pre-teens Social Squad Group Program (9-12 year olds)
Our pre-teens program is for those children in middle to upper primary school who would benefit from support in developing social communication, building social awareness and increasing confidence in a safe, supportive space.
Focus areas include:
*Adjusting to new social situations
*Solving social problems and using higher-level problem-solving skills such as compromise and negotiation
* Sharing interests with others and being their authentic selves
Teens Social Squad Group Program (13 years +)
The group allows for a naturalistic way to support social communication and friendships.
This group program will positively support social interactions, time management, planning and buying from shops, money management, social media etiquette, stranger danger and public transport planning and management.
Participants love the practical elements of this group! We focus on planning and preparing for possible social outings or joint functional tasks where we can all work together to contribute to the outcome. This might involve planning for a shopping trip, for example. This involves many steps and skills that we take for granted each day. You need to decide on a meal/snack, create a list of ingredients, plan your route to the shops, make sure you have enough money, divide up the tasks for an outing, buy ingredients for lunch and work together to make a snack.
These groups are so much fun and aim to leave participants with improved social communication, social confidence, and new friendships too!
Frequently Asked Questions
1Where is the group held?
All group sessions are held at our clinic in Lane Cove and with this group we might also venture out of the clinic to the local park or shops. We have a variety of purpose-built therapy rooms that are spacious, colourful and engaging for learning. Families are encouraged to congregate in the clinic waiting area approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the session. The speech pathologist facilitating the group will meet families there, and accompany them to the appropriate room. The address of the clinic is: Ground Floor, 1 Pottery Lane, Lane Cove, 2066, NSW.
2What happens if I miss one of the sessions?
All group programs are designed so that a session can be missed without hindering future sessions. However, if you are unable to attend, we do appreciate 24 hours notice so that the facilitator can plan accordingly. Unfortunately we cannot provide a refund for missed group sessions.
3How do I pay?
All group sessions are paid for in advance. Our front desk team will provide you details on how to pay to secure your spot.
4What qualifications do the staff have?
All group programs are facilitated by certified practicing speech pathologists.
5Do parents need to stay?
No. Parents are welcome to stay for the first few minutes of the session, however we generally find that children are more involved in group activities when parents are not present. There are plenty of shops and cafes in the local area that we encourage parents to explore while they wait. Families are also welcome to pass the time in our clinic waiting area, offering a small selection of magazines, books and toys.
6What do I need to bring?
Nothing! All resources for the group program will be provided by Sydney Speech Clinic. Children are welcome to bring a water bottle into the therapy room.
7Do groups replace one to one sessions?
No. One-to-one sessions are intensive, individualised, and tailored specifically to the needs of the client. Group sessions are seen as ‘boosters’ or supplementation to one-on-one therapy, and should not be used as a replacement in most cases.