WA Time Zone PEERS for Teens Online Programme

ADHD Support Australia is excited to have partnered with a wonderful PEERS facilitator in the UK to offer the PEERS® Social Skills for Teens programme via Telehealth for those in the Western Australia time zone!

PEERS® stands for Programme for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills.

The PEERS® programme is an internationally acclaimed, evidence-based social skills group program for adolescents and young adults with social challenges.

Originally developed by Dr Elizabeth Laugeson at the University of California (UCLA) PEERS®, the programme has a strong evidence-base for use with adolescents and young adults with Aspergers/ASD, but is also highly appropriate for those with ADHD, anxiety, depression, learning difficulties, those who may be twice exceptional or gifted and talented or indeed anyone experiencing social challenges.

The programme assists motivated teens and young adults with social challenges who are interested in learning ways to help them make and keep friends.

Explicitly teaching how to navigate common social challenges allows the formation of more positive relationships.

Teens learn how to …

* Develop & maintain friendships
* Improve conversational skills
* Choose appropriate friends & find common interests
* Appropriately use electronic forms of communication
* Appropriately use humour & assess humour feedback
* Start, enter & exit conversations between peers
* Organise successful get-togethers with friends
* Be a good sport when playing games and/or sports with friends
* Handle arguments & disagreements with friends
* Handle rejection, teasing, bullying, rumours/gossip & cyber bullying
* Change a bad reputation

PEERS® social skills for teens programme details

PEERS® Social Skills for Teens is a 14-week online programme for teens aged 13-17 who experience social challenges and are interested in learning new ways of making and keeping friends.

In weekly 90-minute online small group sessions, teens are taught important social skills and given the opportunity to practise these skills during socialisation activities in the session.

Parents or caregivers attend online 60-minute weekly small group sessions separately to their teens and are taught how to become their teen’s social coach – supporting them in practicing their new skills at home, coaching them during their weekly socialisation homework assignments and providing feedback.

Sessions are relaxed & fun whilst using evidence-based skill-teaching methods …

* Small group (6-10 participants)
* Safe environment where everyone finds success
* Didactic instruction (concrete easy to follow rules & steps)
* Socratic questioning method (a question/answer dialogue to draw out ideas)
* Teaches ecologically valid skills (skills that socially successful people use)
* Correct/Incorrect role play examples
* Role-playing and modelling practice of correct skills (behavioural rehearsal)
* Perspective-taking questions targeting social cognition
* Social coaching from both course facilitators & parent(s)/carer(s)
* Homework exercises (with parent/carer assistance)
* Each session builds upon the previous week

Meet your social coach

Karin Flemmings

* Certified PEERS Adolescent Social Skills course provider
* Certified NeuroACT program provider
* Registered Mental Health Nurse
* 30+ Years Community Mental Health Experience
* 3+ years Early Intervention Service (age 14-35 years)
* Experienced in supporting young people with mental health issues
* Understanding ADHD: Current Research Practice course
* Sister, Niece and probably daughter have ADHD!

Is PEERS right for my teen?

Teens must …

* be between 13-17 (for the duration of the course)
* have social challenges
* be interested in attending the program
* agree to participate in the program voluntarily
* consistently attend the program; and
* a parent/carer must be willing to participate as the teen’s social coach

Then, please ensure your teen is the appropriate age, you’ve checked you’re available on the days/times the program will run

Start Date: 6th and 7th January 2025

Parent Session: Mondays @ 6pm to 7pm WA Time

Teen Session: Tuesdays @ 6pm to 7pm WA Time

I want to help my teen improve socially – what now?

To help your teen improve their confidence socially and go on to create and maintain more meaningful connections email info@adhdautismsupportuk.com and you’ll be sent an initial questionnaire and be invited for a no obligation phone chat to assess suitability for the program and to answer any questions.

Following this call, to ensure the PEERS® programme is a good fit for your teen and that they will feel comfortable attending and have positive outcomes, Karin will meet you and your young person virtually one-on-one to understand their needs as well as what your family are seeking to achieve before you enrol in the program.

So your investment for the 2025 intake is £1,995 & includes:

* Intake interview
* 14 x 90 min parent sessions
* 14 x 90 min teen sessions
* Weekly handouts/homework assignments
* Support throughout the 14-week program

For more information or to join the program in 2025, please email  info@adhdautismsupportuk.com or you can book a chat with Karin to see if you are fit or join the UK Newsletter here.