The Kids Who Graduate from CONNECT Don't Just Know More, They Show Up Differently
The CONNECT Program is an in-person social skills group for teens and young adults to practice the conversation skills they’ve been missing.
SOCIAL SKILLS GROUP FOR TEENS PHOENIX AZ
If Your Child is Struggling with Conversation Skills or Making Friends, You're In the Right Place
Your child wants friends, but conversations and social interactions tend to fall apart pretty quickly.
Do any of these sound familiar?
They can talk for hours about their favorite topic without realizing the other person lost interest
They're rarely invited to hang out or don’t know how to make plans
They’ve been teased, bullied, or excluded in the past
Texting and online communication with peers feels tricky for them
You sense they want to connect, but something's off and you can't name it
They shut down when you try to help, or say "you don't get it”
The gap between them and their peers keeps growing
You've tried a group before, but nothing changed
Here’s What Becomes Possible When Your Child Has the Right Tools
You care deeply about your child's happiness and you're ready to get them the right support. You're just at the point where you know they need more than you can give them on your own.
Imagine your child walking into social situations feeling prepared instead of anxious. Knowing how to start a conversation, keep it going, and feeling good about how it went. Having someone to sit with at lunch, someone to text or make plans with on the weekend, and friendships with people they truly connect with. That's what the right tools and strategies can make possible for them.
The CONNECT Program
Is What You’ve Been Looking For
The CONNECT Program, built on the evidence-based PEERS® curriculum and my Social Skills Blueprint® framework, is an 8-week in-person social skills group for neurodivergent tweens, teens, and young adults ages 11-21+ in Phoenix, AZ.
Enrollment opens twice a year. Spots are limited to 6 participants per age group.
Here’s What to Expect from My CONNECT Program
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As a UCLA PEERS® certified provider, I combine the PEERS® curriculum, one of the most extensively researched social skills programs available for neurodivergent tweens, teens, and young adults, with my own Social Skills Blueprint® framework for a structured, effective, neurodiversity-affirming group experience.
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Each cohort is limited to 6 participants, matched by age and communication level. Your child will be surrounded by peers navigating similar experiences, in a setting small enough for individual attention and comfortable enough to actually practice.
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Each week your child attends a 60-minute session where they learn one key social skill, practice it with peers, and get supportive feedback in a safe, structured environment.
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Every session your child walks away with something concrete they can start using right away in the social situations that come up in their everyday life.
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Each week you'll receive a parent handout with what was taught and simple home practice so your child keeps building on their skills between sessions.
What Your Child Will Learn
from the CONNECT Program
01
How to Start and Keep a Conversation Going
Your child will learn how to start a conversation, ask follow-up questions, and notice when someone is or is not interested.
02
How to Join a Group Conversation
Your child will learn how to approach a group, read the room, and what to do when things don't go as planned.
03
How to Plan and Have Social Hangouts
Your child will learn how to invite someone to hang out and navigate those moments step by step, because making plans is a skill too.
04
How to Navigate Texts, Phone Calls, and Social Media
Your child will learn how to navigate online interactions with more confidence.
05
How to Handle Rejection, Teasing, and Bullying
Your child will learn how to protect their confidence and respond in ways that help them feel more prepared and in control during tough social moments.
06
How to Work Through Disagreements
Your child will learn how to share their perspective, listen to others, and work through conflict in a way that keeps the friendship intact.
What Families Are Saying About My Social Skills Group for Teens
Here’s How the Enrollment Process Works
01
Request the Details
Click below to get instant access to enrollment details, the application form, and interview scheduling link sent straight to your inbox.
02
Complete Your Application
Fill out a short application so I can learn a little more about your child.
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Schedule and Attend Your Virtual Interview
Schedule a 15-minute call with me. Your child should be present so I can get to know them and make sure CONNECT is the right fit.
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Complete Your Enrollment
If it's a good match, I'll walk you through next steps, including onboarding paperwork and a deposit to secure your child's spot.
