For children ages 6 to 12. Connection is a skill, and like any skill it grows with practice, support, and the right peers. Our groups give children a structured, joyful place to build it, and a real place for new skills to land: peers, play, and belonging.
One-to-one therapy is where many skills begin. A group is where they get real. Sharing, waiting for a turn, joining a game already in progress, reading a friend's face: these are things a child can only practice with other children, in the moment, with support close by.
Our social skills groups are our most requested service, and for good reason. They are small, clinician-led, and built on the same naturalistic principles as everything else we do: motivation comes from the play itself, every child's way of communicating is honored, and goals are about connection, never about masking.
Every child starts from a different place. Our programs meet them there, from a first supported pairing to an ongoing circle of friends.
The gentlest first step from one-to-one into social play. Your child practices connection alongside a single peer, with a clinician nearby to support, model, and celebrate. Ideal for children who are ready for a friend but not yet a crowd.
Small-group fun with a purpose. Games, projects, and shared adventures turn social learning into something kids ask to come back for, while clinicians weave in goals like joining play, taking turns, and handling the unexpected.
Ongoing groups focused on the real ingredients of friendship: sharing, listening, taking turns, repairing a rough moment, and celebrating each other. For children building the skills to make friends and keep them.
Not sure which program fits? That's what the first conversation is for. Tell us about your child and we'll help you choose.
Complete our intake form and tell us about your child. We'll talk through goals and which program fits.
A clinician meets your child, and we place them in a group with peers who share their age and goals.
Groups meet regularly at our Kirkwood clinic. Each session is play-based, structured, and led by a clinician who tracks every child's goals.
You get regular updates and practical ways to carry new skills into playdates, school, and family life.
Children ages 6 to 12 who are ready to practice social skills with peers, whether or not they receive one-to-one services with us. Groups are formed by age and goals, so the best way to know if there's a fit is to reach out and tell us about your child.
No. Many children join our groups while receiving other services with us, and many join for groups alone. We'll talk through what makes sense for your child.
Small on purpose. The Plus One Program pairs your child with one peer. Kid's Clubs and Friendship Clubs are small groups sized so every child gets real attention and real practice.
No. Our groups are neuroaffirming. Goals are about connection and confidence, never about masking. Every form of communication counts, sensory needs are respected, and a child's "not yet" is honored.
Coverage depends on your plan. We'll verify your benefits and explain any costs clearly before your child starts, just as we do for all of our services.
All groups meet at our clinic in Kirkwood, serving families across the St. Louis Metro Area. Schedules vary by group, so send us a message to ask about current openings.