What are Social Exposures Groups? 

Join us for a specialized program by ATS called Social Exposures Group! 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 an office 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 Exposure Groups all typically involve warm-up, role-play, and preparation, followed by the actual exposure event. Our next Social Exposure Group event will take place at Barnes and Noble this Saturday!

Prerequisites

• Child 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.
• Demonstrates the ability to separate from parent(s) after a 5-10 minute warm-up during individual therapy and/or group sessions.
• Demonstrates the ability to interact verbally with limited assistance by the group facilitator.

Readiness for the group can also be demonstrated by the following:

• Has participated in Adventure Camp or Winter Adventure (1:1 Camper to Counselor ratio).
• Has participated in Social Thinking Group or Social Exposures in the past.
• Has participated in Courage Club.

If you are unsure 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 to set up an evaluation.

What to Expect- Barnes and Noble 9/21/2019
10:00am- 12:00pm

9:50 am- 10:00 am:

Drop off (please take your child for a bathroom break if needed!) Meet at the Children's section on the 2nd floor of Barnes & Noble.

10:00 am- 11:00 am:

Warm-up games in preparation for story time

11:00 am- 12:00 pm:

Story time and activities (practice answering in group and to the storyteller)

12:00 pm:

Pick-up at the Cafe on the 2nd floor (next to the Children's section)

Fees

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, you split the cost with other families and avoid a travel charge. Instead of paying for an individual community session with an ATS therapist, the cost is $85 per hour with no travel fee. To cancel, call 630-230-6505. Insurance CPT code is 90853. Statements will be provided to those who wish to submit to their insurance for reimbursement.

Click to read the HIPPA Form

Can't make these groups? See our other groups here! 

Or join our mailing list to hear about other ATS programs.