DSA Social Therapy Groups

Social Development Therapy Groups

Starting in June, DSA is launching three new innovative therapy groups focused on promoting social development for children, youths, and adults with developmental, behavioral, and mental health challenges. Location: Arc of Northern Virginia, 2755 Hartland Rd., Suite 200 Falls Church, VA 22043

Saturday groups now forming, beginning in June DSA GROUP DESCRIPTIONS: Developmental Gaming & Role Play Participants will: • Enjoy imaginative play, fantasy and storytelling • Be within the ages of 6-15 years • Be able to safely communicate basic preferences and thoughts • Able to maintain safe, legal behavior in a preferred setting and activity Creative Gaming & Art Participants will: • Enjoy challenges, board games, and/or craft activities • Be within the ages of 15-21 • Be able to safely communicate preferences, thoughts, and basic feelings • Be able to maintain safe, legal behavior in a preferred setting and activity

Please visit our website for additional information about DSA’s therapeutic social development groups, or contact us directly:

CONTACT INFO Fax/Voicemail: 877.394.5106 Allan@developmentalsupport.com Website: www.developmentalsupport.com

DSA’s PRO (Positive Respectful Options) Participants will: • Enjoy challenges, board games, and/or craft activities • Be 18 years old or older • Be able to safely communicate preferences, thoughts, and basic feelings • Be able to maintain safe, legal behavior in a preferred setting and activity Targeted Developmental Skill Areas include: • • • •

Social and expressive communication Behavioral self-control and self-management Social autonomy and self-advocacy Executive functioning skills such as impulse control, attentional focus, and rational decision making • Pro-social behavior development • Personal and collaborative problem solving • Relationship Building Other features: • Accessible facilities and bathrooms • Personal attendants or support providers attend free • DSA may provide 1:1 supervision or personal care for an additional cost.

• DSA may provide group or therapeutic mentoring following sessions, for an additional cost • Please let us know of any accommodations that are needed

Information about DSA groups DSA employs a gaming and art milieu to promote skill development. Groups are led by George Rathbone, LPC, NCC, CCBT, PBSF. George is a licensed clinician and educator with over 35 years of experience treating individuals with complex developmental and behavioral challenges. George is formally endorsed in Positive Behavior Support by VCU’s Partnership for People with Disabilities.

Children’s Group: (age 6-15)

Youth Group (still in HS): (16 - 21)

Adult Group: (18 & over)

Day: Saturdays (2 sessions/month) Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 pm

Cost: $120 per session

Day: Saturdays (2 sessions/month) Time: 1:00 – 2:30 p.m.

Cost: $120 per session

Day: Saturdays (2 sessions/month) Time: 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Cost: $120 per session

1) Double Sessions: Groups last twice as long as typical therapy groups, providing increased opportunity to relax, process information, explore and build relationships, and resolve social and personal concerns.

2) Person-Centered: Groups are customized “in vivo” to capture personal preferences of each participant. Differences in personality, learning and performance style are accepted and celebrated. Personal attendants and support providers are welcome at no cost 3) Motivation: Our Positive Behavior Support approach addresses intrinsic motivations, ut also makes use of tangible and social reinforcers to maximize motivation and positive performance.

4) Development: We accept each person at their current skill levels, and we use a developmental approach to step and to systematically promote developmental mastery.

5) Challenge: Qualities such as frustration tolerance, impulse and anger management, and social flexibility are built through success in facing and overcoming acceptable levels of challenge.

6) Attention: High ratios of facilitator to participant are maintained so that timely

individual intervention is available to prevent behavioral crisis related to attentional needs, social conflict or challenging emotion.

7) Modelling: We believe that social modelling is a key element of human learning. DSA clinicians and facilitators consistently model respectful, positive, pro-social behavior.

8) Choice: There are many opportunities for choice and to participate at one’s level of comfort. We believe that finding acceptable options greatly reduces unnecessary power struggles.

9) Subgrouping: While groups can contain up to 12 participants, most activities are conducted in groups of 2-4 to minimize waiting and to enhance social choice and a variety of social experiences.

10) Enjoyment: The first goal for staff (after safety and legality) is for each participant to leave happy. We believe that people learn skills best when relaxed and engaged.

CONTACT INFO Fax/Voicemail: 877.394.5106 Allan@developmentalsupport.com Website: www.developmentalsupport.com