The Kids Who See the Biggest Results Share a Few Things in Common
The CONNECT Program is a great fit if:
Your child is a verbal communicator between the ages of 11 and 21+ who can follow group instruction and is open to learning new social strategies, even if they're nervous at first.
Your child is neurodivergent and struggles with conversation skills, making or keeping friends, or navigating social situations with peers.
You've been looking for a structured, neurodiversity-affirming social skills group for teens that teaches specific, practical skills your child can actually use.
Everything You Need to Know
About the CONNECT Program
The CONNECT Program is an 8-week in-person social skills group for neurodivergent tweens, teens, and young adults ages 11 to 21+ in Phoenix, AZ. Each cohort is intentionally small, carefully matched, and grounded in the evidence-based UCLA PEERS® curriculum alongside The Social Skills Blueprint® framework.
What’s included:
8 weekly 60-minute small group sessions
Direct instruction in conversation and friendship skills
Role-play and peer practice opportunities each session
Carefully matched peers by age and communication level
Small group setting, maximum 6 participants per cohort
Weekly parent handouts and home practice activities
Your child will learn:
How to start and keep a conversation going
How to join a group conversation
How to navigate texting, phone calls, and social media
How to plan and have social hangouts
How to handle rejection, teasing, and bullying
How to work through disagreements
You've Been Searching for
the Right Support. This is it.
The CONNECT Program gives your child the conversation and friendship skills they need to feel more confident, more prepared, and more connected, at this stage and every stage ahead.
Hear from More Families Who've Been Through the CONNECT Program
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"The group has been an incredible experience for our daughter.”
"The group has been an incredible experience for our daughter. Thank you for giving her the opportunity to make friends with others that face similar challenges and giving her the tools to set her up for success in the future."
—Parent of 11yo CONNECT Participant
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"Learning how to handle teasing, bullying, and disagreements was the most helpful thing for me."
"Learning how to handle teasing, bullying, and disagreements was the most helpful thing for me."
—13yo CONNECT Program Participant
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“Something that was really valuable for me…connecting with other parents going through the same thing."
"Something that was really valuable for me as a parent during the group program were the strategies you taught the kids and the handouts for the parents, and connecting with other parents going through the same thing."
—Parent of 13yo CONNECT Participant
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"I learned how to tell who's a good friend.”
"I learned how to tell who's a good friend choice and who's not.”
—12yo CONNECT Program Participant
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“The program has opened up our ability to brainstorm and problem solve tricky social situations together."
"I love seeing the confidence increase in my daughter. The program has opened up our ability to brainstorm and problem solve tricky social situations together."
—Parent of 11yo CONNECT Participant
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"I learned that conversations are so important for relationships.”
"I learned that conversations are so important for relationships. That's the hardest thing for me — I don't know what to talk about. So this was helpful to learn how to have a back and forth conversation."
—17yo CONNECT Program Participant
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“He's more social with others. The group discussions have made him more confident.”
"Before starting the group, I was really hoping that my son would learn how to start and end conversations and throughout the group I've noticed that he's more social with others. The group discussions have made him more confident in using these skills that you've taught!"
—Parent of 14yo CONNECT Participant
Kids and Teens are at the Most Impressionable Years of Their Lives
This is the right time to get them communication support.
Hi, I'm Gabby, a licensed speech-language pathologist, UCLA PEERS® certified provider, and the founder of Pyzza Speech Therapy.
Early in my career I worked with teens who told me they wanted friends but didn't know how to make them. Teaching them specific social communication skills and watching those skills open up their world was when I knew this was the work I was meant to do.
Supporting Your Child's Social Skills Doesn't Have to Feel Like an Uphill Battle
There are other paths forward. You could wait and hope that more time around peers eventually helps things click. You could keep searching for tips online and piecing together strategies on your own.
Or you could get your child into a structured program with a clear framework, carefully matched peers, and a specialist who knows exactly how to teach these skills. The CONNECT Program was built for families who are ready for that certainty.
