Upcoming Groups: Fall 2020
Courage Club (Saturdays 2:00pm - 3:30pm)
These classes build on one another; registration for one event includes all 6 sessions!
Come Play Therapy Group (Tuesdays 3:00pm - 4:00pm; Saturdays 11:00am- 12:00pm)
These classes build on one another; registration for one event includes all 5 sessions!
Tuesday Sessions (3:00pm - 4:00pm)
Saturday Sessions (11:00am-12:00pm)
Lunch Bunch (Saturdays 12:30pm- 1:30pm)
There is open enrollment for Lunch Bunch- Meaning that you can select individual Saturdays without selecting the entire month!
- SEP Lunch Bunch Registration
- OCT Lunch Bunch Registration
- NOV Lunch Bunch Registration
- DEC Lunch Bunch Registration
- Dates and times to be detemined
Winter Adventure! 2021 - Intensive Treatment for Selective Mutism
- More Info Coming Soon!
Adventure Camp - Intensive Treatment for Selective Mutism
- We just completed another successful Adventure Camp, despite the unique challenges of COVID-19! Just another way our campers demonstrated how to #UseYourBrave
- 2021 Dates are Coming Soon!
- Click Here to be notified when registration opens!
Read below for eligibility criteria.
Outpatient Group Eligibility Criteria
As with Adventure Camp Intensive Treatment for Selective Mutism, children with selective mutism or a history of selective mutism cannot start a group de novo. That is, children cannot start a group 1.) without an evaluation and 2.) without completing a peer exposure successfully. If these measures are not taken, then we risk the chance that your child will be mute in group, inadvertently reinforcing his/her mutism, which of course we strive to avoid.
For Adventure Camp, we use lead-in sessions to expose your child to Counselor 1, then Counselor 2, and then to a Counselor/Camper dyad for a peer exposure. If your child can successfully respond to his/her counselor, we deem your child ready for the Adventure Camp’s intensive group treatment. At camp, we continue working on goals, including interacting in front of and with other adults and peers.
For outpatient groups at ATS, we have similar, but higher, level of criteria. Even if your child is comfortably speaking and interacting with his/her ATS therapist, we know from experience that this does not mean he/she is ready to participate in a group. We know from experience that changing just one variable (e.g., adding one peer) can alter your child’s behavior (e.g., speaking); we need time to habituate your child to speaking in front of more than just one person, which is not practical to do during an outpatient group. Imagine a child with SM going from a 1:1 session with their therapist, and then jumping into a group with 5 other peers - and without their therapist! It is clear to us that this is jumping too many rungs on the hierarchical ladder, can set your child up to fail, risks reinforcing mutism, and thus is not advised. Consistent with exposure therapy principles, it behooves everyone concerned to move systematically through the successive steps of exposures to ensure that your child is ready for group therapy.
At Adventure Camp, we have 1:1 Counselor to Camper ratio, so we have the resources prepared to help each child where they are in their hierarchy of exposure for the intensive 5-day treatment. The expectation is that your child can consistently respond to his/her Counselor in front of others. From there, we branch out. When participating in non-intensive outpatient therapy groups at ATS, it is assumed that your child has reached the rung on their hierarchical ladder to be able to participate in group without the 1:1 intensive assistance that is provided in Adventure Camp.
ATS' non-intensive outpatient groups continue to employ the principles of exposure that allow your child to move through the graduated steps of an exposure hierarchy within a group format. There are various group levels; each group level corresponds to a rung on the hierarchal ladder. Group levels range from entry level group exposures to more advanced group exposures. Each group level has been tailored to meet the exposure needs of children in early, mid, or later stages of treatment for selective mutism and/or social anxiety.
We have examined different methods for preparing children for groups and have since established what we believe to be a conservative, thought-out hierarchical approach to group therapy. We have established criteria for group eligibility for each group’s level on the group hierarchical ladder. Please read the brief descriptors for each below to learn more about the group’s expectations and corresponding prerequisites.
Level 1: Come Play Therapy Group
Of all the groups at ATS, Come Play is intended to be the "easiest" one. It is meant to serve as the introduction to groups at ATS. Once your child can verbally interact in Come Play, you will know they are eligible for other group opportunities offered at ATS. Therefore, this group is appropriate for children who are just starting out on their group experiences at ATS.
The prerequisites are as follows:
- Able to separate from parent after a 10-min warm-up.
- Able verbalize directly with their Primary Therapist.
- Able to respond to new person (Group Therapist) after warm-up with parent.
- Able to respond to Therapist in the presence of a peer.
