Weekly sessions
Meet online for 90 minutes each week across the 16-week program.
PEERS GroupsPEERS® groups
Practise connection.
Build your people skills.
A practical, evidence-based 16-week social skills group program for adolescents and adults—learned step by step, rehearsed together and supported between sessions.
90 minutes weekly 16-week program Social-coach supported
16
weeksto learn and practise
Togetherwith a social coach
Adolescent groups
✦Adult groups
✦Online delivery
✦Practical coaching
How PEERS® Groups work
Learn the steps.
Try them together.
PEERS®—the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills—was developed at UCLA for people experiencing social challenges.
Participants are introduced to targeted skills through clear instruction and role-play demonstrations. Small-group rehearsal gives everyone a supported place to practise, receive coaching and prepare for real social situations.
Weekly practice helps move the learning beyond the session and into conversations, friendships, social activities and everyday communication.
Could a PEERS® group be a useful fit?Tell the team about the participant and the goals that matter to them.
Check group suitability Clear teaching
Break useful social skills into practical, repeatable steps.
Supported rehearsal
Practise with direct coaching and constructive feedback.
Everyday practice
Apply the skills between sessions with social-coach support.
Skills for real life
What participants practise.
The content is practical, structured and designed around the social situations participants want to navigate more confidently.
Conversation
Starting, joining and balancing conversations with practical strategies.
Friendship
Finding shared interests, building connection and maintaining friendships.
Digital communication
Using electronic communication thoughtfully and confidently.
Handling challenges
Responding to teasing, bullying, disagreements and awkward moments.
Getting together
Planning and organising social time outside the weekly group.
Real-world practice
Rehearsing new skills with coaching, feedback and weekly practice.
Find the right group
Not sure which PEERS® group is the best place to start?
Register your interest and the team will discuss current groups, suitability and timing.
Practice has backupSupport continues between sessions.
The social-coach difference
Support that continues between sessions.
A social coach attends a separate session at the same time as the participant. This may be a parent, family member, support worker, mentor, life coach or another trusted person.
Social coaches learn how to reinforce the weekly skill, offer constructive feedback and support real-world practice without taking over.
- Learn the same weekly strategy
- Support socialisation homework
- Encourage practice and reflection
Evidence-led program
Developed at UCLA.
Delivered with care.
PEERS® is a manualised social skills program developed by Dr Elizabeth Laugeson at the University of California, Los Angeles. The program has been evaluated across multiple research studies with adolescents and adults.
Socially Speaking delivers the established framework with practical coaching and a strengths-based approach. Suitability is discussed during intake because a group program is not the right format for everyone.
Explore PEERS® at UCLABefore you register
PEERS® Groups FAQs.
Current cohort dates, availability and individual suitability are confirmed by the Socially Speaking team.
Who are PEERS® Groups for?
Socially Speaking offers PEERS® groups for socially motivated adolescents, young adults and adults experiencing social challenges. The team discusses age, goals, group fit and support needs during intake.
How long does the program run?
The established PEERS® format meets once a week for 90 minutes across 16 weeks. Participants practise between sessions so the learning can transfer into everyday situations.
What is a social coach?
A social coach may be a parent, family member, adult sibling, support worker, life coach, job coach or peer mentor. They learn how to give constructive feedback and support weekly practice.
Are groups online?
Socially Speaking currently delivers PEERS® groups online using Zoom and Australian Eastern time. Current dates, cohort options and availability are confirmed during registration.
What are the current fees and funding options?
Fees and funding arrangements can change. Contact Socially Speaking for the current program fee and to discuss whether self-managed or plan-managed NDIS funding may align with the participant's goals and plan.
Find the right group
Start with a conversation.
Register your interest and tell Socially Speaking a little about the participant, their goals and the support they are looking for. The team will discuss suitable groups, timing and next steps.
PEERS Groups enquiry
Tell us who you're enquiring for.
Complete the secure Typeform below. You'll be taken to a confirmation page after a successful submission.
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