HDST is excited to offer the this internationally acclaimed, evidence-based social skills program for adolescents interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends.

About the PEERS® for Adolescents Program

The PEERS® for Adolescents Program is an evidence-based social skills intervention developed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson. This program is offered in a group setting, facilitated by a PEERS® trained clinican, and runs for 16 weeks (including 1 week for an initial screener and 1 week for final feedback). PEERS® can be completed by high-school aged students with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression or other social and behavioural disorders. Parent participation in the program is crucial.

During each 90-minute group session, participants are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialisation activities. Parents attend separate sessions on a different day and are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends by helping to expand their teen’s social network and providing feedback through coaching during weekly socialisation homework assignments. Parent sessions also run for a total of 90-minutes per session.

What is covered in the program?

Use appropriate conversational skills

Use humour appropriately 

Use electronic communication

Enter & Exit Conversations

Be a good host during get-togethers

Be a good sport
..

Handle arguments and disagreements

Change a bad reputation

Handle rumours and gossip

Handle rejection, teasing and bullying

PEERS Resources & Links

Role Play Videos

Research on PEERS

Make an Enquiry

For any payment, booking and/or programming enquiries, please feel in the form below and a member of our intake team will be in contact with you.