Social Superheroes is a program designed to address social anxiety in children

This summer, Thriving Minds Behavioral Health is offering a social skills program for children ages 5-7 who seem fearful, shy, or reluctant to interact with others or who demonstrate characteristics of Social Anxiety Disorder or Selective Mutism.

Social Superheroes is a social skills group intended to address social anxiety concerns in children. The skills are designed to build upon each other, so that the child is slowly exposed to the social situations that typically cause anxiety. In this way, kids learn age-appropriate social skills and build confidence in their abilities as they go through the program. They also get to meet children who have similar experiences as they do and get to earn rewards through participation.

Social Superheroes group members will learn about non-verbal forms of communication such as eye contact and body posture as well as other important social skills like inviting others to play or join an activity, joining groups, how to start and maintain a conversation, and talking on the phone.

Skills will be demonstrated and practiced at group. Home practice is equally important, so Thriving Minds Behavioral Health clinicians will work with families to decide upon practice experiences and help families coach through practice experiences. At the end of the program, children will be given the opportunity to apply newly learned skills in a community outing with other kids.

Social Superheroes will consist of weekly sessions beginning June 19 and ending August 21 and will meet Thursdays from 10:00-11:30 am. A parent informational night will be held Thursday, June 12 from 5:30-6:30 pm, and an intake session can be scheduled at the families’ convenience before the beginning of group sessions. For more information, visit http://www.thrivingmindsbehavioralhealth.com/therapy-services/. To register, call 810-225-3417.