SOCOM – School Adjustment Support Group (ages 10–14)

Detailed professional description

Social-communication skills development for young people aged 10–14 with autism spectrum conditions and/or significant social-functioning difficulties. The group aims to support the formation and maintenance of peer relationships and successful participation in school communities through the development of social and communication skills.

Age group: young people aged 10–14 with ASD, social-functioning difficulties or challenges in peer relationships.

Focus: difficulties with school adjustment, social communication, anxiety and connecting with others.

Methods:

• Cognitive behavioural elements, including reward and reinforcement.
• Autism-specific tools, including visual supports and social stories.
• Social learning and modelling.
• Role play and situational practice.
• Creative and hands-on activities.
• Co-operative games.

Developmental focus:

• Recognising and expressing emotions.
• Learning and understanding social rules.
• Maintaining relationships, co-operation and problem-solving.
• Self-esteem, self-protection and assertiveness.
• Using verbal and non-verbal communication tools.
• Managing anxiety.
• Developing mentalisation skills.

How the group works: admission requires a parent consultation and, where necessary, an individual assessment of the young person, followed by three to four introductory individual sessions with the group leader before placement.

Group leaders: Kamilla Kelemen – special educational needs teacher and speech and language therapist; Zsófia Mészár – clinical psychologist.