Social skills groups for individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are small therapeutic groups designed to support individuals who are struggling with social relationships with peers. Groups typically consist of four to six members and one or two group leaders, but this varies depending on the instructional methods and philosophy of the clinician and on the population served. Whether the makeup of a group is homogeneous (individuals with similar challenges and level of need) or heterogeneous (individuals with varying challenges and level of need), the intention of a social skills group is to teach and support participants as they learn and practice interacting with peers in a small group setting so that learned social skills can ultimately be generalized into real-life situations.

Social skills groups offer ...