The PEERS Program – Interpersonal Skills Group for Teens
The PEERS Program, or the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, is a 14-week evidence-based social skills intervention for motivated teens in middle school or high school who are interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends. The program was developed and researched at UCLA and was adopted by our clinic because of its impressive results. We are currently finishing our fourth round of the program in two years and we’ve had great results!
During each group session teens are taught important social skills and are given the opportunity to practice these skills in through role-play, activities and games. In their simultaneous group, parents are taught how to assist their teens in making and keeping friends by providing feedback, coaching, weekly homework assignments designed to build their skills and network of potential friends. Parents also report benefiting from the support and resources provided by other parents in the group.
Enrollment is limited as we begin each group with 11 students. Groups are on Tuesday evenings at Arkansas Families First, and run from 5:30 to 7 pm. Regular attendance and parent participation are required.
The cost of the group is $40 for the students and $15 for parents per group session. The total cost is $55, although most insurances cover the $40 cost of the students’ group.
Topics of Instruction:
How to use appropriate conversational skills
How to find common interests by trading information
How to appropriately use humor
How to enter and exit conversations between peers
How to handle rejection, teasing, and bullying
How to handle rumors and gossip
How to be a good host during get-togethers
How to make phone calls to friends
How to choose appropriate friends
How to be a good sport
How to handle arguments and disagreements
How to change a bad reputation
To read more about the program, refer to the UCLA Semel Institute website, where the program was developed and is still running. If you’d like to sign up for the group or to speak with the facilitators, contact Dr. Adam Benton at abenton@arfamiliesfirst.com or 
501-812-4268
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The Friendship Program – Interpersonal Skills Group for Children
The Friendship Program is a successful 12-week program designed for children in elementary school who have difficulty making and/or keeping friends. During each group session children learn a new skill, practice with group members, receive coaching on their play and interpersonal skills and are given a homework assignment to further develop their new skills.
Groups are held on Thursday evenings from 5 to 6 pm. Regular attendance and parent involvement is required. Parents attend a concurrent group and will learn how to help their children make and keep friends by using the skills we teach in our program. Parents also love the support and resources they receive from other parents in the group.
The cost of the program is $15 for the parents group and $40 for the students group weekly. The cost of the students’ group is often covered by insurance.
Your child will learn:
- Conversational skills
- How to make a good first impression
- How to “play detective” to find common interests
- How to join a group of kids at play
- How to handle rejection, teasing and bullying
- How to be a good host on a play date
- How to be a good winner
- How to be a good sport
- How to show respect to adult supervisors
To read more about the group, see the UCLA Semel Institute website. If you’d like to sign up for the group or to speak with the facilitators, contact Dr. Adam Benton at abenton@arfamiliesfirst.com or 501-812-4268.
