There's a difference between teaching about connection and creating it. Developed through over 40 years of clinical work, CONNECT is a cognitive-behavioral group model designed for kids with ADHD, autism, and nonverbal learning differences. Children with ADHD often know the social rules but can't consistently execute them. Children on the spectrum may be missing the underlying social knowledge entirely. Most programs treat both the same. CONNECT doesn't.
Our therapists use real-time coaching, structured activities, and guided peer interaction to meet each member where they are, then build from there. Kids don't just talk about social skills. They practice them live, with peers, with immediate feedback from a therapist, in a fun environment they actually want to come back to.
What Kids Build
Making and sustaining genuine friendships • Confidence in group settings • Reading and responding to social cues • Managing frustration and emotional regulation • Conflict resolution • Self-advocacy and communication
Is this a social skills camp?
No, and the distinction matters. A social skills camp is a recreational program with social components. Our groups are clinical programs led by licensed therapists using the CONNECT model. Group members do structured therapeutic work that builds real social skills, genuine peer relationships, and emotional regulation. Kids enjoy it. The goal is measurable growth.
Why do groups start in October instead of at the beginning of the school year?
Because the first weeks of school are when social hierarchies reset and friend groups solidify. By early October, your child has a clear picture of where they actually stand, what is working and what is not. That is exactly the material a group can work with. Starting then means real-time support during the hardest stretch of the year, not preparation for something that has not happened yet.
Why commit to so many sessions? My child can barely commit to one activity.
We understand the hesitation. But the research overwhelmingly supports 27 to 35 hours for lasting social growth. Short-term programs often produce short-term results. Kids learn concepts but don’t internalize them. Our structure gives your child enough time to move past the performance phase and into genuine, automatic social competence.
Does my child need a diagnosis to participate?
No. We don’t require a formal diagnosis. Many of our group members have ADHD, autism, anxiety, or learning differences, but some simply struggle socially without a specific diagnosis. If your child is having difficulty making or keeping friends, we can help.
My child doesn’t want to come. Should I still enroll them?
This is one of the most common concerns we hear, especially from parents of tweens and teens. Resistance is expected and normal. Most kids who initially resist end up looking forward to group within a few sessions. We’re experienced at building trust with reluctant participants, and we’ll work with you on strategies to make the transition easier.
How is this different from the social skills group my child already tried?
Most social skills programs are knowledge-based. Meaning they teach kids what to do in social situations. CONNECT is performance-based. We don’t just teach concepts; we create real social situations where kids practice with peers and receive immediate coaching from licensed therapists. Our program ensures skills move from understanding to automatic behavior and growth.
What ages do you serve?
We run groups for three age ranges: children (Pre-K through elementary), tweens and teens (middle school through high school), and young adults (ages 18–30). Each group is carefully composed by developmental stage, not just age, to ensure the best possible peer interactions.
What if my child’s issue looks more like a behavior problem than a social skills problem?
Many behaviors that look like defiance, aggression, or withdrawal are actually maladaptive social strategies. Kids who can’t navigate social situations often resort to controlling behavior, avoidance, or emotional outbursts. During your free consultation, we’ll help determine whether a social skills group, individual therapy, or a combination would be most effective.
What happens during a typical session?
Sessions are structured around real social interaction, not lecture. Group members engage in cooperative activities, structured conversations, and social problem-solving scenarios while therapists provide immediate coaching and feedback. Each session targets specific skills based on the group’s developmental needs and individual goals.
Will my child make friends in the group?
Many of our group members form meaningful friendships that continue well beyond the program. Because groups are carefully composed by developmental stage and social profile, kids often connect with peers who truly understand their experience for the first time. We can’t guarantee friendship, but we can guarantee the environment and support that make it possible.
How do I know if it’s working?
You are invited to two formal progress reviews during the group session at no additional charge, and you’ll receive regular updates from your child’s group therapist. Most parents report noticeable changes at home and school well before the formal review: initiating conversations, handling conflict differently, or being invited to social events for the first time.
Can my child join mid-session?
In some cases, yes. We handle this case by case, because group composition matters and we occasionally have openings that are a good fit for a new member. Contact us to discuss your child’s situation and current availability.
How much does it cost?
Pricing varies by program length and group type, and we’re happy to walk through it during your free consultation. We accept HSA and FSA, provide superbills for insurance reimbursement, offer weekly payment plans, and can connect you with financial assistance programs.
Finding the right group starts with age, timing, and fit. We offer co-ed groups and same-gendered groups across four age levels: children, tweens, teens, and young adults into their thirties. There are two enrollment periods each year, our Summer Intensive and our School Year session, which begins October 6. We typically have a waiting list.
The foundation years.
This is where kids learn that friendship isn't something that just happens to you, it's something you build. At this age, most children still want to connect. They want to be included, to have a best friend, to be picked for the team. The desire is there, but the execution keeps breaking down. They interrupt. They take over the game. They miss the cue that says "it's someone else's turn." Or they hang back, watching from the edge, wanting in but not knowing how to get there.
