UCLA PEERS® CERTIFIED SOCIAL SKILLS GROUPS
Led by UCLA PEERS certified occupational therapists
Helping Kids, Teens, (and Parents!) Build Real-World Social Skills
At The Sensory Brain, we make learning social skills fun, practical, and backed by research. Our programs don’t just support kids—we team up with parents too! That way, the skills kids learn with us stick and show up where it really matters: at home, at school, and out in the world with friends.
UCLA PEERS® for Preschoolers: Friendship Skills for Little Learners
CLOSED IN-CLINIC ENROLLMENT:
SOLD OUT: Ages 4-5, Mondays at 3pm: March 17th to May 19th, 2025, skipping March 31st and April 7th.
NEXT IN-CLINIC ENROLLMENT:
Ages 4-5, Mondays at 4:30pm, June 2nd to July 21st, 2025.
Making friends doesn’t always come easy—but it can be fun! UCLA PEERS® for Preschoolers is a research-backed program designed to help kids ages 4 to 6 learn how to make and keep friends, all while having a great time.
The program runs in two fun-filled parts (8 weeks each, for a total of 16 weeks), with weekly 60-minute sessions. Parents and kids are both part of the action—because learning sticks best when everyone’s in on it! We ask for full participation and allow just one planned absence.
Small Groups, Big Growth: Each group is kept small (only 4 kids!) to give every child lots of personal attention and real chances to connect.
Through interactive lessons, silly puppet shows, role-plays, and playful social activities, kids build real-world friendship skills. Plus, weekly take-home practice helps those new skills shine outside the group.
Participants will learn about:
Listening and Following Directions
Asking and using names
Greeting friends
Sharing and giving turns
Asking friends to play
Joining ongoing games
‘Keeping cool’ during play
Transitions
Asking and giving help
Voice Volume Control
Body Boundaries
Social Smarts for School Kids
CLOSED IN-CLINIC ENROLLMENT:
SOLD OUT: Ages 8-9, Tuesdays at 5pm: April 8th to May 27th, 2025.
NEXT IN-CLINIC ENROLLMENT:
Ages 9-10, Tuesdays at 5pm, June 3rd to July 22nd, 2025.
Friendship Skills for Real-Life Social Situations!
This program is built for elementary school kids who want to feel more confident making friends, joining in, and handling tricky social moments—whether it’s in class, at birthday parties, on the playground, or during after-school activities.
We meet for two back-to-back 8-week sessions (Part A & Part B), totaling 16 weeks of fun, hands-on learning. Each group meets once a week for 60 minutes. Parents are key players too—full participation from both kids and parents is required to make sure these skills carry over into everyday life. Only one planned absence is allowed.
Small Groups = Big Connections: Each group is kept small (just 4 kids!) to ensure every child gets plenty of personal attention and meaningful practice.
Kids learn real-world friendship skills through fun lessons, engaging role-plays, and interactive group activities. Plus, they’ll get simple take-home challenges to keep practicing at school, at parties, and wherever they hang out with friends!
Participants will learn about:
How to Have Back-and-Forth Conversations
Picking the Right Friends
Using Humor the Right Way
Joining and Leaving Conversations Politely
Being a Good Sport
Planning Playdates and Hangouts
Solving Problems and Handling Disagreements
PEERS® for Adolescents: Real Skills for Real Friendships
NEXT IN-CLINIC ENROLLMENT:
Ages 15-16, Tuesdays at 3:45pm, July 1st – August 19th, 2025
Making friends. Keeping friends. Handling drama without the stress. That’s what PEERS® for Adolescents is all about! This evidence-based program is built for middle and high schoolers who want to feel more confident socially—whether it’s starting conversations, navigating conflict, or bouncing back from rejection.
Here’s how it works: Over 16 weekly, 60-minute sessions, teens learn practical social skills through fun lessons, role-plays, and group activities. It’s hands-on, low-pressure, and designed to make socializing easier and more natural.
At the same time, parents join their own group (yes, they’re part of the team too!) to learn how to support and encourage their teen’s social growth outside of group time. Parent participation is required.
Small Group, Big Impact: We keep the group size small—just 4 teens—to make sure everyone gets the personalized support and real connections they need.
Participants will learn about:
Developing and maintaining friendships
Conversational skills
Entering and exiting conversations
Appropriate use of humor
Handling disagreements
Electronic communication
Being a good sport
Organizing their own get-togethers
Handling teasing and bullying
Changing a reputation
