2512 Foothill Blvd.
La Crescenta, CA 91214
(818) 583-7134
info@blastprograms.org
Format: In-person and virtual therapeutic programs, summer camp
Blast is a safe learning space where children develop coping skills for stressful environments such as school or home. The owner, Katie Enney, Psy.D., is licensed by the Board of Psychology of the State of California. The staff consists of therapists working on hours toward their license, college students, and educators. Therapy takes place during play with an emphasis on verbalizing feelings, maintaining friendships, handling frustrations, following instructions, and working on impulse control.
Camps: Blast plans to host extended-day programs of three and six hours at the end of July and beginning of August. Check back for more information closer to summer.
Program:
Ages:
Hours: Sessions are held at three different locations as well as online. (Note: The Altadena location will be changing in June. They anticipate a smooth transition but do not know where the new location will be at this time.)
Session length and cost:
10323 Santa Monica Blvd.
Suites 102, 103 & 106
Los Angeles, CA 90025
(424) 421-CARE
info@care-la.com
Format: In-person therapeutic classes
CARE-LA offers in-person weekly social skills classes using play-based activities led by Dr. Erin Cantwell. These groups are small in size and peer-matched for similar skill levels and goals. Their groups are individualized to address each member's specific needs via topics such as Turn-Taking & Sharing, Reciprocal Interaction, Listening Skills, Establishing Friendships, Building Social Skills, Communicative Skills, Modeling and Mirroring, Understanding Social Cues, and Practicing Mindfulness & Yoga.
Ages: 4–12 years old
Dates:
Registration: Email info@care-la.com for more information and to register.
Cost: Inquire for rates and availability. They will provide a superbill.
11000 National Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Dr. Erika Rich is a trusted psychologist who offers summer social skills programs for kids. Contact her at (310) 709-6427 or erika@socialskillsgroup.com.
Format: In-person day camp
The aim of the Summer 2023 Social Skills Camp is to offer physical movement along with emotional guidance and social skills growth under the leadership of experienced counselors. Daily themes include perspective-taking, emotion regulation, coping skills, executive functioning, flexible thinking, thinking traps, social problem-solving, and more. Children will be grouped by age at a 3:1 camper-to-counselor ratio with experienced therapists who receive advanced training and supervision with a licensed psychologist. Each week provides a different set of activities.
Dates:
Ages: Age 5 through the end of middle school
Hours: 8:45 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
Cost:
Registration: Begin the enrollment process online and choose the "Camp" application.
5761 Buckingham Parkway
Culver City, CA 90230
(310) 649-6199
Format: In-person day camp
The L.A. Speech & Language Therapy Center is a leader in providing comprehensive treatment and services to children with autism and other speech/language disorders. Started by Dr. Pamela Wiley in 1979, the center provides speech therapy, preschool, early intervention, social skills classes, Say ‘n’ Play Summer Camp, drama classes such as Drama Kings & Queens Social Skills, homework helpers, and more.
Three programs are offered this summer:
Say ‘n’ Play Summer Camp: An intense speech program led exclusively by licensed speech-language pathologists (SLPs) is the center’s most popular and highly sought-after program. The camp is for kids with speech and language delays, autism, and other developmental delays resulting in communication deficits. AAC users are encouraged to attend.
Drama Kings & Queens Social Skills: Offered as a six-week summer intensive and weekly summer social skills program, each session is dedicated to facilitating social, emotional, speech and language development as well as building confidence in students with autism and other social-cognitive challenges in a theatrical setting. The camp culminates in a large performance in a professional theatrical venue.
Teens in Motion: Also a six-week program, Teens in Motion is for older kids who are ready for more independence and community integration. There will be daily yoga, confidence-building exercises, and daily outings to various locations in the LA area.
The Help Group Autism Center
13164 Burbank Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401
(818) 779-5103
Contact: Dr. Laurie Stephens
Format: In-person day camp
The Help Group offers in-person summer enrichment camps for kids ages 6–17 with autism and other social challenges. Three camps are being held this year, based in Sherman Oaks, and each camper is matched to an appropriate peer group for learning and fun. The camps provide a fun, safe, and stimulating environment specially designed to promote social skills development, stress reduction, new friendships, and more. The camps are staffed with experienced counselors who incorporate evidence-based practices into the daily schedule. Camp activities include social skills, fun and fitness, engaging games, science experiments, arts and crafts, and field trips.
Village Glen Camp: A specialized enrichment camp for kids with learning, language, attention, social, and/or sensory challenges. This program is designed to encourage personal development and foster new friendships through themed activities.
Dates:
Staff-to-student ratio: 1:5
Cost: $675 per week. Camp Sunshine and Camp Village Glen are vendored with several Regional Centers and accept Self-Determination funds.
Ages: 6–16 years old
Camp Sunshine: This camp is for students with autism who require higher levels of support. The team oversees a creative summer camp designed to help each camper reach their highest potential and develop unique strengths and abilities through themed activities. Campers build confidence and self-esteem, practice important life skills, and take steps toward independence while making new friends.
Dates:
Staff-to-student ratio: 1:3
Cost: $675 per week. Camp Sunshine and Camp Village Glen are vendored with several Regional Centers and accept Self Determination funds.