- Able to engage in parallel play with peers.
- Has completed peer sessions at ATS within the last 3 months (1:1 Child to Therapist ratio).
If you are not sure if your child meets these prerequisites, talk it over with your child's therapist. If it has been over three months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, then a refresher session may be necessary to reacquaint your child.
If it has been over 6 months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, or your child has never received treatment at ATS, and you think this group is ideal for your child's needs, please contact ATS at 630-230-6505 extension 1 to set up an intake evaluation or click here to request an appointment.
Courage Club is ATS's advanced beginner group. The group is designed to continue to foster the generalization of verbal and social skills in a peer group setting. This group is intended for children who have received outpatient individual therapy and have reached the goal of responding directly and consistently to their primary therapist. Children must also demonstrate the ability to repsond to the group therapist during the preview session. Previous experience in group therapy (e.g., successfully participated in Come Play is also an indicator of readiness for this advanced beginner group. Therefore, this group is appropriate for children who are ready for the next level of group exposures or who can benefit from specific social/peer activities to help maintain treatment gains.
The prerequisites are as follows:
- Has established a consistent verbal relationship with their Primary Therapist.
- Must have completed sessions at ATS within the last three months, including at least one peer session (1:1 Child to Therapist ratio).
- Demonstrates the ability to separate from parent(s) after a 5-10 min warm up during individual therapy session and group therapy session.
- Is able to respond directly to Group Therapist in the presence of a peer during the preview session.
If you are not sure if your child meets these prerequisites, talk it over with your child's ATS therapist. If it has been over three months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, then a refresher session may be necessary to reacquaint your child.
If it has been over 6 months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, or your child has never received treatment at ATS, and you think this group is ideal for your child's needs, please contact ATS at 630-230-6505 Ext 1 to set up an intake evaluation or click here to request an appointment.
Level 3: Social Thinking Group
Listen to Michelle Garcia Winner describe her concept, Social Thinking.
Social Thinking Group is ATS’s intermediary level outpatient group. The group is specifically designed to continue social and verbal exposures in a group setting, while fostering social awareness through the teaching of social concepts to promote flexible thinking and appropriate social skills. Social Thinking is a term coined by Michelle Garcia Winner, M.A., CCC-SLP who specializes in social skills development. Using metaphors, Winner's program helps children to identify ways of thinking that are linked with emotions and behaviors. By identifying the "unthinkables" and correcting them with "thinkables", children learn to read social cues and respond accordingly. ATS's Social Thinking Group is ideal for children who tend to be strong-willed, rigid in their thinking, tend to avoid groups and/or have difficulty in groups, and who need general social skills practice to improve their relationships. As schools focus more on academic group work, group social skills are becoming more and more important.
The prerequisites are as follows:
- Must have completed sessions at ATS within the last three months, including at least one peer session (1:1 Child to Therapist ratio) or group session (1:3 Child to Therapist ratio).
- Demonstrates the ability to separate from parent(s) after a 5-10 min warm up during individual therapy session and group therapy session.
- Demonstrates the ability to respond directly to Group Therapist in the presence of a peer during the Preview Session.
- Demonstrates the ability to participate in verbal interaction with peers when prompted by group therapist at the Preview Session.
If you are not sure if your child meets these prerequisites, talk it over with your child's ATS therapist. If it has been over three months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, then a refresher session may be necessary to reacquaint your child. If you think an introductory group is more appropriate, then consider Come Play or Courage Club.
If it has been over 6 months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, or your child has never received treatment at ATS, and you think this group is ideal for your child's needs, please contact ATS at 630-230-6505 Ext 1 to set up an evaluation or click here to request an appointment.
Lego Robotics is ATS’s advanced intermediary outpatient group. Lego Robitics Group Therapy at ATS requires verbal participation and collaboration with peers. It is intended for those further along in their recovery, where interaction with peers is expected. The group is specifically designed to continue practicing speaking and socially participating in groups, while navigating group dynamics to successfully complete group projects. Therapeutic group goals include: 1) habituating to speaking and social anxiety, 2) increasing assertiveness within a group, 3) increasing verbalization within a group, 4) creating an awareness of group roles and rules, and 5) practicing flexibility while working in a group format.
Lunch Bunch Therapy Group is designed to continue fostering the generalization of verbal and social skills in a peer group setting. This group is intended for children who have received outpatient individual therapy and have reached the goal of responding directly and consistently to their primary therapist. Children must also demonstrate the ability to respond to the group therapist during the session. Previous experience in group therapy (e.g., Come Play, Courage Club, Social Thinking Group, Adventure Camp, etc.) is also an indicator of readiness for this advanced group. Therefore, this group is appropriate for children who are ready for the next level of group exposures or who can benefit from specific social/peer activities to help maintain treatment gains.
