Social Skills Groups

Through role playing, group cooperation and peer feedback, he is learning to recognize social cues accurately as well as to exercise greater self-control. The peer feedback is a huge component of why the Triumph Center works. The skills he has learned through this have absolutely helped him to form friendships with several of the boys in his group as well as at school. -Parent

The Triumph Center for child, adolescent, and young adult counseling serves a wide range of children, adolescents, young adults and families. We provide services for families in Reading and Lexington, as well as the greater North Shore and Boston areas of Massachusetts. DOWNLOAD A REGISTRATION FORM.

Group schedule, payments and procedures information

Since 1991, our mission is to help clients lead healthier and more successful lives.We understand that every individual has unique gifts and challenges, so we work closely with our clients to identify and build on strengths, while offering strategies to overcome life’s challenges.

Our Group Philosophy

Our social skills program is based on a belief that a child’s emotional, physical and social development can be enhanced through cooperative, non-competitive play. We are able to simulate familiar play situations, while providing structure and support to guide and coach children through their interactions. In essence, we slow down the social scene for kids. Through the use of cueing, prompting, and scripting, we help children enter into and sustain participation in play situations. Our counselors use positive reinforcement, practice, and modeling to enhance social skills such as sharing, turn-taking, flexible problem solving and good sportsmanship. Overall, we provide an environment that feels safe and allows children to take appropriate social risks.

Triumph Center Group Program

All children referred to our program start by attending an initial interview with their parent(s) or guardian(s). Information from the interview is used as a guide in determining the best possible placement for each child.  Once interviewed, children are placed in small groups of three to eight members on the basis of age, compatible interests and behavioral styles in order to provide opportunities for interactive learning. Each activity-based group is co-led by counselors who meet with the group for seventy-minute sessions on a weekly basis. These groups focus on helping children improve their social skills while engaging in a variety of common childhood activities, including informal talk time, cooperative play, and creative group activities. All groups close with a brief snack period, during which events of the group are reviewed and discussed, thereby reinforcing the skills learned and deepening the peer relationships.

Our Social Skills Training Model

Our counselors promote positive interaction and social skills development through a variety of therapeutic activities and discussion topics. Specific interventions are chosen by counselors to promote trust building and positive peer relationships. Wile each session may vary according to the group’s functioning and developmental level, all groups follow a structured routine in which specific skills are taught and reinforced through a careful step by step approach to social learning. For younger or less experienced groups, counselors help children build basic pragmatic communication skills such as listening and turn taking. Counselors also provide specific training to help children express feelings and handle differences in more adaptive ways. As groups progress in age and experience, children eventually learn to interact at higher levels using skills such as problem solving, negotiating and working together. These skills form the building blocks necessary to make and sustain friendships.

Benefits of our groups

Social skills groups at the Triumph Center serve a wide range of children, adolescents and young adults ages 6 – 29. While our group members are quite diverse, some of them have diagnoses such as ADHD, Executive Functioning Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Non-verbal Learning Disorder, Social Pragmatic Communication Disorder and Anxiety Disorder. Children who attend these groups may benefit in the following ways:

  • Develop social skills and enhance team building
  • Acquire self-confidence
  • Learn more age-appropriate behavior
  • Improve problem-solving skills
  • Improve leadership skills
  • Recognize, label, and verbalize feelings
  • Learn appropriate assertiveness
  • Improve impulse control
  • Develop conflict management skills
  • See Group Report Form for further details

Activities

  • Cooperative group activities
  • Challenge courses
  • Creative recreational games
  • Social skills board games
  • Traditional team sports
  • Group discussions
  • Group challenges
  • Role play activities

Application Procedure

Social skills groups at the Triumph Center run throughout the year. Applications are being accepted now for potential openings across age groups.

All new group members must be interviewed prior to placement in the group program. Triumph Center accepts some Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim, United Healthcare/Optum, MassGeneral Brigham Health Plan, and commercial Tufts insurance plans for our groups.

All Blue Cross Blue Shield, Harvard Pilgrim, United Behavioral Healthcare/Optum, commercial TUFTS, MassGeneral Brigham Health Plan Insurances Accepted for Counseling Services

You may download a registration form now or request an application packet from our office by calling, writing, or sending us an email:

36 Woburn Street, Reading, Massachusetts 01867
tel: 781-942-9277 | fax: 781-944-6535

Email: triumphcenter@verizon.net