Autism Society of Larimer County

SOCIAL SKILLS~ESTEEM BUILDING GROUPS Groups for Pre-Schoolers, Elementary, Jr.High and Sr.High Students   Leaders: Nancy Smith, Ph.D., and Melinda Lee, M.A., LPC Center for Family Care, LLC, Ft. Collins, Co., 970-416-1480   Many children and adolescents struggle with social skills, low self-esteem or the ability to connect in positive ways with peers.  In CFC's social skills groups, the experienced leaders provide a supportive environment where youth have the opportunity for personal challenge and social growth . Children and teenagers gain the skills through experiential learning to develop meaningful peer relationships, self-confidence and self awareness.   Weekly sessions…1.5 to two hour sessions…three to five peers per group On & off site activities…promote cooperation, connection, problem solving   Children and Teens learn to… Make and keep friends                       Understand and verbalize feelings Feel good about themselves              Appropriately express needs and wants Share attention,give and receive        Listen/respond to verbal/nonverbal communication Address and resolve conflict             Take responsibility rather than blaming others               Practice coping skills                          Practice on-the-spot problem solving with peers   Call NOW…Winter-Spring Groups for Children & Youth Children's Groups: The Center's relational activity groups provide fun, playful activities, group projects, and the creative arts to enhance children's self concepts, to cooperatively work and play with peers, to better read social cues, solve problems/ resolve conflicts with peers through the group members' interactions that occur during  group sessions.  A safe experience for learning/ implementing new relationship skills.   Teenage Groups:  Teenage groups follow an experiential format…learning by doing, creating, giving life to their joys and fears, both in the experience and in the sharing of that experience.  Topics run the gamut of relationships, peer pressure, family conflict, self-esteem, self-expression and help in navigating the storms of adolescence.   Groups for Youth with Learning Disabilities, Aspergers, Autism and Other Developmental Disorders: Both Dr. Smith and Ms. Lee have extensive experience working with children and youth with developmental and learning disabilities in both educational and therapeutic settings.     (See reverse side for more information and enrollment process.)       CFC Groups Help Children and Adolescents Mature           The Center for Family Care is housed in a historically restored house in Old Town, Fort Collins, a place that seems to convey a feeling of warm welcome and homecoming to all who enter.  The true heart and soul of the Center is grounded within the caring nature and clinical expertise of the professional staff…therapists, Nancy Smith, Ph.D., and Melinda Lee, M.A., LPC, and early childhood specialist, Dori Mann.               CFC's team has developed a unique approach to social skills groups for children of all ages, based on the philosophy that youngsters learn best experientially, "by doing", rather than just "talking about" what to do, particularly when the goal is to develop social skills and self-awareness needed to build meaningful relationships.   Most crucial to a group's success is having the right combination of participants in each group.  The Center staff carefully selects each group member so as to create the right therapeutic balance within the group needed to facilitate growth.  As group members spend hours together each week, they soon begin to experience a sense of belonging to something greater than themselves.. .being accepted even when they make mistakes…bonding with one another through their shared play and group discussions  and learning to trust themselves and one another as a result of the honest feedback exchanged as group members work to solve problems and resolve disagreements that emerge during their time together. In essence, the group functions as a microcosm of the youngster's world and becomes the catalyst for change.               The group experience generally seems to be "just for fun" for members; yet the methodology comes from research based therapeutic principles and techniques shown to foster healthy outcome in children and youth. By design, each group creates a safe place for these children and teens to build themselves into strong young people who are able to learn, to decide and to create for themselves a bright, hopeful future.   Who Benefits from Group?                                         Location, Scheduling,  Fees, Child/teen may benefit from group if he/she:                                 Parent Consult-Free of Charge ·       Feels left out, picked on, overlooked                                Contact:  Nancy Smith/Melinda Lee ·       Has trouble making or keeping friends                             Location:  420 So. Loomis, Ft. Collins ·       Withdraws behind shyness or disinterest                         Free Parent Consultation:  Call ASAP ·       Displays acting out and at risk behavior                           due to limited space. Separate session                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     &a mp;n bsp;                            nbsp;           ·       Has excessive need to please or boss peers                   with child/teenager for assessment. ·       Keeps feelings, wants, problems to self                           Fee Range: Two hr. group - $60-$120 ·       Has difficulty trusting and connecting                               Insurance:   CFC will prepare claim. ·       Explodes or exploits with emotional outbursts                  Phone:  Center 970-416-1480 ·       Struggles with verbal/non verbal communication                            Mobile:  970-218-2056   CENTER FOR FAMILY CARE 420 So. Loomis, Ft. Collins, CO, 970-416-1480, E-mail  jean.cfc@comcast. net