Are conversations hard?
Are they lonely, teased or bullied?
Do friendships end quickly?
If so, they are not alone.
Our PEERS Social Skills Groups
help children, teens & young adults
improve their conversation skills,
get flexible, find friends,
respond to teasing & resist bullying
in South Jersey, near Philadelphia.
We Offer Speech Therapy for Both
Social Skills &
Executive Functioning Skills…
But What’s the Difference?
Executive Functioning Skills
Does your child get overwhelmed when things don’t go according to plan? Do they get overly frustrated when someone wants to do something in a different way? Do they have big emotional reactions to seemingly small problems?
If so, they’re probably struggling with weak executive functioning skills.
Executive functioning (EF) skills are skills we use to complete everyday tasks. They are what let us move from knowing something to acting in a way that shows we know it.
Cognitive flexibility is an important EF skill when it comes to social success. It lets us reason, problem-solve, adapt to changes in schedules, handle the different opinions and perspectives of others & cope with the unexpected or nonpreferred.
Interpersonal Social Skills
Do they seem smart and able… but quiet and lonely? Are conversations with them awkward at best? If they’re able to make new friends, do those friendships end prematurely? If so, you’re not alone.
Interpersonal social skills are skills that no one teaches (except us!) but that everyone is expected to know. In reality, they are unwritten routines and ways of communicating that have clear rules and steps, but differ by region and country.
In order to make progress, they don’t need to spend more time with kids… That’s like taking a child who hasn’t learned to swim and throwing them in the deep end. They’ll sink!
What they need are clear, concrete lessons on what to do (and how) during various social routines like conversations, working in groups & texting, as well as how to handle things like arguments, teasing & bullying.
Want to Know More
About Our Programs?
PEERS®
The “Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills” (aka, PEERS®) is a highly respected, evidence-based, and parent-assisted program developed at UCLA.
Programs exist for preschoolers through young adults and it’s one of the only evidence-based interventions of its kind… supported by multiple randomized controlled trials, cross-cultural validation studies, and is in 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.
Read the research on PEERS® here.
Unstuck & On Target!®
Unstuck and On Target® helps children strengthen executive functioning skills, helping them move from just understanding what they should do to actually 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. It includes skills such as shifting plans, identifying feelings, and managing triggers.
This strength's-based curriculum is designed to be easy, adaptable, and fun while helping children and teens succeed in the moments that matter most.
Read the research on UOT!® here.
Frequently Asked Questions
About The Groups
-
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.
-
Group programs begin in:
Very early September
Late January or early February
July
-
No problem. Many start with individual coaching to build skills and confidence, then transition into group therapy when ready.
Our Approach
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.”
Parent & Caregiver Role
-
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.
-
Caregivers may include parents, siblings, or job coaches. Their support ensures strategies extend beyond sessions into work, college, and daily life.