Group Therapy for Tweens & Teens is another advanced intermediary outpatient group at ATS. The Tweens & Teens group requires social interaction with peers and ability to process exchanges of ideas and opinions with peers. We have noticed that tweens/teens who are learning how to cope with anxiety can really benefit from just "hanging out" with other tweens/teens of similiar temperament; learning about each other can help them learn about themselves, build self-awareness, and foster ego and identity development. Positive peer relationships are important for a preadolescent's/adolescent's social development, ego development, and identity formation. For tweens and teens with a history of selective mutism and/or social anxiety, or other anxieties, socializing with peers can be challening, especially in a culture where ore quiet personalities are often misunderstood.
The prerequisites for Level 4 groups are as follows:
- Must have completed sessions at ATS within the last three months, including at least one peer session (1:1 Child to Therapist ratio) or group session (1:3 Child to Therapist ratio).
- Demonstrates the ability to separate from parent(s) after a 5-10 min warm up during individual therapy session and group therapy session.
- Demonstrates the ability to respond directly to Group Therapist in the presence of a peer during the Preview Session.
- Demonstrates the ability to interact verbally with limited assistance by the Group Facilitator at the Preview Session.
Readiness for this group can also be demonstrated by the following:
In the Past 6 months:
- Has participated in Adventure Camp or Winter Adventure (1:1 Camper to Counselor ratio).
- Has participated in Social Exposures Group (1:5 ratio) or Social Thinking Group (1:5 ratio) at ATS.
If you are not sure if your child meets these prerequisites, talk it over with your child's ATS therapist. If it has been over three months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, then a refresher session may be necessary to reacquaint your child. If you think an introductory group is more appropriate, then consider Come Play, Courage Club or Social Thinking Group.
If it has been over 6 months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, or your child has never received treatment at ATS, and you think this group is ideal for your child's needs, please contact ATS at 630-230-6505 Ext 1 to set up an evaluation or click here to request an appointment.
Level 5: Social Exposures Group
Social Exposure Groups are modeled after Adventure Camp field trips. This group involves imaginal exposure, role-play, preparation, and in-vivo exposure. The purpose of this group is to help transfer treatment gains into the community setting. These groups are for children who have reached goals in the clinic, school, and/or community setting individually, and who have progressed enough to take their new skills into a more public arena. For children who suffer from social anxiety/phobia with or without selective mutism, community exposures can serve as a catalyst for generalization into new settings.
Social Exposures Group is not a long-term commitment; you can select the events you would like your child to attend. The group is innovative and useful for children with situation-specific symptoms that are the hallmark of selective mutism and/or social anxiety. With this group, ATS Therapists can take your child to the next level of exposure by being in the community with your child and treating symptoms in-vivo in a group setting.
By participating in this group, instead of paying for an individual community session with an ATS therapist, you split the cost with other families and avoid a travel fee.
The prerequisites for Level 5 groups are as follows:
- Must have completed sessions at ATS within the last three months, including at least one peer session (1:1 Child to Therapist ratio) or group session (1:3 Child to Therapist ratio).
- Demonstrates the ability to separate from parent(s) at drop-off during individual therapy session or group therapy session.
- Demonstrates the ability to respond directly to Group Therapist in the presence of peers and community members.
- Demonstrates the ability to interact verbally with assistance by the Group Facilitator in a community setting.
Readiness for this group can also be demonstrated by the following:
In the past 6 months, has:
- Participated in Adventure Camp or Winter Adventure (1:1 Camper to Counselor ratio).
- Participated in Group Therapy for Teens and Tweens (1:5 ratio) or Social Thinking Group (1:5 ratio) at ATS.
- Participated in 1:1 Community Exposure sessions with more than one ATS Therapist.
- Participated in Social Thinking Group or Social Exposures in the past.
- Participated in Courage Club or Teens & Tweens Group Therapy.
If you are not sure if your child meets these prerequisites, talk it over with your child's ATS therapist. If it has been over three months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, then a refresher session may be necessary to reacquaint your child. If you think an introductory group is more appropriate, then consider Come Play, Courage Club or Social Thinking Group.
If it has been over 6 months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, or your child has never received treatment at ATS, and you think this group is ideal for your child's needs, please contact ATS at 630-230-6505 Ext 1 to set up an evaluation or click here to request an appointment.