It’s been nearly ten years since I launched a PEERS® programme in Denver, Colorado. Reflecting on that journey, I’ve witnessed firsthand how this evidence-based resource supports neurodiverse young people in navigating the often complex terrain of social interaction.
Social skills don’t come naturally for many, regardless of whether someone is neurotypical or neurodivergent. The PEERS® programme offers participants and their families clear, concrete steps to address 15 different social situations. These foundational tools help young people adapt across personal, academic, and vocational settings, empowering them to get their needs met and build meaningful connections.
What Is a Social Skills Group?
PEERS® is the only empirically validated social skills training programme in existence. Backed by extensive cross-cultural studies, its long-term effectiveness has been confirmed by both participants and their families years after completing the course.
Structured as a clinically supported group for 5–10 members, PEERS® also runs a parallel parent group. Parents are trained to act as social coaches, helping teens and young adults implement the skills in real-life social settings.
The programme covers:
- Conversational skills
- Communicating electronically
- Choosing friendships based on shared interests
- Conflict resolution
- Dealing with relational aggression and bullying
In my experience, PEERS® significantly improves social learning and adaptive functioning. Since launching the programme, I’ve seen it build both confidence and competence in every group.
Who Can Benefit from a Social Skills Group?
Decades of research from UCLA’s Semel Institute confirm the positive impact of PEERS® for teens and young adults presenting with autistic features, ADHD, social anxiety, depression, or social neglect. The course addresses the natural social cognitive delays associated with these neurotypes by teaching clear, actionable steps.
It’s important to note that PEERS® is not a therapy group. It is a skills-based programme that empowers participants with tools to protect and advocate for themselves socially. It is also neuro-affirmative, focusing on choice, autonomy, and identifying friendships that align with an individual’s needs and values.
Key Benefits of Participating in a Social Skills Group
I often think back to a teen from my very first PEERS® group, someone who struggled significantly with behavioural regulation and making friends. A few years later, I ran into his mother at a shop. Admittedly, I felt a bit nervous about how things had gone. To my relief, she shared that he had developed a strong group of friends and continued to use the skills he learned during the course.
This story echoes the feedback I’ve received from many other parents, and even my own daughter, a former participant. She often reflects on how helpful the programme was for her, especially when she observes peers who are still socially struggling and unaware of the tools available to them.
The 16-week programme uses real-world role plays, followed by weekly behavioural rehearsals. Social coaches at home reinforce these skills throughout the week, ensuring consistent practice. By the end of the course, participants and their families share a common language—buzzwords and strategies that can be used indefinitely to support social success.
This long-term reinforcement helps participants initiate and sustain enriching friendships that often extend far beyond the programme.
What to Expect from a PEERS® Social Skills Group with Craig McCullough
We deliver PEERS® as close as possible to its original clinical design. With over 25 years of experience in mental health, and 15 years specialising in neurodiverse clients, I lead a team of certified clinicians and interns through PEERS Ireland.
We currently run the teen group (ages 12–17) twice a year, along with a young adult group (ages 18–28) that includes modules on dating and relationships. To serve families across Ireland, we offer a hybrid 16-week model: part online, part in-person, with four in-person weekends to make travel manageable.
As mentioned earlier, PEERS® is a neuro-affirmative programme. While some critics argue that teaching social skills to autistic individuals encourages masking, we take a different view. Masking, or suppressing one’s authentic self to fit in, can be traumatic. But PEERS® doesn’t encourage conformity; it offers choice. Just as we teach foundational skills in subjects like maths or biology to help navigate life, social skills coaching provides a framework for engaging with others in a way that supports personal agency.
Participation is always voluntary. Group members join because they want to build skills and understand how to connect more meaningfully with others.
Is a Social Skills Group Right for You or Your Child?
Social disconnection and loneliness are on the rise. If you or someone you love is struggling socially, we encourage you to reach out. We offer a free phone assessment to help parents and prospective participants understand whether the PEERS® programme is the right fit.
We’ve seen how PEERS® groups create life-changing opportunities for connection and belonging.
Ready to Build Stronger Social Skills?
We all need strong adaptive skills to thrive in today’s world. The PEERS® (Programme for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) course is a proven, structured approach to developing these abilities.
Too often, I see parents express interest but delay taking the next step. I encourage you—if you’re curious—to book a free 20-minute screening call. That small step could be the beginning of a big shift, helping your child move from a place of social disempowerment to one of confidence, pride, and connection.