The development of a skills building group is important for providing valuable information to assist students as they navigate a college campus. It’s also important for providing a social network through which students can connect with others. The CPSASD conducts skills groups called “Discovery Group,” the cost to attend the 15 week social skill development program is $500. Themes of managing a stressful college lifestyle, as well as the transition out of college are discussed. Topics for the Discovery Group change from year to year, but are often centered on discussions similar to these examples:
- Welcome back
– Welcome to the new members
– Introduction, Name, major, something interesting that happened
– Group rules
– Me, myself, and I – Worksheet exploring likes, believes and personal values
– Topics that you would like to explore, understand or refine your knowledge in - Time management and Smart Goals
– What is time management and why is so difficult for us?
– Executive functioning – what we need to know about scheduling, organizing and prioritizing…
– How do I spend my time? – Academic Success Time Budget Sheet, what am I missing and where do I spend most of my time?
– Find your prime time. Why is it good to know?
– Smart Goal Setting, a step by step approach
– Finally, who and what can help you better manage your time? Tools and resources I didn’t know I had… - Developing a Social Radar: Part 1
– All about me, All about you – Dialog vs. Monolog
– It’s all about sharing – But how much should I share?
– Under-sharing vs. Oversharing
– How does it affect your relationships if you share too much, or don’t talk about yourself, your values, likes, dislikes at all?
– The importance and struggle of finding the balance - Developing a Social Radar: Part 2
– What is Theory of mind and how it effects social communication and relationship building
– Trying to understand: Other people’s thoughts, Motivations (e.g. the reason why someone did something), Intentions (e.g. what the person planned or meant to happen)
– Notice how others feel: Mood stages (e.g. tired, ill, fed up.), Reactions to events (e.g. excited about a good grade, upset following a sad event), Reactions to other’s behavior, including yours (e.g. hurt feeling, boredom)
– Working out wishes and preferences of others: Things they want, Things they enjoy,
– Things the find interesting/boring/frightening - Relationship Building and Communication Skills
– Early phases of relationship building-What does it look like?
– Reminder – Enough about me, Tell me about you!
– When and how to start, keep up and end a conversation
– Understanding and reading body language during a conversation
– Focused interests and how they impact relationships
– Small talk, and how it’s done - Relationship Building (Romantic Relationships)
– Approaching someone I’d like to talk to: Here’s how it’s done
– Body Language: What those subtle movements and expressions really mean
– Yes, I’m interested! (Now, what does that look like?)
– I hope you’re interested! (Now, what does that look like?)
– Developing and maintaining relationships
– Dating With Asperger Syndrome: Decoding Girl-world - Building My Reputation On Campus
– Actions and words: their influence on how you’re perceived
– Introducing myself: The in’s and out’s of doing it right
– Talking to professors vs. talking to friends: what’s the difference?
– What is my reputation, and how do I change it?
– Role models and how they influence your behavior - Decision Making and Conflict Resolution
– Independent decision making
– Questions I should ask (myself) before making an important decision
– Consequences of a wrong decision
– Conflict resolution, who is it done?
– Understanding and analyzing the issue, Understanding the other party involved in the conflict
– Disagreeing correctly - Stress and Anxiety
– Understanding and recognizing personal triggers
– What does it feel, and look like to be stressed?
– How would others recognize when I am stressed and what can help
– Sensory sensitivity and stress, what is the link…
– Preventing and coping with stress - Anger Management
– Understanding and taking criticism but avoid being hurt
– Recognizing and understanding my feeling
– How to appropriately express my feelings
– I have control – my thoughts, my feelings!!!