Social, Emotional and Creative Therapy Groups at Child Therapy Boston

Needham Schedule

Some of our groups are split between girls, boys, and all gender as listed below. We welcome and encourage kids and teens to join the group that suits them best so they may feel comfortable connecting with others. If you have questions about this, please feel free to reach out anytime. No matter who you are – we’ll be happy to have you!

Learn more about our groups!

Winter 2024

Social Skills Groups

Pre-K All Gender: Sundays 11:30
Pre-K & K All Gender: Sunday 12:30
Kindergarten & 1st All Gender: Tuesday 3:30
1st & 2nd Grade All Gender Playful Coping & Social Skills: Mondays 5:30
3rd-5th Grade Boys: Sundays 10:00 & 11:00
4th-6th Grade Girls: Sundays 1:00
3rd- 5th Grade Girls: TBD
 3rd- 5th Grade Boys: TBD
5th & 6th Grade Girls: Wednesday 4:45
7th-9th Grade Girls: Wednesdays 5:45
Middle School Boys: TBD
MS Girls Social Skills: TBD
High School Girls: Monday 7:30 & Wednesday 5:30
High School Boys: TBD

Anxiety Management & Coping Skills Groups

Playful Coping
Kindergarten & 1st Grade All Gender: Tuesday 3:30
1st and 2nd Grade All Gender Playful Coping
2nd & 3rd Grade All Gender: Monday 5:00

Creative Coping 
3rd-5th Grade All Gender: TBD
Middle School All Gender: Tuesday 4:30

“Yes, And…” Therapeutic Improv
Middle School All Gender: Wednesday 6:30

If you’d like to request groups on different days or times or if you don’t see a group for your child’s age, please let us know. We will be starting new groups throughout the Fall so feel free to reach out.

Social Skills Groups in Needham

Pre-K & Kindergarten Social Skills and Play Groups
Our groups for pre-K and Kindergarteners are for kids who struggle to join in and play or connect with their peers. They may have trouble reading social cues or might benefit from additional coaching and support with peer interactions. We work on sharing, turn taking, coming out of our shells, problem solving, communication skills, managing personal space, thinking about what our friends might be thinking or feeling, and having fun with friends. We use stories, art, play, games, and other fun activities to work on connecting and joining in with others.

1st & 2nd Grade Social Skills and Play Groups
In our 1st & 2nd Grade Social Skills Groups we work on helping kids join in appropriately and connect with friends. These are groups for kids who need to work on sportsmanship skills, turn taking, reading social cues, conversation skills, sharing, problem solving, speaking up for themselves, going with the flow, being flexible, and having fun with friends. We use play, art, stories, games and other fun activities.

3rd – 5th Grade Girls Social Skills and Friendship Groups
These groups are for 3rd, 4th & 5th grade girls who have a hard time joining in with peers, struggle to make and keep friends and have difficulty reading social cues. We work on joining in, conversation skills, nonverbal communication skills, sportsmanship, being flexible, going with the flow, problem solving with friends, self-awareness and connecting with others. We use stories, art, games, and teamwork challenges to practice and reinforce these friendship and social skills.

3rd – 5th Grade Boys Social Skills and Friendship Groups
These groups are for 3rd, 4th & 5th Grade Boys who would benefit from additional practice and skills with making and keeping friends. In this group we work on conversation skills, being good listeners with our friends, turn taking, thinking about what our friends might be thinking, problem solving, cooperating, being flexible, sportsmanship, and many more skills. We use fun games, activities, stories, art, and play to practice and reinforce friendship and social skills.

Middle School Boys Social Skills and Friendship Groups
This is a social skills group for Middle School boys with ADHD, Anxiety, or for kids who have trouble making friends or struggle to connect with their peers. We work on joining in with friends, communication, taking other’s perspectives, self-awareness, reading social cues, connecting with others, being appropriately assertive, appropriate use of humor, and sportsmanship. We will use games, activities, teamwork challenges and fun activities to practice and reinforce friendship and social skills.

Middle School Girls Social Skills and Friendship Groups
This is a group for Middle School Girls who struggle to connect with their peers, read social cues, and navigate their social world. This group would be beneficial for girls with ADHD, Anxiety, NLD, or girls who could benefit from extra social skills practice and coaching. In a fun and laid-back environment, we use conversation, art, games, and teamwork challenges to practice and reinforce important social and friendship skills including reading social cues, joining in appropriately, taking other’s perspectives, and having fun with friends.

