Customized Social Learning Programs for Children, Teens and Young Adults

 Virtual or In-Person 

Welcome to Frankenberger Associates Social Learning Program, a customized 14-week program purposefully designed for children, teens and young adults who may struggle socially due to ADHD, high-functioning autism, anxiety or social awkwardness of any kind.

Our program is not a one-size-fits-all solution; it's a deeply individualized experience, tailored to unlock each participant's social potential.

  • Each participant receives one hour of dedicated social learning per week, accompanied by up to an hour of social coaching for parents. (For participants in grade 7 – College we offer a non-parent assisted program). We offer up to two 15-minute check-ins per week with the student, ensuring follow through of assignments and real-time support and guidance.

  • Beyond just teaching social skills, our program is designed to foster overall personal growth. We aim to build confidence, empathy, resilience, and life skills preparing participants for a wide range of social situations and challenges.

  • We are a highly professional community of Social Learning Coaches who are PEERS® certified and trained in the delivery of The Social Thinking ® Methodology by Michelle Garcia Winner. Our coaches have diverse, master-level backgrounds in education, social work, behavioral therapies, and occupational therapy ensuring that our program is delivered with the highest level of expertise and care.


What Participants can Expect to Gain

 

Enhanced Social Skills and Relationship Building

  • Making and Keeping Friends: Learn how to form and maintain meaningful friendships and relationships

  • Effective Social Communication: Develop verbal and non-verbal communication skills and enhance the ability to express thoughts and understand others for better social interactions

  • Dating and Relationships: Gain insights into forming healthy platonic and romantic relationships and understand boundaries and effective communication.

Emotional Intelligence and Perspective Taking

  • Manage Social Anxiety and Emotional Control: Strategies to manage anxiety and regulate emotions in social settings, leading to more engaging interactions and the ability to respond to social challenges with greater composure

  • Enhance Perspective Taking: Ability to understand and consider others' viewpoints, fostering empathy and flexible thinking

  • Black and White Thinking: Nuanced understanding of social situations and the ability to recognize “all or nothing” thought patterns

Practical and Independent Living Skills

  • Health, Hygiene, and Fitness: Understand how personal care and physical well-being impact social relationships

  • Activities of Daily Living and Independence: Learn executive function skills for managing daily tasks and living independently 

  • Workplace Social Etiquette: Learn essential social skills for successful interactions with co-workers in your place of employment

Digital Literacy and Responsible Usage

  • Balanced Screen Time: Strategies for managing and balancing digital usage, fostering healthy digital habits.

  • Proficient Electronic Communication: Learn how to manage social media, texts, phone calls and emails, and understand the nuances of digital communication

  • Self-Monitoring: Develop awareness and self-regulation skills for digital communication usage

 Conflict Resolution and Self-Advocacy

  • Teasing, Bullying, or Alienation: Learn how to respond to bullying, teasing, and exclusion, fostering a sense of empowerment

  • Conflict Resolution Skills: Handle disagreements constructively, developing stronger negotiation and problem-solving skills

  • Change Your Reputation: Become aware of how your actions impact your reputation and learn how to develop the reputation you desire

  • Effective Self-Advocacy Skills: Build confidence to express your needs and rights and learn how to advocate in various social situations.


What Our Clients Say About Our Program

I wish I found this program earlier. My son and I are both so grateful to be here now. Everyone at Frankenberger Associates has been completely amazing! Their process utilizing real life actionable teaching has been life changing! There truly is nothing more rewarding than seeing your child “understand” the value of friendships and then to have the tools in real tangible step by step guides. I highly recommend Frankenberger Associates to anyone with a child struggling to figure out their social world.
— PARENT
I cannot say enough positive things about Frankenberger Associates, specifically Erica Hocking. Our college age child turned to us for support in the social skills area. An area that honestly all of us could use some training... The life skills and executive functioning skill set that are being worked on are paramount to success in life. These basic fundamental skills are not easy for all, and Erica has the compassion, patience and knowledge to help our child to help themselves and navigate this important time in their life. This work is ongoing and we are very happy with the progress and the connection our child has made with Erica.
— PARENT
Christina connected with my daughter right away and made her feel both comfortable and understood. She has a calm and steady demeanor that increased the impact and effectiveness of the curriculum. Christina is also responsive to my daughter’s questions outside of their set meeting times. Overall, a very positive experience
— PARENT
My son started working with Annie roughly four months ago. She made him trust her from the first session, and this was critical for any chance of success. With patience and kindness, she guides him to understand areas that need more attention, teaches him step by step how to deal with everyday social or emotional issues. I am impressed how well she understands him, of her thorough notes that keep track of things he said, or struggled with, and of the way she plans carefully what needs to be addressed. I love it that she circles back on a regular basis, helping him to develop new good habits, routines.

One other amazing thing about this program is the close interaction I have with Annie. This way I can share my ongoing observations, so that my son’s sessions are truly individualized and based on his input, and also on observation. She has been for me a great source of education on my son’s condition and much needed support. Somehow, I feel I am doing a better mom job, certainly with less anxiety. She showed so much empathy, flexibility, made everything possible to meet our needs.

I feel so grateful to have this wonderful support in our life. And I thank you for sending Annie our way!
— PARENT

Meet Our Social Learning Team

 
 



 

FAQ

 

Q: How does Frankenberger Associates Social Learning Program differ from traditional social skills training?

  • Our customized 14-week Social Learning Program stands out due to its highly individualized approach. In addition to integrating the PEERS® and Social Thinking® curricula, our coaches meet students where they are by tailoring lessons to help them tackle real-time problems. Unlike traditional social skills training that often follows a generic curriculum, our program is tailored to each participant's unique needs. Additionally, our program involves regular parent coaching and student check-ins, ensuring a holistic approach to social learning that extends beyond the individual sessions.

Q: Is the program available online?

  • Yes, we offer the program virtually and in-person, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for participants regardless of their geographic location. We see students from across the country and around the world.

Q: Who can benefit from this program?

  • The program is ideal for children, teens, college students, and adults who face difficulties with social situations due to ADHD, high-functioning autism, anxiety, or social awkwardness of any kind. These challenges include making and keeping friends, social anxiety, perspective-taking, understanding non-verbal cues, emotional regulation, conflict resolution, self-advocacy, and executive functioning.

Q: How is the program structured?

  • The program spans 14 weeks, with each participant receiving one hour of social learning per week, up to an hour of social coaching for parents, and up to two 15-minute check-ins with the student per week.

Q: What if a parent does not want to participate?

  • We offer the same 14-week program for the student who can be seen once or twice a week with our traditional check-ins. We will then meet with the parent every other week for a check-in.

Q: What qualifications do the program instructors have?

  • We are a highly trained professional community of Social Learning Coaches who are PEERS® certified from UCLA and trained in delivering The Social Thinking ® Methodology by Michelle Garcia Winner. Our coaches have diverse, master-level backgrounds in education, social work, behavioral therapies, and occupational therapy/sensory integration.  

Q: How do you measure progress in the program?

  • Progress is measured through ongoing assessments, regular student and parent feedback sessions, and continuous monitoring of the participant's application of learned skills in real-life situations.

Q: Can this program help with issues related to digital communication and screen time?

  • Yes, our program addresses modern challenges like the overuse of screen time and electronic communication. We focus on developing balanced digital habits and effective communication skills in the digital world. However, we do not specialize in screen addiction.

Q: How can I enroll in the program or learn more?

  • To enroll or get more information, you can complete our inquiry form or contact us directly via phone or email. We will guide you through the intake process, discuss your child’s specific needs, and provide detailed information about the next steps for enrollment.

 
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