WHAT IS PEERS?

The Programme for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®) for Adolescents is a 14-week evidence-based parent/caregiver-assisted social skills intervention for motivated teens in middle and high school with social challenges who are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends. This internationally acclaimed program, used in over 70 countries in over 18 different languages, was originally developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson. PEERS® is world-renowned for providing evidence-based social skills treatment to preschoolers, adolescents, and young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional problems.

WHAT HAPPENS IN PEERS for Adolescents?

The PEERS® for Adolescents 14-week social skills intervention for youth is held for 60 or 75 minutes each group session for students and 30 or 60 minutes separately for parents/caregivers/emotion coach, depending on format offered. During each group session, teens are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in session during socialisation activities. Parents/coaches attend separate weekly sessions 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. Participation in the adolescent PEERS® 14-week virtual programme can provide much needed support for teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety, Depression or other social and behavioral disorders. Parent/caregiver/emotion coach participation is required.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

• PEERS® is for motivated adolescents struggling with making and keeping friends.
• Families interested in learning ecologically valid social skills that address core social deficits.
• Parents/caregivers and students who are keen to learn how to practice and maintain skills weekly.