Everyone needs social skills.

All of us need friends. Peer groups. Support. Connection. Belonging. And everything we do that involves another person requires social skills.

For most of us, learning how to relate and communicate with others effectively is instinctive.

But for autistic and other neurodivergent people who struggle to make connections or interact socially, these skills are elusive. Because neurodivergent brains think and process information differently, help is needed to learn these essential skills.

IRL Social Skills provides the help your loved one needs.

 
 

EYE-OPENING AND TRANSFORMATIVE

“As a mom of a teen on the spectrum, I will be forever grateful to the coaches who prepared me with knowledge and tools to be a good support/coach for my son. My son had expressed interest in starting new friendships but needed explicit guidance about how to do so successfully. This class did exactly that!
 
It was also a big eye opener to me when I realized how much help he really needed. Also, the parents who joined the group with similar goals were exceptionally supportive and kind. It was a pleasure to be part of this class and I would recommend it to any teen or young adult who is struggling socially.”

MAROHA S – PARENT PARTICIPANT

 
 
 

Support for your child. Support for you.

Our team of skilled coaches teaches social skills based on the PEERS® program. PEERS—The Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills—is a highly effective, clinically proven social skills curriculum*

Our program is unique and holistic—integrating mindfulness practices, self-advocacy, and self-regulation. We also add brain education, specifically about the autistic neurotype and teach students how to tune in to their feelings in the body and know what they mean (interoception).

Over the 16-week course, students form connections with peers who go on to become supports long after the curriculum has ended. Friendships are made with people who share a neurotype—people who “get” each other.

Our parent-assisted approach teaches your child the skills they need to know and practice while we help parents become better social coaches.

 

*PROVEN EFFECTIVE

The Program for the Evaluation of the Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) was developed by UCLA's acclaimed Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior. PEERS is critically acclaimed for providing evidence-based social skills treatment to youth and adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional problems. The program has been peer-reviewed by the psychiatric community many dozens of times, and confirms the efficacy of the program.

SOURCE: National Institute of Health, National Library of Medicine. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders

 
 

MAKING NEW FRIENDS WITH LESS SOCIAL ANXIETY

“As a learner, I got a lot out of this program. I no longer struggle as much with going up and talking to people or making new friends. I'm not nearly as uncomfortable in social situations. IRL helped me to understand why I was having difficulties before. I learned the steps to have more enjoyable social interactions and connections.
 
The lessons were well-taught and easy to implement in daily life. We had numerous opportunities during the lessons to practice our new skills with the other students. The instructors (AKA coaches) are very qualified and know what they are talking about. They are understanding and patient and if I had difficulty with a topic they worked with me until I mastered it. Overall, IRL Social Skills was a great experience.”

KEVIN V – YOUTH STUDENT

 
 

How it works

Classes meet weekly via Zoom for 16 weeks (4 months), allowing for ongoing contact with coaches, instructors, and peers. Breakout rooms provide in-depth practice time.

A parent or caregiver also attends weekly sessions to learn how to better support their child during the course and afterward. In this way, everyone learns how to best relate and respond to others in the primary social setting—the setting that has the most influence.

INCLUDED IN EVERY COURSE:

  • How to effectively use electronic forms of communication (and minimize bullying)

  • Skillful use of humor and assessment of humor feedback

  • Starting, entering, and exiting conversations between peers

  • Making friends based on common interests (e.g. games, art, music)

  • How to organize successful get-togethers with friends

  • Dating etiquette and how to develop a healthy romantic relationship

  • How to be their own self-advocate with authority figures, teachers, etc.

Our courses are geared toward the autistic neurotype, but people of all neurotypes (and ages!) have found our courses and workshops to be very beneficial, if not life-changing.

 

A SOCIAL SKILLS CLASS THAT REALLY HELPS!

“Finally, a social class that really helps! My 14 year old son—on the spectrum—and myself learned so much. I saw a difference in my son’s confidence not long after starting the group. We now have specific steps laid out for us to follow to navigate the social world. Mara McLoughlin, the founder and facilitator of the groups truly cares. We definitely recommend joining.”

SONYA S – A HAPPY PARENT

 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We teach social skills based on the Program for Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®), an empirically valid curriculum from UCLA started in 2004. This curriculum is taught in over 125 countries and has been translated into 12 languages. PEERS is also recognized in the University of North Carolina 2020 National Clearinghouse for Autistic Evidence and Practices report as the only evidence-based manualized program under Social Skills Training (SST).

    We also weave in 15-20 minutes of supplementary education on the nervous system and autistic neurotype, mindfulness, and interoception skills for self-regulation, self-awareness, and self-determination.

  • Families with learners age 11 and up who struggle socially, with or without a diagnosis. Individuals must be motivated to learn these skills. Parents or “social coaches” (usually parents) are also taught the same skills that their loved one is learning to help reinforce the skills in real life.

  • Socially struggling individuals will learn:
    —How to start, enter, and exit conversations with peers.
    —How to handle bullying.
    —How to choose appropriate peers for friendships.
    —How to organize successful get-togethers.
    —How to effectively use humor.
    —Dating etiquette.
    —Self-advocacy skills.
    —Mind/body connection skills for self-regulation and interoception.
    —Conversation skills.

  • Parents and social coaches will learn:

    —How to help their loved one make and keep friends.
    —How to more effectively support their child’s efforts at finding suitable friends, make new acquaintances, develop close friendships, as well as dating etiquette.
    —How to foster their teen/adult’s independence with their social relationships.

  • First of all, the dosage. Our course is a 16-week program — that's half a school year.

    Secondly, we use an evidence based curriculum, endorsed by the #actuallyautistic community.

    Thirdly, we blend trauma-informed brain education, mindfulness, self-regulation, and interoception skills into every class, resulting in a more embodied experience of the curriculum.

    Finally, the parent training component helps the lessons and skills generalize, because parents make excellent social coaches given just a little bit of coaching themselves.

  • All courses (for students and their parents/social coach) are taught by trained and experienced speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, mental health providers, direct support workers, and learning specialists — several of whom are autistic/ADHD.

  • We are private pay. We can provide a superbill to submit for full or partial reimbursement. We can also share information on how to ask your insurance company for an out-of-network exemption.

    Additionally, we can help you explore getting this class covered through third parties, e.g vocational rehabilitation, DD services, or regional centers.

  • The cost for our 16-week Social Skills Programs is $3999. That all-inclusive price covers:

    —16-weeks of specialized neurodivergence-affirming support for both students AND parents

    —PEERS® curriculum—the only scientifically validated, proven-effective curriculum developed at UCLA

    —Three-and-a-half hours of coaching (1.75hrs for students, 1.75 hours for parents/social coaches)

    —Small groups, typically 8-12 families per class, allowing for maximum benefit and personalization 

    —Expert educators, therapists and clinicians with over 50 years combined expertise working with autistic and neurodivergent populations

    —Two coaches for each breakout room (four coaches per class) 

    —All class materials including the PEERS handouts, videos of every class for review in the future, and the supplementary materials on nervous system education, meditation and interoception skills.

    —Support outside the classroom

    We are private pay and do not accept insurance. However, we can provide a sample superbill and share with you some strategies to seek reimbursement from your insurance provider. Many states are now legally required to pay for services such as ours, but many families are not yet aware of the new laws.

    Payment plans may also be available.