Social Skills Unscripted

While I absolutely love hanging out with students one on one, it is definitely not the most effective way to help them develop social skills. I am not their peer, our interactions will be different than those between them and kids/teens their own age, and I can't help them with challenges that I don...

If you think about some of the most common advice our kids get when they are trying to make friends, it's usually things like:

*Just go up and introduce yourself

*Ask them what they are talking about

*Don't talk to strangers

None of these strategies help people make friends. They actually mak...

I am back live and in person in San Antonio for summer camp, which kicked off today! (Don't tell August through May, but summer camp is my FAVORITE!)

One of the many reasons it's my favorite is because we spend SO MUCH time playing. No matter how old everyone is, we all play for, like, the whole...

This month is Starfish Social Club's 8th birthday! That means it's now older than some of our students! 

I've been reflecting on all the things I've learned from teaching social skills over the last 8 years. It's been an amazing experience and opportunity, and I'm incredibly grateful to be able ...

While our social groups and summer camp here at Starfish Social Club are geared towards kids and teens, kids and teens grow into adults! At some point along the way, the focus often shifts from making friends to dating and romantic relationships.

We talked about romantic relationships a bit this...

I'm going through a 'life phase' right now where I'm learning and doing and trying a bunch of new things. 

Some days I feel a bit frustrated that I didn't know some of these things sooner, or that I have never done something like this before, or that I'm as old as I am and this is all new to me....

Last week a friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook of a message board with a cryptic message that I couldn't uncrack. I scrolled through the comments and saw that it's 'court reporter speak'. I have zero familiarity with this 'language', and seeing it made me even more confused as to how it's a...

Any time we learn something new, there's also some unlearning that has to happen. That's what has been going on in our groups: I am helping students unlearn what they THINK friendship is. Over the years, I've realized and recognized several different misconceptions our kids have when it comes to who...

I really love learning new things, especially when those things help me figure out more about myself. I had no idea that was going to be the case when I scheduled an interview with this week's guest, Niki McGlynn.

The more Niki talked about her work with primitive reflexes, the more I realized s...

One of the most important needs we all have as humans (once our basic needs are met) is the need to be seen for who we are. 

If you think about the people in your life that are the most important to you, chances are it's because they make you feel seen for who you are. They love you, they care a...

Have you ever noticed how much the way you were raised influences the way you parent/teach? Honestly, I think it was a big factor in my decision to NOT have kids.

These human brains of ours only know what we've been exposed to, so they carry on with what we have been taught or have experienced. ...

The number one reason parents register their kids for either the group program here at Starfish Social Club or my 1/1 support is because they recognize their child doesn't have friends. This can be a very emotional and pivotal point for parents.

But you know what event may be even more important...