Ages: 6–16 years old
Teens on the Go: This camp offers a social skills program designed specifically for teenagers with learning, language, attention, social and/or sensory challenges and low support needs. Led by Help Group professionals, this program features daily trips, tours, activities, and adventures with peers throughout Los Angeles.
Dates:
Cost: $725 per week
Ages: 14– 17 years old
Registration: Create an account and apply online. A short intake is required before a camper can be registered.
5870 W Olympic Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
(213) 793-5495
admin@themiracleproject.org
Format: In-person and online programs
The Miracle Project is a fully inclusive program that combines theater, film, music, movement, and other expressive arts to allow individuals with autism, other disabilities, and all abilities to “develop social and job skills, enhance communication, increase self-awareness and confidence, ease anxiety, and find joy in experience.” Their mission is “to create a neurodiverse community where the voices, passions, and stories of individuals of all abilities belong and are celebrated, elevated, and supported.” The social skills and theater arts classes vary in age range, starting at age 5. The Miracle Project has classes specifically designed for those who use an AAC device as well. Families may reach out directly to the Program Assistant Kate S., and the staff will be happy to answer any questions and give details about their different classes.
Dates:
Location: Santa Monica and Beverly Hills
Programs:
Social Skills Classes “Improv for Interaction”: The Miracle Project social skills classes use improv, theater games, and role-play to practice skills for positive social interaction. All social skills classes are ongoing.
Express Yourself (age 16 and up): An 11-week online Expressive Arts class specifically designed for non-speakers and those who use AAC.
I Can Do That Professional Acting Training for Film & TV (age 16 and up): An online, professional-level acting class for film and television open to those of all abilities and experience.
Triple Threat (age 13 and up): A musical theater performance-focused class for individuals of all abilities and experiences.
Registration: Choose a program online and complete their Hello Sign form so that they may gather a bit more information about your child. The Program Director and Clinical Supervisor, Hannah Warren, will then reach out to you to schedule a trial class, so you can get a feel for the group and proceed with enrollment.
Cost:
2716 Ocean Park Blvd. Suite 1065 Santa Monica, CA 90405 (310) 869-4025 suzanne@socialfoundationsla.com
Format: In-person programs
Social Foundations provides meaningful, practical, and in-depth social development for kids as well as substantive education for parents. It’s a supportive social learning community that helps students develop the skills they need to build and keep healthy connections. They offer social development groups (small, well-matched weekly groups), school-based social support, play facilitation, and more. We are highlighting the summer camp program, but they also offer ongoing Social Skills Groups weekly for ages 6–13.
Culver City Summer Camp: Social Foundations’ summer camp program provides a unique, positive experience for children and teens who need social learning support in a creative and fun environment. They “help kids build social success from the inside out.” Targeted skill-building will focus on flexible thinking, staying tuned-in to others, social problem-solving, managing feelings and reactions, friendship building and strengthening, social cues, and effective communication through fun activities like sports, arts, and crafts.
Dates:
Age range: 5–15 years old
Hours: 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Cost:
Registration: Complete this online form to register. They will be limiting enrollment; sign up early so that they can ensure the best camp groupings. 1:1 aides are allowed.
760 Westwood Plaza, Room 27-384
Los Angeles, CA 90095
socialskills@mednet.ucla.edu
Clinic Coordinator: Rakhi Ratanjee
Format: Virtual programs
The UCLA Parenting & Children’s Friendship Program assists elementary school children who have difficulty making or keeping friends through skill-building group sessions led by licensed psychologists. The program will be offered in summer 2023 with an early June start date.
Program: The program will be offered virtually for the foreseeable future. The program meets once a week for 12 weeks.
Ages: Second to fifth grade. First grade policy: 7-year-old first graders may be accepted into the program starting April of their first grade year.
Hours: The current sessions times are as follows:
Registration: Download and complete the Children’s Friendship Application and submit via email or mail to the address above.
Cost:
Rates for the intake appointments and group therapy sessions:
Insurance:
Regional Center: They have been vendored with Westside Regional Center in the past, but to receive more detailed information regarding vendorization, please reach out to Claudia from the UCLA Finance department at (310) 825-9335.
760 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 267-3377
peersclinic@ucla.edu
Format: In-person and virtual programs
UCLA offers a social skills training program known as the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS). The PEERS program is “world-renowned for providing evidence-based social skills treatment to preschoolers, adolescents, and young adults with autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional problems.” UCLA offers a wide range of PEERS programs for all ages. In addition to the year-round social skills sessions, UCLA also offers boot camps held on weekends for such topics as conversations, dating, friendship, and handling bullying, all hosted at the UCLA campus. They also offer an online PEERS Virtual Boot Camp, open to all ages, which include 35 pre-recorded episodes covering all PEERS skills. Parent participation is a key component to the success of the PEERS programs.
Program: All programs are both in-person and online on Zoom and meet once a week for 16 weeks. Programs run year-round, and a couple of the programs will be starting in summer 2023.
Ages:
Hours: Varies based on the program
Registration: To find more information about registering for a PEERS program, contact their office at (310) 267-3377 or email peersclinic@ucla.edu. Parents must complete a 15-minute phone screen with a member of their staff, and they will then receive an enrollment packet.
Cost:
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