Social Skills for Autistic Students

Helping Young People Build Confidence in their Social World

Many autistic students are socially motivated but find that the unwritten rules of friendship and conversation don’t come naturally. They may want to connect with peers but struggle to know how to start, how to keep a conversation going, or how to handle disagreements without things falling apart. These experiences can leave young people feeling isolated, frustrated, or misunderstood.

At CY&A Psychology, we understand this well. Our clinicians have years of experience working with autistic children, teenagers and young adults, and we take a neuro-affirming approach. That means we are not trying to make your child fit in by masking who they are. We are interested in helping them develop real, practical skills that make social situations feel less confusing and more rewarding.

How We Support Social Skills Development

We offer structured, evidence-based programmes designed specifically to support social skills in a way that respects how autistic young people think and communicate.

The PEERS® Programme

PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is a well-researched social skills programme originally developed at UCLA. It teaches young people concrete steps for making and keeping friends, handling conflict, managing rejection and finding social groups where they feel they belong. What makes PEERS® different from other social skills approaches is that it also involves parents and carers, giving families the tools to support and reinforce these skills at home and in everyday life.

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Therapeutic Role Play through Dungeons & Dragons

For some young people, a structured group setting isn’t where they do their best learning. Our therapeutic Dungeons & Dragons groups offer an alternative: a creative, imaginative space where social skills are practised in real time through collaborative storytelling. Players learn to take turns, listen to others, work as a team, manage frustration and think flexibly, all within a game that feels fun rather than clinical.

Individual Therapy

Where social difficulties sit alongside anxiety, low self-esteem or difficulty with emotional regulation, our clinicians can work with your child individually. We draw on approaches such as CBT and ACT, adapted to suit each young person’s developmental stage and needs.

Evidence-Based Social Skills Programme

PEERS® is internationally recognised & has over 30 ‘gold standard’ research trials evidencing its effectiveness.

Parents as Social Coaches

While your child is in their group, you are in a parent group learning ways to help your child build their social skills.

Working in Partnership with Schools

We also work collaboratively with schools to ensure the benefits of PEERS® extend beyond the clinic.

Supporting Meaningful Change

Through specialist facilitation and parent involvement, the PEERS® programme helps young people build skills, confidence and meaningful friendships.

A Space that Works for Autistic Young People

Our Marylebone townhouse has been designed with sensory comfort in mind. The rooms are calm, quiet and low-stimulus, with active seating options available for those who need to move. Many young clients tell us it feels just like being at home.

Get in Touch

If your child would benefit from support with social skills, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us by phone, email or WhatsApp, or fill in our online enquiry form. Our practice administrator, Maneesha, will guide you through the next step.