PEERS is an evidence based social skills intervention for motivated teens currently in high school who are interested in making and keeping friends and/or handling conflict. Teens and parents attend 14-weekly group sessions for 90 minutes per week.
Teens are taught social skills through didactic lessons and role-play demonstrations, and practice these skills during group socialization activities. Parents attend separate sessions simultaneously and are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends. Parent participation required.
A Group Meet and Greet will take place at the Niagara Family Centre on August 14 at 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Monday August 25 - Friday August 29 9:00am - 12:00pm at Bethesda Niagara Family Centre
This exciting summer clinical group is designed to help children about to enter kindergarten develop into confident learners. This group will help them practice essential school readiness skills, like following directions and participating with friends, all through playful learning and positive reinforcement. Children should be comfortable engaging in fun activities within a supportive group setting.
Monday August 25 - Friday August 29 1:00pm - 4:00pm at Bethesda Niagara Family Centre
This summer clinical group is designed for children about to enter Grade 1, ready to conquer their next big year. This group will help them build strong reading, writing, and math skills, practice making friends, and learn classroom routines, all through engaging activities and confidence-boosting exercises. Children should be comfortable engaging in fun activities within a supportive group setting.
This Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT)-informed group helps teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) build social confidence and relationship skills. We focus on interpersonal effectiveness - how to: ask for what you need, say no without guilt, set healthy boundaries, handle conflict with peers, family and others, build stronger relationships. This group is led by a Registered Psychotherapist, the group uses DBT, a proven approach for teens who struggle with big emotions and social communication. Teens must be comfortable in a small group setting (1:5 ratio).
Children will learn a variety of social skills (initiating/exiting conversations, joining into conversations, exiting conversations) and have an opportunity to practice these skills with peers. Children will learn these skills by being a social detective! Skills will be taught in a group format using Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) evidence based strategies. This program is appropriate for children who can follow multi-step instructions independently, communicate using verbal requests, comments, and questions and can participate in a group setting without 1:1 support.
The Keeping Your Cool series will teach children to identify their emotions, learn how their emotions impact others, and explore practical strategies for regulating their emotions. This series will focus on using Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) strategies to teach the concepts and use of the Zones of Regulation. This program is appropriate for children who can follow multi-step instructions independently, communicate using verbal requests, comments, and questions and can participate in a group setting without 1:1 support.
This two-part group series is designed for teens and young adults with a basic understanding of puberty, offering a supportive space to explore relationships, sexuality, and personal health. In Part One, participants will learn about different types of relationships, public vs. private behaviours, friendship, gender identity and expression, and communication and decision making related to sexuality and health. Part Two builds on these foundations with a focus on developing romantic relationships, safe internet and social media use, being in safe and respectful relationships, and learning how to care for your body. This group is intended for teens in high school. Teens must be comfortable in a group setting (1:4 ratio).
In this group children will work collaboratively to build creative structures and work on sportsmanship skills. This group is designed for children who can work in groups with minimal prompting and support - verbal and collaborative play is present. Children must be safe in a group with a 1:3 ratio.
Home Alone is an interactive group where children can learn and practice social and life skills related to staying safe when alone. Group topics include stranger awareness, what to do in an emergency, home safety, calling 911, basic care for minor scrapes and cuts, internet safety, establishing a home alone routine, locking and unlocking a door and being responsible with a house key. This program is appropriate for youth who can follow multi-step instructions independently, communicate verbally and can participate in an in-person group setting.
Bethesda3280 Schmon Parkway, Thorold, ON905.684.6918
Bethesda Children's Services3310 Schmon Parkway, Thorold, ON905.684.6918
