Social Therapy for the Treatment of Asperger’s Syndrome

"It is increasingly recognized that major barriers to social function may be related to a lack of opportunity or instruction rather than just to intrinsic impairments” (Batshaw, 2002.)

At the Social Therapy Group, we help families get out of the diagnostic box in which children (and their parents!) are trapped. Our clinicians relate to everyone as having the capacity to develop and perform ahead of themselves. We invite children to help co-create an environment that does not pathologize anyone due to a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome.

We have been successful in this area because social therapy supports everyone’s capacity to be both who they are and who they are becoming. In other words, Social Therapy enables people to be comfortable in their own skin, but not afraid to grow, if they so choose.

Asperger’s Syndrome may well be neurobiological. Nevertheless, as social therapists, we work hard to not interpret or predict based upon the child’s current performance repertoire. We relate to children and families as having the capacity to organize what’s happening in more creative and developmental ways, and as having the capability to transform the performance of their lives.

At the Social Therapy Group, we help individuals and families learn how to build an environment where relationality is key. In essence, it is helping all concerned look at the impact they are having on other people. In some cases it’s recognizing that there are other people. A diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome need not and should not be allowed to interfere with performance or continuous human development.

Social proficiency and emotional security are concerns for all children and their families. This is especially true concerning the child with Asperger’s Syndrome. At the Social Therapy Group, we recognize that feeling and being liked and accepted are important treatment factors in building self-confidence, and that Asperger’s Syndrome treatment must include a focus on the growth and development of social skills and the ability to relate to others. Our supportive groups are run by expert therapists experienced in Asperger’s Syndrome treatment.

A group therapy approach

Unlike most conventional approaches, the Social Therapy Group’s philosophy is not to segregate the child with Asperger’s. Treatment and support comes in a group milieu that comprises individuals of all ages and backgrounds, each making his or her unique contribution. This type of Asperger’s treatment enables the child to interact and be part of creating a diverse social environment and exposes their social limitations.

Group support provides many other learning and growth opportunities:
  • Reinforcement and support for growth and development can come from a variety of different sources -- not just the therapist.
  • Through broad interactions with others, the child with Asperger’s benefits from exposure to a rich social environment. (A lack of such information can contribute significantly to social isolation.)
  • The entire family is encouraged to become involved in treatment. This creates a support group-within-a-group for the child.
  • The group support provides a noncompetitive environment wherein there are no forced comparisons with others. This is an important feature of treatment for a child with Asperger’s.
  • The child is supported to express their emotions for and with others.
  • Treatment is supported and facilitated by the many different positive and appropriate role models the child with Asperger’s witnesses interacts with in this group setting.