Group Therapy: Helping Kids Build Real Connections That Last
For many children and teens, the hardest part of the day isn’t academics, it’s navigating friendships, handling group work, joining play, or managing big emotions when plans change.
Our Social Skills and Executive Functioning Group Therapy Sessions are designed to help children and adolescents build the confidence and tools they need to succeed in everyday life. These group therapy sessions bridge the gap between therapy and the real world, helping kids practice skills in meaningful, practical ways.
Rooted in the gold-standard, evidence-based frameworks of Dr. Jed Baker (Social Skills Training) and Michelle Garcia Winner (Social Thinking), the group therapy sessions are interactive, engaging, and developmentally appropriate. Most importantly, children learn skills they can actually use at school, at home, and in their communities.
Because social expectations change as children grow, we offer two age-based groups designed to meet kids exactly where they are.
Which Group is Right for Your Child?
| Feature | Group Therapy 1 (Ages 8–12) | Group Therapy 2 (Ages 12–16) |
| Focus | Social Foundations & Emotional Regulation | Independence & Real World Skills |
| Duration | 60 minutes / 10–12 Sessions | 75 minutes / 8–10 Sessions |
| Format | In-Office | In-Office + Community Field Trips |
| Meeting Time | Wednesdays at 4:00 PM ET | Wednesdays at 5:15 PM ET |
Group Therapy – Group 1 (Ages 8-12): Building Confidence, Emotional Awareness, and Peer Connections
Ages: 8 to 12 years old
Schedule: Wednesdays at 4:00 PM ET
Format: 12 weekly sessions (60 minutes each) including 2 parent sessions
Group Size: Intimate setting of 3–5 children (plus parent involvement)
About This Group
The pre-teen years are a critical time for developing emotional awareness, self-control, and healthy peer relationships. This group therapy cohort focuses on helping children understand social expectations, regulate emotions, and build the confidence to engage with others.
Parent involvement is a key part of this group therapy program. Strategies taught during sessions are reinforced at home and in daily life, helping skills generalize beyond the therapy room. Families and children participate in an intake and goal-setting session to ensure appropriate placement and individualized support.
Note: Attendance is important for skill building and group cohesion. Each child is allowed to miss only 2 sessions.
Skills We Build:
- Perspective Taking: Understanding how actions and words affect others
- Social Awareness: Reading body language and respecting personal space
- Emotional Identification: Recognizing feelings in themselves and others
- Impulse Control: Learning to pause, think, and respond thoughtfully
- Executive Functioning: Building organization, initiation, and follow-through
- Confidence & Peer Engagement: Reducing anxiety around group play and conversations
Insurance Notice: We do not accept or bill insurance for these specialized group programs. Payment secures your child’s spot for the entire duration of the cohort. Attendance is critical to the effectiveness of the group and group participants rely on each other.
Secure Your Spot in Group 1 and Complete the Intake Form Below
Spaces are strictly limited to ensure individualized attention for every participant. You don’t have to live in “survival mode.” Schedule a consultation with our Board Certified Behavior Analyst today.
Group Therapy – Group 2 (Ages 12-16): Building Independence & Navigating the Real World
Ages: 12 to 16 years old
Schedule: Wednesdays at 5:15 PM ET
Format: 8 to 10 weekly sessions (75 minutes each)
About This Group
Teenagers learn best by doing. This advanced group takes social and executive functioning skills out of the clinic and into real-world environments.
Through guided community outings, teens practice navigating everyday situations such as ordering food, managing money, planning ahead, and interacting with others in unpredictable settings. All community events will take place in Sawgrass Village. Sessions are hands-on, engaging, and designed to promote independence, confidence, and self-advocacy.
Note: The cost of the group does not include expenses for community events. Your child will be responsible for bringing any additional funds required per session, and you will be informed of these costs in advance. Attendance is important: each child is allowed to miss only 2 sessions.
A liability waiver is required for community outings. The final session concludes with a celebratory family meal planned and executed by the group.
Primary Outcomes
- Increase functional social communication in natural environments
- Improve independence in community settings
- Build confidence in real-world interactions
- Strengthen planning, organization, and decision-making
- Improve emotional regulation during unpredictable situations
Target Skill Domains
Social Skills:
- Ordering food
- Conversational turn-taking
- Group decision-making
- Perspective taking
- Social flexibility
- Self-advocacy
- Manners & etiquette
Executive Function:
- Planning & sequencing
- Time management
- Budget awareness
- Impulse control
- Emotional regulation
- Working memory
- Task initiation
Insurance Notice: We do not accept or bill insurance for these specialized group programs. Payment secures your child’s spot for the entire duration of the cohort. Attendance is critical to the effectiveness of the group and group participants rely on each other.
What Is a BCBA? (And Why Your Family Might Need One)
You’ve probably heard terms like “ABA” or “Behavior Analyst” in IEP meetings, pediatrician visits, or therapy sessions, but what does it actually mean for your family?
A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) is a Master’s-level clinician who specializes in understanding behavior and learning. Think of a BCBA as an architect of behavior. We don’t just notice what a child is doing (the tantrum), we ask why they are doing it (the function), and then design a blueprint to replace challenging behaviors with positive, lasting skills.
At Milestones Child Psychology, we serve families in Ponte Vedra, Nocatee, and St. Augustine with BCBA services designed differently. We move beyond the traditional “40-hours-a-week” therapy model to provide targeted, high-impact consultation that empowers parents to be the agents of change.
Is This “ABA Therapy”?
Yes and no. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) is the science we use, but our delivery model is unique.
In a Traditional ABA, therapy often involves a technician (RBT) working 20 to 40 hours per week with a child. This is ideal for early learners with significant delays.
In the Milestones BCBA Model, we focus on Parent Coaching and Focused Intervention. For many children, especially those with ADHD, Level 1 Autism (Asperger’s), or oppositional behaviors, the most effective therapist is you. We teach you the tools, strategies, and skills to change the household dynamic, creating lasting growth for your child and family.