We teach a unique social skills program initially based on UCLA's Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®), a proven program from UCLA started in 2004 — taught in 150 countries and has been translated into 12 languages.

We add 10-15 minutes of neuroscience-backed nervous system education to teach and practice the skills of interoception, co-regulation and self-regulation. Then, we break out into two separate rooms for parents/social coaches and teens/young adults.

Our Adults 25+ class is a little different: It runs for 12 weeks, is for lower support needs adults as it does not utilize a social coach or caregiver, and focuses on strengthening communication skills, applying these skills to dating and intimate relationships, and workplace relationships with coworkers and employers.

Our classes are virtual, with meetings taking place via Zoom. Research indicates that teaching our curricula via Zoom demonstrates the exact same results compared to previously published results from the in-person delivery of the same intervention. Our programs are synchronous, face-to-face, with interbrain connectivity. Online group coaching allows us to serve people across the country. We continually add more classes to accommodate different time zones. Online programs are accessible to those in rural areas, those who have sensory and physical limitations, and accommodate busy family schedules.

Every session starts with neuroscience-backed nervous system education to calm the nervous system and set the stage for social engagement.

The specific lessons taught vary, depending on the age of the participant. Our adult classes focus on dating and workplace dynamics, whereas our teens and young adult classes focus on finding a source of friends based on common interests, organizing social activities and handling different forms of bullying.

Some of the basics include:

- Conversation skills

- Choosing healthy friendships based on shared interests

- Effective use of electronic communication & humor

- Starting, entering and exiting conversations

- Being a good sport

- Organizing successful get-togethers

- Handling disagreements

- Dating etiquette

- Self-advocacy

- And more

The teens, young adults and adults classes age 21-29 with higher support needs are parent-mediated. This means a parent or other caregiver attends a weekly class at the same time as their child, to learn to become stronger social supports at home. Parents and caregivers can expect to learn or improve skills to help their loved one make and keep friends, set healthy boundaries, and self-advocate for their unique needs, among others.

Families with teens age 11 and up who struggle to communicate or to connect socially. Although our core curriculum was designed for the autistic individual in mind, these skills are basic life skills applicable to everyone, whether identified as neurodivergent or not. Parents (aka social coaches) are also taught the same skills that their loved one is learning to help with carryover, In Real Life.

Yes! We have a program for adults, age 21-29 with higher support needs, and a program for age 25+ for those who are more independent, with lower support needs. The essential core teaching is similar to our other programs, but focuses on adult scenarios such as employment and dating/intimate relationships. The 21+ group with higher support needs follows the 16-week coaching program, while the 25+ group with lower support needs is 12 weeks.

All courses are taught by a neurodiverse team of licensed speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, mental health providers, direct support professionals, and learning specialists -- most of whom are autistic and/or ADHD. Our team is also racially diverse and LGBTQ+ representative, further demonstrating our commitment to inclusion and diversity in all its forms.Description text goes here

Our next 16-week courses start August 2025. Our next 12-week adult program starts in April 2025. If you'd like more information than you can find on this FAQ page or on our website, please book a consultation to speak with our team.Description text goes here

The investment in our program for teens and young adults includes 3.5 hours total of coaching per week, by licensed and insured professionals (1 hour and 45 minutes for the teen/young adult, 1 hour and 45 minutes for the parents/caregivers). All of the program materials are included -- the handouts, video replays of every class, and the supplementary materials on trauma-informed nervous system education, co- and self-regulation skills, and interoception skills.

We take Oregon Health Plan. Otherwise, we are private pay. Our equitable pricing model takes the financial circumstances of families into consideration, and we have payment plans available.Item description

Regular and on-time participation matters to get the full benefit of the program. Sessions start promptly. If you already know you will be missing more than 3 sessions or will be absent for the first two sessions, we suggest you wait until the next course starts.

The same parent/caregiver must attend every session. Teens and young adults and their parents have weekly practice (video chats with other group members, video chats with friends to practice conversational skills, having virtual and in-person get-togethers). Other parents/caregivers are always welcome to attend, but we strongly discourage switching off each week, as each session builds on previously learned skills.Item description