Questions About Speech Therapy or

PEERS® Social Skills Groups for Teens?

We Have Answers!

  • Find out everything you need to know on our Rates & Insurance page.

  • Find out everything you need to know on our Rates & Insurance page.

  • Simply let us know you’re ready! You can do that via text, email, a contact form or by scheduling a Discovery Call.

    If you don’t have any questions, you can skip right to a complimentary Meet & Greet with Your Child.

  • Before anything else, it is important to know if we can help.

    Meet & Greets give us an opportunity to observe your child and ensure we’re a good fit for their needs.

    They also give us an opportunity to establish your initial goals and priorities so that we’re on the same page from day 1.

  • Just to see us? No.

    To take advantage of your out-of-network benefits? You definitely need a script and you might need a referral, precertification and/or prior authorization…

    A script from your doctor acts as confirmation that therapy is a medical necessity. Without one, your insurance company may decide that services were not a medical necessity and deny your claims. Have your doctor fax us a script that says, “speech therapy: evaluation and treatment” and lists all of your child’s diagnoses (e.g., autism, ADHD). They can fax it to us at (856) 558-9901.

    Referral, precertification and prior authorization requirements vary by plan. Call your health insurance carrier and ask if you need them.

  • Morning appointments: Cancel by 7:00 pm EST the night before

    Afternoon/evening appointments: Cancel by 9:00 am EST the same day

    Enrolled families: Appointments that are cancelled in a timely manner can be made up before the end of the term in which the cancellation occurred.

    Clients scheduling single sessions: Late cancellations and no-shows are charged at the full appointment rate.

  • Our jungle theme helps children celebrate their progress. Inspired by two amazing clients, Carter and Coleman, we use animals to represent different stages of skill development:

    • Sloth → We’re slowly working on the new skill together

    • Turtle → They’re beginning to use the skill on their own

    • Monkey → They’re using it in new and different ways

    • Cheetah → They’re using it quickly & efficiently

    • Bird → They’re almost ready to soar into the real world

    This child-friendly framework helps children take ownership of their journey and celebrate how far they’ve come.

  • Ellen McSpadden, MA, CCC-SLP, CAS, our owner & lead therapist, is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and licensed in NJ, PA and GA .

    She has over two decades of experience in early intervention, schools, and hospital settings. Ellen is also formally trained in PEERS, DTTC, PROMPT, SPELL-Links, and Hanen’s It Takes Two to Talk.

General Info

  • We provide pediatric speech therapy for children and teens who are struggling with clarity, language delays, reading, spelling and social communication.

    Services include single sessions and structured programs for individual and groups. Our programs are designed to build skills they can use at home, at school, and in the community.

  • Absolutely. We work with early talkers and language users, children with speech sound challenges, children suspected of having or diagnosed with childhood apraxia of speech, as well as those phonological disorders. Our goal is to improve clarity and confidence in everyday communication.

  • Yes — our literacy support uses research-based frameworks like SPELL-Links to strengthen reading and spelling skills tied to language processing, not just memorization or drill practice.

  • Yes! Many children and teenagers who speak fluently still have trouble with pragmatic language — the “unwritten rules” of social communication. We help kids understand social cues, navigate conversations, and develop confidence so they can make and keep friends more easily.

  • Yes — we offer telehealth appointments for families throughout New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia so your child can get quality communication support no matter where you live.

  • Of course! Families can choose in-person or teletherapy sessions and switch between the two when needed.

About Speech Therapy

  • Our PEERS® Social Skills Groups are evidence-based, parent-assisted programs that teach practical friendship and communication skills step by step. They are ideal for school-age kids and teens who find conversations, making friends, texting etiquette, or group interactions difficult.

  • No problem. Many start with an individual program due to schedule constraints or to build up their confidence. They transition into group therapy when they’re ready.

  • Group programs begin in:

    • Very early September

    • Late January or early February

    • July

  • All group programs are led by Ellen McSpadden, MA, CCC-SLP, CAS, a speech-language pathologist, certified autism specialist, and certified PEERS® provider with over 20 years of experience.

  • 100% Yes! Parents and caregivers play a critical role in bringing new skills from the office into the home environment. From there, most teens find it much easier to bring their new skills into school and community-based settings.

    By observing each session via a live video feed in our Parent Room, you will learn coaching and communication strategies. You’ll be ready and able to act as their Social Coach at home, on the way to school, driving to practice, etc.

    Cheat sheets, handouts, and links to videos are provided to make carryover easier.

  • Social skills are like an unspoken language — full of hidden rules, routines, and expectations. We teach the most common “social language™” used by tweens and teens in this country so they can connect more easily.

  • Most social skills programs are “friendship groups.” They group kids together, cross their fingers and hope they catch on to the underlying skills they’re being asked to use. Teens may find these groups fun, but progress is rarely seen in other settings.

    Our groups are different: we teach the skills, how to use them and then facilitate practice in real peer settings… lessening the structure and increasing the fun as we go. This foundation leads to genuine, lasting skill development and true friendships in the real world

  • Would you tell a child who didn’t know how to swim to jump into the deep end? Of course not, without lessons, they would probably sink!

    The same goes for social skills. We start with the basics, teach more complex skills over time, and only then dive into more complex social “waters.” like handling arguments, responding to bullies, and managing rumors, gossip & bad reputations.

  • Many children who struggle socially also find executive functioning skills like planning, flexibility, and problem-solving hard. We incorporate coaching from programs like Unstuck & On Target! to help children and teens succeed not just socially, but in everyday tasks as well.

Social Skills Groups for Teens