Questions Parents Ask About The CONNECT Social Skills Group for Teens
What is the PEERS® social skills program and do you offer it?
PEERS® stands for Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills, an evidence-based social skills program developed at UCLA for neurodivergent tweens, teens, and young adults. As a UCLA PEERS® certified provider, I use the PEERS® curriculum as the foundation of the CONNECT Program, so if you've been searching for a PEERS® group in the Phoenix area, this is it.
What is a social skills group and how is it different from regular speech therapy?
A social skills group for teens is a small group where participants learn social communication skills together, practice with peers, and get feedback from a qualified clinician. Individual therapy is tailored entirely to one child's goals; a group adds practice with same-age peers that individual therapy can't replicate. It's not a substitute for 1:1 speech therapy, and additional support may be recommended alongside it. But for kids struggling with conversation, friendships, or social situations, a structured group is often exactly the right fit.
Is this a good fit for my child?
CONNECT is designed for neurodivergent tweens, teens, and young adults ages 11-21+ who struggle with conversation, friendships, or social situations with peers. Many participants have autism level 1, ADHD, or related neurodevelopmental differences, though a diagnosis isn't required. CONNECT works well for kids who are verbal, can follow group instruction for a 60-minute session, and are open to learning, even if they feel nervous at first. If your child has additional speech or language needs, individual therapy may be recommended alongside or as an alternative to the group. Not sure if it's the right fit? The virtual interview is exactly where we figure that out together.
Will my child be grouped with kids at a similar level?
Yes. Every participant goes through an application and virtual interview before being accepted, so I can get to know your child and make sure the group is a good fit. Cohorts are matched by age and communication level, not just age alone, so your child is with peers navigating similar experiences at a similar pace. I put real care into matching every cohort, and while I can't guarantee a perfect match, the goal is always a group where every participant feels comfortable and supported.
What if my teen doesn't want to go or says no to everything?
It's normal for teens to feel hesitant about something new, especially something social. The virtual interview helps. It gives me a chance to meet your teen, hear from them directly, and show how the skills we cover, like texting or planning hangouts, could actually help in their day-to-day life. That said, buy-in matters. CONNECT works best when participants are willing to show up, even if nervous at first. If they're completely resistant right now, it may be worth waiting or exploring something else first.
How can I help my teenager improve their social skills?
Social skills, especially for neurodivergent teens, don't improve through exposure alone. They need to be taught, practiced, and reinforced. At home, keep conversations about social situations low-pressure and celebrate small wins rather than turning every moment into a lesson. A structured group like CONNECT gives your teen a safe space to learn alongside peers with guidance from a licensed speech-language pathologist, which combined with support at home gives them the best shot at real progress.
Can I use insurance or ESA funds to pay for the program?
Because a group program is not individual therapy, CONNECT may fall outside what most insurance plans reimburse, so check with your provider directly. If your child has Arizona ESA funds, the program may be an eligible expense. Families pay directly and can submit for reimbursement, and I'm happy to provide documentation for that. For ESA eligibility questions, reach out to ESA for the most current information.
What if we can't make every session?
Life happens, and if your child misses a session you'll still get the parent handout so they stay connected to the material at home. That said, CONNECT builds skills week by week, and consistent attendance makes a real difference, both for your child and the group. I'm not able to offer makeup sessions, and multiple planned absences can affect how much your child gets out of the program. I’m happy to talk through scheduling concerns before you apply.
Do you offer a social skills group for young adults?
Yes. CONNECT includes a dedicated cohort for young adults ages 18-21+, following the same evidence-based PEERS® curriculum and neurodiversity-affirming approach, designed around situations most relevant to that age group. Structured options for young adults are hard to find since most programs are built for younger kids, and the need for support doesn't disappear at 18. If you're a young adult or a parent of one, I'd love to hear from you.
Ready to Give Your Child the Tools
They've Been Missing?
The CONNECT Program gives your child the conversation and friendship skills they need to feel more confident, more prepared, and more connected at this stage and every stage ahead.