Some children’s struggles look different than parents expect. Instead of shyness or withdrawal, they try to force connection — bossing other kids around, controlling the rules of every game, or reacting with frustration when things don’t go their way. These aren’t behavior problems. They’re connection problems; a child using the only tools they have to make social interaction feel predictable and safe.
Our youngest groups use play, structured activities, and in-the-moment coaching to help children develop the building blocks of social confidence. The goal is to build the foundation before the social world gets complicated. Research consistently shows that children who develop these skills early have a fundamentally different experience in middle school than those who don’t.
• Recognizing and expressing emotions appropriately • Taking turns, sharing, and cooperative play • Joining group activities without dominating or withdrawing • Handling frustration and disappointment without melting down • Reading social cues and responding appropriately • Building early friendships that extend beyond sessions
Social life gets exponentially harder in adolescence — and the stakes feel enormous.
Group chats, shifting friend groups, unwritten social rules, and the pressure to perform confidence they don’t feel. By middle school, most kids who struggle socially have already been burned...repeatedly. They’ve been left out, misread, rejected, or simply exhausted by the effort it takes to do what seems effortless for everyone else.
By the time families reach us, their teenager has often built an entire system for avoiding the thing that hurts — screens, gaming communities, online-only friendships, or simply convincing everyone (including themselves) that they prefer being alone. Some teens go the opposite direction: they try to force their way into social situations through domination, humor that pushes too far, or controlling behavior that pushes peers away.
Our teen groups are led by therapists who understand adolescent development. This isn’t a lecture series. It’s interactive, and it’s a place where teens can be honest about what’s hard and get real-time support figuring it out. What often surprises families most is what emerges: teens who arrived reluctantly begin stepping into confidence and leadership roles they hadn’t anticipated.
• Genuine friendships with peers who understand their experience • Confidence in reading and responding to social cues • Conflict resolution and emotional regulation under pressure • Digital communication skills and navigating online social dynamics • Leadership skills and the ability to see their own potential • A foundation for independence and forward momentum
The social skills gap doesn’t disappear at graduation. For many young adults, it gets wider.
The structures that once forced social interaction, school, activities, shared schedules, are suddenly gone, and nothing has replaced them. Social avoidance that was manageable in high school becomes a real barrier to employment, independence, and mental health.
Our young adult groups address the real-world social challenges of independence: workplace communication, building adult friendships from scratch, navigating dating and romantic relationships, managing social anxiety in unstructured settings, and developing authentic self-expression that leads to career advancement and meaningful connection.
This isn’t a program for people who need to be fixed. It’s for smart, capable adults who know they’re leaving social potential on the table and want practical tools to change that and a group of peers to connect with. Participants learn to navigate professional environments, build sustainable support networks, and master the social nuances of adult life that are crucial for long-term success and fulfillment.
• Workplace communication and professional social skills • The ability to build adult friendships and sustain them • Confidence in dating and romantic relationships • Independent living skills and daily social navigation • Strategies for managing social anxiety in real-world settings • A path toward genuine independence and forward momentum
Most parents have been watching this for a while. A kid who comes home and heads straight to their room. A teenager whose main social life has moved entirely online. A child who wants friends but doesn’t know how to make them, or who tries so hard to fit in that they come home exhausted. Parents who can see something is off but aren’t sure what to do next.
For kids with ADHD, autism, and anxiety, the social world doesn’t come with a manual. The unwritten rules feel impossible to read. Friendships that seem easy for everyone else feel out of reach. And when real-world connection gets hard enough, a lot of kids stop trying. They retreat into screens, gaming, and online spaces that feel safer but don’t fill the same need.
Our groups exist because these kids deserve a place where they don’t have to mask, perform, or figure it out alone. Every group is led by a therapist who specializes exclusively in ADHD, autism, and anxiety, so every child in the room is understood from day one. Kids practice real social skills live, with peers who genuinely get it. For a lot of them it’s the first time that’s ever happened, and what follows is remarkable. Kids who came in quiet find their voice. Teens who had stopped trying start showing up. Young adults who felt stuck start building the life they actually want. Confidence grows. Leaders emerge. Real friendships form. And real friendships change everything.
We have groups for every age and stage, from Pre-K through young adult, focused on friendship, connection, communication, confidence, and emotional regulation. Enrollment is open now. The first step is a free consultation, where we listen, ask the right questions, and make sure we’re pointing your family in the right direction.
Free consultation
Here’s what most social skills programs look like: six to eight sessions. Kids learn vocabulary — “use I-statements,” “make eye contact,” “take turns.” They practice in a controlled room with a leader guiding every interaction. Parents get a handout. The program ends. And within a few weeks, nothing has changed. It’s not that those programs are wrong. It’s that they stop before real social connection and growth can happen.
Group Hours 1–10: Protective habits start to soften.
Every group member arrives with a version of themselves they’ve learned to present: shyness, over-eagerness, shutting down, or dominating the room. In a short program, therapists spend all their time managing these surface behaviors. In CONNECT, our therapists expect this phase and work with it. By session 8 or 9, the protective strategies start to soften because they’re no longer necessary. Group members feel comfortable and begin to trust. The real struggles emerge, and that’s when the actual work starts.