High School Girls Social Skills Group
This is a group for High School Girls with ADHD, NLD, Anxiety, Depression or girls who struggle to read and interpret social cues. We will work on joining in, decoding social scenarios, managing feelings of social anxiety, connection with peers, self-awareness, gaining self-confidence, and having fun with friends. We will use conversation, games, art, improvisational acting, and teamwork challenges to practice and reinforce the skills.

High School Boys Social Skills Group
This is a group for High School Boys with ADHD, NLD, Anxiety, or Depression who struggle to join in, connect, or get along with peers. We will work on conversation skills, nonverbal communication, being appropriately assertive, going with the flow, self-awareness, reading social cues, and joining in. We will use conversation, games, and teamwork challenges to practice and reinforce important social and friendship skills.

Anxiety Management & Coping Skills Groups

Creative Coping
“Creative Coping” is a therapeutic art group that will work on coping skills, anxiety management, stress management, and more. We will use all different types of artistic and creative interventions to learn new ways of managing difficult feelings, expressing thoughts and emotions, and coping with current stressors.

Playful Coping
Playful Coping is an anxiety management and coping skills group for our younger clients. Using play, games, stories, drama, and art, kids will learn ways to recognize, understand and cope with their big (often anxious) feelings. This is a great way for kids to connect with other kids who experience similar things and to gain skills in a fun and supportive group.

“Yes And…” Therapeutic Improv Group
“Yes And…” is a therapeutic Improv Group to help Middle Schoolers work on Social Skills and Social Anxiety in a fun, creative and engaging way. Improv offers kids and teens an opportunity to engage with others, be flexible, creative, silly, funny, work through
insecurities, connect with peers, and gain confidence.

Confidence and Chords
Confidence and Chords is a music therapy group for kids experiencing social anxiety. Using improvisational music, song writing, composition, listening, and more… kids will work on connecting with peers, gaining self-confidence, coping skills, and strategies for overcoming certain anxieties. This group is led by our in-house music therapist, Graham Peck, MT-BC, Pre-licensed LMHC.

Girl Power
Girl Power is a self-empowerment group for girls. We work on self-esteem, confidence, resiliency, assertiveness, and making positive choices. We use art and other expressive and playful therapy techniques to make the group lively, engaging and impactful.

Coping Together
Coping Together is an anxiety management group that will utilize a wide range of coping skills including mindfulness, music, creativity, self-care, self-empowerment, connection, self-advocacy, and stress management.  This group is an affirming space for kids and teens.

Sometimes children are referred to our groups but might not be “group ready” just yet. We prioritize the safety of our group members and unfortunately are not able to work with kids in groups who struggle to keep themselves or others safe. Additionally, our groups are the best fit for kids who can participate in settings with 5 other kids without one-on-one support. Kids also need to be able to follow basic directions (staying in the room, safety related requests). We sometimes recommend that children participate in individual therapy first to work on some skills required for group participation. We are happy to provide individual therapy in this case (*subject to waitlist) or work with another provider to collaborate around group readiness.

An intake is required prior to joining a group. This is so we can get to know your child, understand their goals and determine which group will be the best fit. Once the intake is complete and there is a group that is a good fit, you will be welcome to join. Groups are 50-minutes long and meet weekly. While we don’t require a commitment for any specific amount of time, we do ask for regular attendance so that both your child and the group can benefit from consistency. We bill for groups weekly and allow up to 4 absences throughout the school year with 48-hours notice. Same day cancelations (early) for sicknesses count towards absences. Beyond the allotted number of absences, we do charge a partial fee.

Child Therapy Boston is a private pay therapy practice and does not accept any health insurance. All services are strictly out-of-pocket and full payment is required at the time of service. We will provide a monthly statement showing services and payments that can be used to submit to your insurance company for out-of-network coverage if you like.

Parents are welcome to use Health Savings Accounts or Flex Spending Accounts for payment. If you have questions regarding your out of network coverage, please be sure to call your insurance company as it varies between all plans.

If you have questions about our fees and services, please feel free to reach out any time.

If you are interested in getting started with our services, please feel free to complete our screening form or reach out to us by phone or email Connect@childtherapyinboston.com 781-400-2641.

Child Therapy Boston is a private pay therapy practice and does not accept any health insurance. All services are strictly out-of-pocket and full payment is required at the time of service. We will provide a monthly statement showing services and payments that can be used to submit to your insurance company for out-of-network coverage if you like.

Parents are welcome to use Health Savings Accounts or Flex Spending Accounts for payment. If you have questions regarding your out of network coverage, please be sure to call your insurance company as it varies between all plans.

If you have questions about our fees and services, please feel free to reach out any time.