Social Skills & Executive
Functioning Support for Children
and Teens in Camden County
Helping highly verbal individuals from 3rd grade through young adulthood (ages 8–30) strengthen social skills and socially-relevant executive function skills for better friendships, flexible thinking, and confident communication.
Our Approach to Building
Social Skills and Executive Functioning
Small Group Advantage
With a maximum of four participants per group, every member gets individualized attention, a comfortable learning pace, and plenty of opportunities to participate. Small numbers mean big growth.
Two Programs, One Visit
Navigate! and Relate! complement each other — executive functioning and social skills go hand-in-hand for lasting success. That’s why we’ve scheduled same-age groups back-to-back, giving families access to both programs in a single weekly trip.
Practice in Action
It’s not just about the lesson. We integrate games, projects, and real-world activities so participants can apply what they’ve learned in a natural, low-pressure way. Gentle coaching during these moments turns practice into genuine confidence.
Peer-Powered Progress
As new members join, current participants actively welcome them and help them get up to speed. This peer-to-peer support not only builds community, it reinforces each child’s own skills through real-life social practice.
Navigate!
Cognitive Social Skills Training for Self-Regulation, Flexibility & Big-Picture Thinking
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Cognitive Social Skills Training for Self-Regulation, Flexibility & Big-Picture Thinking ✦
Life doesn’t always go according to plan — and for many neurodivergent kids and teens, those unexpected moments can feel overwhelming. Navigate! is a structured small-group program that develops cognitive social skills through executive function training, strengthening their ability to self-regulate, adapt in real time, organize and plan.
Using the Unstuck & On Target!® curriculum, we help participants:
Develop flexible thinking skills and learn how to “go with the flow”
Manage their frustration and regulate their emotions
Set social goals and follow through
Distinguish a big deal from a little deal
See the big picture and adapt to different perspectives.
These are not just school skills—they’re life skills, and they’re often the missing piece in social success. Navigate! helps kids who are smart and capable but get “stuck” when the plan changes or their way isn’t working. With a small group format (max 4), practice opportunities, and parent collaboration, we give your child the tools to move from knowing what to do… to actually doing it.
Navigate! Executive Functioning Groups
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays at 6PM
Middle School
TBD
High School
Mondays at 6:00PM
Young Adults (18-30)
TBD
Signs Your Child May Need Social Executive Function Support
Gets stuck or overwhelmed when routines or plans change
Has big emotional reactions to seemingly small problems
Avoids hangouts that require planning or large groups
Finds it hard to shift focus from one activity to another
Often makes a mountain out of a molehill
Become preoccupied with the little things and loses focus on the big picture
OUR GROUPS ARE APPROPRIATE FOR MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS WITH:
Level 1 Autism
ADHD
Anxiety or Depression
Social-Pragmatic
Communication Disorder
What Is PEERS®
& How Does It Work?
PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is a research-backed social skills program for preschoolers through young adults. It’s one of the only evidence-based interventions of its kind, supported by multiple randomized controlled trials, cross-cultural validation, and use in over 150 countries. PEERS® helps participants understand the “social language™” used by most people in our region, so they can make confident, intentional choices in social situations.
Cheerful Chatter follows an evidence-based, five-stage teaching model that includes direct instruction, video analysis, roleplay, structured practice and coaching during unstructured activities. Whether in individual or small-group sessions, we focus on building real-world skills—step by step—before expecting kids to use them socially. Parent involvement is a key part of the process. You’ll either join your child in session or observe live from our Parent Room, learning how to support and coach them at home.
What Is Unstuck and On Target® & How Does It Work?
Unstuck and On Target® is a research-backed program that helps children strengthen executive functioning skills, helping them move from just understanding what they should do to understanding and doing it. Developed by educators, psychologists, and therapists and proven effective through randomized controlled trials, it teaches flexibility, planning, problem-solving, and coping strategies in a clear, step-by-step way. At Cheerful Chatter, we combine direct instruction with interactive activities, visual supports, and real-world examples to make the process practical and engaging.
