PEERS® for Young Adults: Social Skills Training for Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Other Social Challenges

539 Pages·2017·4.305 MB·English

by  Elizabeth Laugeson

PEERS® FOR YOUNG ADULTS
PEERS® for Young Adults presents the first evidence-based group treatment program for young adults
with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as other neurodevelopmental disorders and social
challenges. Inside, readers will find a critical step forward in the dissemination of effective behavioral
interventions for young adults in the form of 16 engaging group session outlines that are both user-
friendly and backed by empirical research. Each session is accompanied by homework assignments
and practice suggestions designed to reinforce the group’s understanding of the skills learned during
each meeting. This practical resource will prove to be an invaluable reference for any clinician or
educator working with this population.
Dr. Elizabeth A. Laugeson is a licensed clinical psychologist and an assistant clinical professor in
the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience
and Human Behavior. Dr. Laugeson is the director of The Help Group—UCLA Autism Research Alliance,
a collaborative research initiative dedicated to developing and expanding applied clinical research in
the treatment of children and adolescents with ASD. She is also the training director for the UCLA
Tarjan Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD), and the founder and director
of the UCLA PEERS® Clinic, an outpatient hospital-based program providing parent-assisted social
skills training for individuals with ASD, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression,
anxiety, and other social impairments across the lifespan.
This page intentionally left blank
PEERS® FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Social Skills Training for Adults with
Autism Spectrum Disorder and
Other Social Challenges
Elizabeth A. Laugeson
First published 2017
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2017 Taylor & Francis
The right of Elizabeth A. Laugeson to be identified as author of this work
has been asserted by her in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered
trademarks, and are used only for identification and explanation without intent
to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Names: Laugeson, Elizabeth A., author.
Title: PEERS for young adults : social skills training for adults with autism
spectrum disorder and other social challenges / by Elizabeth A. Laugeson.
Description: New York, NY : Routledge, 2016. | Includes bibliographical
references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016030396| ISBN 9781138238688 (hbk : alk. paper) |
ISBN 9781138238718 (pbk : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781315297057 (ebk)
Subjects: LCSH: Autism spectrum disorders—Patients—Rehabilitation. |
Autism in adolescence—Social aspects. | Developmental disabilities—
Patients—Rehabilitation. | Developmental disabilities—Social aspects.
Classification: LCC RC553.A88 L383 2016 | DDC 616.85/882—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016030396
ISBN: 978-1-138-23868-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-138-23871-8 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-29705-7 (ebk)
Typeset in Stone Sans
by Florence Production Ltd, Stoodleigh, Devon, UK
Visit the companion website: www.routledge.com/cw/laugeson
This book is dedicated to my mother,
Janet Tate, who was my first social coach.
This page intentionally left blank
CONTENTS
List of Tables xi
Preface xii
Acknowledgments xiv
Author Biography xvi
(cid:2) Getting Started 1
Purpose of the PEERS® for Young Adults Manual 1
Inclusion of Social Coaches 2
Organization of the Manual 2
Format of the Chapters 6
Lesson Format 7
Composition of the Group 8
Required Personnel 9
Physical Facilities 9
Materials Needed 10
Teaching Methods 11
Behavioral Management Techniques 13
PEERS® without the Social Coaching Group 14
Using This Manual with Adults with Intellectual Disabilities 15
Additional Resources for Young Adults and Social Coaches 16
Resources for Children and Adolescents 17
Tracking Progress 17
What You Can Expect: The Research Evidence 19
(cid:2) Session 1: Trading Information and Starting Conversations 21
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 21
Young Adult Therapist Guide 32
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 44
Reunification 48
Social Coaching Handout 50
(cid:2) Session 2: Trading Information and Maintaining Conversations 53
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 53
Young Adult Therapist Guide 60
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 72
Reunification 75
Social Coaching Handout 77
viii Contents
(cid:2) Session 3: Finding a Source of Friends 79
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 79
Young Adult Therapist Guide 86
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 93
Reunification 96
Social Coaching Handout 98
(cid:2) Session 4: Electronic Communication 101
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 101
Young Adult Therapist Guide 110
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 125
Reunification 126
Social Coaching Handout 128
(cid:2) Session 5: Appropriate Use of Humor 130
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 130
Young Adult Therapist Guide 140
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 152
Reunification 153
Social Coaching Handout 156
(cid:2) Session 6: Entering Group Conversations 158
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 158
Young Adult Therapist Guide 165
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 172
Reunification 174
Social Coaching Handout 177
(cid:2) Session 7: Exiting Conversations 179
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 179
Young Adult Therapist Guide 186
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 198
Reunification 200
Social Coaching Handout 202
(cid:2) Session 8: Get-Togethers 204
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 204
Young Adult Therapist Guide 215
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 228
Reunification 230
Social Coaching Handout 232
Contents ix
(cid:2) Session 9: Dating Etiquette: Letting Someone Know You Like Them 235
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 235
Young Adult Therapist Guide 244
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 258
Reunification 260
Social Coaching Handout 263
(cid:2) Session 10: Dating Etiquette: Asking Someone on a Date 266
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 266
Young Adult Therapist Guide 275
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 290
Reunification 292
Social Coaching Handout 294
(cid:2) Session 11: Dating Etiquette: Going on Dates 297
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 297
Young Adult Therapist Guide 310
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 328
Reunification 330
Social Coaching Handout 333
(cid:2) Session 12: Dating Etiquette: Dating Do’s and Don’ts 336
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 336
Young Adult Therapist Guide 345
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 356
Reunification 357
Social Coaching Handout 359
(cid:2) Session 13: Handling Disagreements 362
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 362
Young Adult Therapist Guide 372
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 388
Reunification 389
Social Coaching Handout 392
(cid:2) Session 14: Handling Direct Bullying 395
Social Coaching Therapist Guide 395
Young Adult Therapist Guide 406
Young Adult Behavioral Rehearsal 417
Reunification 418
Social Coaching Handout 421