KEYS TO CONNECT

A group equipping children with self awareness, social understanding, interpersonal skills and emotional resilience.

Resiliency is linked with the ability to relate to others and develop social networks. These skills are often not taught and are assumed to be naturally acquired through life experience. Unfortunately some children are unable to pick up these necessary social skills naturally. They require training in these areas that are generally not explained or discussed in the home or school environment.

A failure to develop the social understanding and behaviours necessary to form these friendships can cause social isolation, school refusal, social conflict, oppositional behaviour. Negative social experiences can have long term consequences on future family, relationships, career success, general well being and self esteem.

This program is aimed at providing an accepting and welcoming environment that does not assume social understanding and teaches keys to connect with others. The program begins with a focus on understanding their own and other people’s feelings and behaviours. Once this understanding is established then interpersonal skills are taught, giving children the keys to develop meaningful friendships and connections with others. This in turn is likely to build their confidence in social settings, and increase their sense of well being and belonging as they experience success in their social world. This program will benefit children with Autism spectrum disorders or any children who experience difficulty in their social understanding or behaviour.

This program involves 10 sessions beginning in Term 3, 2020 at Oatlands Primary School. This program will occur on a weekly basis for 1.5 hrs. There will be 8 places available with 2 facilitators; Emma Healey, Psychologist and 1 ABA (Applied Behavioural Analysis) Therapist. Emma Healey has worked extensively with children and adolescents with a range of social and emotional difficulties over the past 18 years at both the Andrews Centre and in a range of school environments.

The cost of the program will be $450.00 to be paid prior to the beginning of the program. Medicare will refund $21.60 after each session when provided with a receipt of service, coming to a total of $216.00 after 10 sessions. A mental health plan with an accompanying letter of approval for your child’s participation in GROUP WORK is required through a General Practitioner for each child to be eligible for the $216.00 refund through Medicare.

A list topics covered can be found on the attached page.

Sessions:

1/ Understanding my feelings –Introduction, identifying the link between thoughts, feelings and actions, expressing and grading my emotions, accepting emotions and controlling behaviour.

2/ Owning my feelings – handling emotions appropriately/ self regulation, support strategies, relaxation, communication.

3/ Awareness of self and others – physical appearance, personality, people in my life, likes and dislikes, strengths and needs, problem solving, differences between me and you.

4/ Introduction to conversational skills – verbal and non verbal communication, conversational rules, assertiveness.

5/ Body Language – appropriate use of gesture and facial expression and personal distance.

6/ The way we talk – volume, rate, clarity intonation and fluency of verbal communication.

7/ Conversations – listening, starting a conversations, taking turns, asking and answering questions, being relevant, repairing and ending conversations. Different communication modes such as phone conversations, face to face etc.

8/ Assertiveness – problem solving approach, expressing feelings, standing up for yourself, making suggestions, refusing, disagreeing, complaining, apologising, requesting explanations.

9/ Friendships – what is a friend, friendship skills, making and maintaining friendships, practicing friendship skills.

10/ Team work – leadership, fairness, cooperation, review and certificate.

If you require further information please contact Nicole Sanders.