Social Skills Groups
Designed and led by a licensed Speech Therapist, our Social Skills Program meets for 60 minutes, once a week and focuses on teaching and improving social interaction skills in a creative and playful environment.
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Candidates for the program are children ages 4 to16.
Children are matched according to their age, maturity, cognitive level, and level of social awareness. We are very careful to structure our groups to avoid anxiety and to ensure that the lessons are appropriately geared to all members of the group. Our groups are comprised of 3-4 children so that the children are more inclined to engage with each other and to ensure that treatment can be customized for each participant. |
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Abstract social concepts become accessible and fun by means of visual supports, hands-on activities, role playing, video modeling, iPads, social stories, and other best-practice instructional methods. Activities
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Location:
Our Social Skills Group sessions are held at our Montclair office
When:
Groups are run year-round. Please refer to our calendar for group breaks. We can accommodate the starting of new sessions at any time if there are openings in current groups or a need to start a new group.
Cost:
$100 per session
Due to the social nature of the group, a commitment of 5 weeks is required. Groups meet once a week for one hour. Please refer to the intake page to pick a specific day and time.
* Health Insurance Coverage
Your health insurance company, depending on your benefits plan, may cover services in full or in part. You are encouraged to check with your insurance company regarding your policy's reimbursement. We will do everything to help you fund treatment and facilitate insurance reimbursement.
Due to the social nature of the group, a commitment of 5 weeks is required. Groups meet once a week for one hour. Please refer to the intake page to pick a specific day and time.
* Health Insurance Coverage
Your health insurance company, depending on your benefits plan, may cover services in full or in part. You are encouraged to check with your insurance company regarding your policy's reimbursement. We will do everything to help you fund treatment and facilitate insurance reimbursement.
Our Team
Mali DeSantis, M.A., CCC-SLP is the owner of Therapeutic Services LLC. Mali received her Bachelor’s Degree in journalism at Rutgers University. Transitioning from television journalism, Mali’s desire to enter into a helping field brought her to Kean University where she received a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology. She is an experienced clinician who has worked in a variety of settings including private practice, schools, homes, and hospitals. Her clinical interests and specializations are in the treatment of children with Autism, Augmentative Alternative Communication, and the facilitation of Social Skills. Mali is licensed by the State of New Jersey and is certified as a Speech Pathologist by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). In order to stay up-to-date and be on the cutting edge of her profession, she attends various continuing education classes including PROMPT, Apraxia Treatment Techniques, Social Thinking, Speech-EZ, Oral Placement Therapy (OPT), Sensory Integration, NeuroNet Learning, DIR/Floortime, Integrating ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis), and Assistive Technology.
James J. DeSantis, J.D., LCSW co-facilitates social skills groups at Therapeutic Services LLC. James is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who utilizes an integrative clinical approach and employs various therapeutic methods that will be most helpful for his clients on a individual basis drawing upon the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. James has clinical experience working with a large variety of clients including: children with special needs; adolescents and teens with behavioral and mental health problems; elderly and terminally-ill patients; grieving families; couples counseling; vocational therapy; adults with disabilities; criminal/forensic issues; substance abuse; co-occuring disorders; and, adults with serious mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorders, and addictions. He earned his Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University where he was a recipient of the William Neal Brown Memorial Fellowship and graduated at the top of his class. He also earned his Bachelor's in Psychology from Rutgers University where he was a Dean's List student, served as a Psychology teaching assistant and was a member of the Honor Society in Psychology. James successfully practiced law for over 10 years prior to becoming a therapist. He is a member of the Federal and State Bars of New York and New Jersey and the District of Columbia and earned his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University.
James J. DeSantis, J.D., LCSW co-facilitates social skills groups at Therapeutic Services LLC. James is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who utilizes an integrative clinical approach and employs various therapeutic methods that will be most helpful for his clients on a individual basis drawing upon the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. James has clinical experience working with a large variety of clients including: children with special needs; adolescents and teens with behavioral and mental health problems; elderly and terminally-ill patients; grieving families; couples counseling; vocational therapy; adults with disabilities; criminal/forensic issues; substance abuse; co-occuring disorders; and, adults with serious mental health issues such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, personality disorders, and addictions. He earned his Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University where he was a recipient of the William Neal Brown Memorial Fellowship and graduated at the top of his class. He also earned his Bachelor's in Psychology from Rutgers University where he was a Dean's List student, served as a Psychology teaching assistant and was a member of the Honor Society in Psychology. James successfully practiced law for over 10 years prior to becoming a therapist. He is a member of the Federal and State Bars of New York and New Jersey and the District of Columbia and earned his Juris Doctorate from Seton Hall University.