Hours 10–20: Real relationships form, often for the first time.
Group members stop being strangers doing exercises together and start becoming people who actually know each other. They develop inside jokes. They have disagreements. They get annoyed with each other. And that’s the point, because now they’re navigating real social dynamics with real stakes, just like they would anywhere else. Our therapists coach through these moments live, helping members practice repair, vulnerability, and conflict resolution with peers.
Hours 20–30: Skills stop being performative and start becoming reflexive.
There’s a massive difference between knowing what you should do before reacting and actually doing it when it matters. By this phase, group members aren’t thinking about the skills anymore. They’re using them. Less prompting, more real connection, and real confidence for the first time.
Hours 30–35: Social Growth Emerges
After enough experiences of genuine social success, not manufactured praise but real moments of connection and belonging, group members begin to revise how they approach social situations. The child who believed “nobody wants to play with me” starts choosing to join in. The teen who was certain they’d always be on the outside starts to see themselves as someone who belongs, and starts taking chances. That shift in self-concept is what makes the change durable long after the group ends.
CONNECT consolidates years of trying into a single, sustained process with licensed therapists, real peer relationships, and a proven model designed for how neurodivergent kids actually learn and grow. It’s the right time, structured the right way. Maybe for the first time.
Most social skills programs teach concepts. We Build Experience
Most families who find us have already been somewhere else. Another therapist who meant well but didn’t quite understand. A program that wasn’t built for a brain like their child’s. By the time they reach us, parents aren’t just looking for help. They’re hoping this time it’s different.
Every clinician at KPLA specializes exclusively in children, teens, and young adults with ADHD, autism, anxiety, and learning differences. This isn’t a general practice that sees everyone. And you don’t need a diagnosis to walk through our door. If something feels off and you’re not sure why, that’s enough. We’ll help you figure out the rest.
Early Elementary and Late Elementary
At this age the social moments that matter most are the ordinary ones: making friends, reading social cues, navigating conflict, and figuring out the unwritten rules of recess and lunch. Lisa taught elementary school for 26 years before she became a therapist, so she knows exactly where these skills get tested, and what a child looks like in the moment right before they stop trying.
Read Full BioLate Elementary
Some children aren’t excluded so much as overlooked: bright, verbal, full of interests, and consistently missed in peer groups. Nathan works with children whose social profile doesn’t match their cognitive strengths, and he is deliberate about pace. First friendships build slowly, and the group is structured to let that happen.
Read Full BioMiddle School and High School
The move to middle school dissolves established friend groups. Kids arrive without a peer circle, unstructured time becomes the hardest part of the day, and avoidance sets in quickly. Clay works with adolescents who have already decided therapy isn’t for them, and he uses group and outdoor experiential work to build skills through shared activity rather than discussion alone.
Read Full Bio
Middle School · High School · Young Adult
By middle school, social difficulty compounds: exclusion from peer groups, friendships that shift without explanation, and the loss of confidence that follows. For some it continues well past graduation. Ryan leads groups at the middle school, high school, and young adult levels, including adults into their thirties, and has worked with young people for years in both clinical and community settings. He keeps engagement high, so skill practice happens inside genuine participation rather than instruction.
Read Full BioHigh School
High school runs on belonging and identity, and for a teen who feels different, or who has never had friends who get it, that can be isolating in a way that wears confidence down fast. Katie’s groups focus on belonging, identity, and building real friendships. She is energetic and inventive, and teens connect with her quickly, which is what lets the work happen.
From first call to first session, we make it easy. And if CONNECT isn’t the right fit, we’ll help you find what is.
Step 1
Express Interest
Call or fill out our contact form. You’ll hear back within 24 business hours from a real person, not an automated system.
Step 2
Free Consultation
We’ll schedule you with one of our licensed therapists to discuss your child’s challenges, social history, and goals, explain the CONNECT model, and help you decide if it’s the right fit.
Step 3
Group Placement
Based on age, developmental stage, and social goals — not just availability. Every group is carefully composed for the best outcomes.
Step 4
Ongoing Check-ins
Two progress evaluations are included at no additional charge. You’ll always know how your child is progressing and what’s coming next.
If CONNECT isn’t the right fit, we’ll help you find what is. No pressure, no obligation.
KPLA’s social skills groups are private-pay. This is a deliberate choice — it allows us to maintain small group sizes, hire and retain experienced therapists, and deliver the kind of individualized attention that insurance-funded programs simply can’t.
We provide superbills after each session that you can submit to your insurance for potential reimbursement. Many families recover a significant portion of the cost. We also accept HSA and FSA accounts, offer payment plans, and connect families with financial assistance through Rocky Mountain Health Services.
Our pricing is transparent — no hidden fees, no surprise charges. We’ll discuss the full investment during your free consultation so you can plan accordingly.
At a Glance
✓ Superbills provided for insurance reimbursement
✓ HSA & FSA accounts accepted
✓ Flexible payment plans available
✓ Financial assistance through Rocky Mountain Health Services
✓ Transparent pricing — no surprises
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