The program includes skills such as shifting plans, identifying feelings, and managing triggers. In both individual and small-group settings, we guide participants through active practice so strategies are easier to apply in daily life. Parents join us in the therapy room or observe from the parent room, so they can learn the same language and tools and reinforce new skills at home and in the community. This strengths-based curriculum is designed to be easy, adaptable, and fun while helping kids succeed in the moments that matter most.
Group Therapy Session Costs
Reserved Weekly Group
$97/week - one 40-minute group session focused on executive functioning (Navigate!) or social communication (Relate!). Groups are formed by age and developmental fit (elementary through young adult).
Weekly reserved spot (same day/time)
Ongoing enrollment — join or leave anytime with 15 days’ notice
In-person attendance expected (remote allowed for illnesses and emergencies)
Parent observation is required via live video feed
No make-up sessions due to group structure
Join Two Groups
$170/week - For children who would benefit from support in both social communication and executive functioning or those who would benefit from twice weekly services.
The same advantages of a single group
A second, weekly 40-minute group, led by Ellen
Combine different skill focuses or peer dynamics
Reinforce strategies through repetition and variety
Encourage stronger carryover into everyday situations
Get Started With Us
Want to get started? Click below to fill out our inquiry form, and we’ll reach out to you. We will answer your questions and guide you through the process to get scheduled with Ellen!
Schedule a
Meet & Greet ($80)
In this 40-minute session, Ellen will explore your child’s goals, communication style, and energy. Together, we’ll decide whether evaluation, group enrollment or individual therapy is the best next step. Available in-person or via telehealth.
Follow Your
Custom Plan
Finally, we’ll help you get started right away with the recommendations from your Meet & Greet. We will guide you step by step through enrollment and make sure you’re added to the schedule without delay.
Frequently Asked Questions
About The Groups
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Groups are small — no more than 4 participants — to allow for individualized coaching. Each group meets once a week for 40 minutes. Families may choose to enroll in more than one group.
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We offer Navigate and Relate groups for:
3rd–5th graders
Middle school students
High school students
Young adults (18–30 years old, post high school)
Grouping by age ensures we focus on the social challenges, peer dynamics, and transitions most relevant to that stage.
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All Navigate and Relate groups 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.
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Enrollment is ongoing — there are no fixed start or end dates. Families can join when ready (and when space is available). When new participants enter, existing group members help bring them up to speed, which reinforces their own skills and confidence.
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No problem. Many start with individual coaching to build skills and confidence, then transition into group therapy when ready.
Who the Groups Are For
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Our groups are designed for highly verbal children, teens, and young adults who may have:
Social communication challenges
ADHD
Level 1 Autism Spectrum Disorder
Social anxiety
Or no diagnosis, but a need for support with friendships and group interaction
Participants must have at least near-average cognitive and language skills and be able to participate independently in a group setting.
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Relate Groups focus on peer connection: choosing friends, interpreting social cues (tone, body language, facial expressions), and carrying full conversations.
Navigate Groups focus on executive functioning: flexibility, handling unexpected changes, problem-solving, and keeping the group on track toward shared goals.
Many participants benefit from both — and we’ll help determine the best fit during your Meet & Greet.
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Social Skills Groups → Making and keeping friends, handling conflict, conversation skills.
Executive Function Groups → Big-picture thinking, coping with change, flexible problem-solving.
Some clients join both for more comprehensive support.
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We support highly verbal children, teens, and young adults with social challenges related to autism, ADHD, social anxiety, or no diagnosis at all. If they want to connect but don’t know how, they’re a great fit.
Ellen’s Approach
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Social skills are like an unspoken language — full of hidden rules, routines, and expectations. We teach the most common “social language™” used by peers here in Camden County (and beyond) so kids and young adults can connect more easily.
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Most programs throw kids into “friendship groups” and hope they catch on to the underlying skills they’re being asked to use. Our groups are different: we teach the skills first, then practice them in real peer settings. This foundation leads to real, lasting friendships in the real world
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Strong peer connections build confidence, resilience, and happiness. Struggles with friendship can increase loneliness, low self-esteem, and risk of anxiety or depression. That’s why we emphasize real-world connection — not just performance in the group.
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PEERS® is one of the only evidence-based social skills programs in the world. Backed by UCLA research and used in 150+ countries, it teaches concrete, age-appropriate strategies — like how to handle teasing, start conversations, or navigate texting.
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You wouldn’t jump straight into the deep end without lessons. The same goes for social skills. We start with the basics, build gradually, and only then dive into more complex social “waters.”
What Happens in a Session
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Teaching sessions may include:
Direct teaching of concrete strategies
Video modeling of realistic scenarios
Role-playing of real interactions
Group practice with age-appropriate conversations
Game Days may include:
Elementary: board games, story relays, collaborative Lego builds
Middle/High School: Rube-Goldberg machines, strategy games, teamwork challenges
Young Adults: mock interviews, escape room design, collaborative projects
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We look at real-world outcomes:
Observable changes in peer interactions during group sessions
Growth in independence using strategies during hang-outs and community activities
Feedback from participants, parents & community members
Parent & Caregiver Role
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Because you’re the coach at home. Parents (or caregivers) observe every session via live video feed, then reinforce strategies in daily life — at mealtimes, during playdates, or in real-world conflicts. Cheat sheets and handouts are provided to make carryover easier.
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Caregivers may include parents, siblings, or job coaches. Their support ensures strategies extend beyond sessions into work, college, and daily life.
Cost & Insurance
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Groups are offered on a subscription basis, not per-visit.
$97/week = One reserved weekly group (up to 43 sessions/year, accounting for holidays and sick days).
$170/week = Reserved weekly spot in two groups.
Families may cancel at any time with 15 days’ notice.
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Possibly — it depends on your plan. Coverage often requires:
Out-of-network benefits
Inclusion of habilitative/developmental services in your specific plan
Inclusion of a diagnosis code such as:
F80.82 (Social pragmatic communication disorder)
F84.0 (Autism)
F80.2 (Language impairment)
If you do not have a written report (not just a prescription) listing a specific, related diagnosis code and rationale, an evaluation ($300–$1000) is required before we can generate insurance claims/superbills. We’ll guide you through the process.
Relate!
Interpersonal Social Skills Coaching to Improve Friendship, Conversation & Other Peer-Interaction Skills
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Interpersonal Social Skills Coaching to Improve Friendship, Conversation & Other Peer-Interaction Skills ✦
Relate! is a small-group program that provides interpersonal social skills coaching for highly verbal kids, teens, and young adults with age-appropriate language skills. We help them build the practical skills needed to form and maintain meaningful friendships. In our Relate! groups, we use the PEERS® curriculum to teach the actual steps of various social interactions and then give them the time and support needed to go from practice to daily use
Evidence-based activities used during Relate! Groups:
Role-playing common peer interactions
Rehearsing repair strategies after miscommunications & disagreements
Real-time feedback through gentle coaching
Setting social goals
Group games & projects that replicate real-life activities
Each group is matched by age, with built-in structure to promote real-world carryover. Whether your child is lonely, overwhelmed by social norms, or unintentionally pushing others away, Relate! helps them understand the rules of the social game & how to play without pretending to be someone they’re not.
Relate! Social
Skills Groups
3rd-5th Grade
Tuesdays at 6:45PM
Middle School
Wednesdays at 5:15PM
& Wednesdays at 6:45PM
High School
Mondays at 5:15PM
& Mondays at 6:45PM
Young Adults (18-30)
TBD
Finds it difficult to start or join conversations
Has a hard time keeping friends
Struggles with teasing or bullying
Rarely talks to or hangs out with others after school and on the weekend
Is dependent on formal/structured activities for socialization
Signs Your Child May Need Social Skills Support