Social Skills Groups for Kids in Westlake Village
Coached practice with real peers for children who want friends but find the how hard, built on one-on-one work from a licensed therapist.
- Free 15-minute call
- No referral needed
- No waiting list
During business hours, we return calls within an hour.
Groups: 18 months to 18. One-on-one help: birth to 18.
Groups meet now in a private office on Townsgate Road in Westlake Village. From December 1, 2026, they meet at our new clinic.
No evaluation needed. You can sign up for a group now.
It's the birthday invitations that don't come. Or it's watching your child hover at the edge of the playground, wanting in and not sure how. Social skills groups for kids are small, coached sessions where children practice the skills of friendship. They work on taking turns, reading faces and tone, starting a conversation, and handling a game that doesn't go their way. A licensed therapist leads the practice. No diagnosis or referral is needed.
What are social skills groups for kids?
A social skills group is a small group where children learn ways of playing and talking with peers, then practice them together. ASHA describes social skills groups as using instruction, role play, and feedback to teach ways of interacting with peers.
- Joining inFinding a way into a game that is already going.
- ConversationTaking turns, staying on topic, and asking a question back.
- Reading othersTone, faces, and body language.
- Hard momentsLosing, waiting, and fixing a moment that went sideways.
Start here
Book a free 15-minute consultation
Tell us what you are noticing. A licensed therapist reads every message, and during business hours we return calls within an hour.
Home, school, a private clinic on request, and telehealth across California. Our Westlake Village clinic opens December 1, 2026.
Would my child benefit from social skills groups?
Social skills groups for kids can help a child who struggles to make or keep friends, misreads how others feel, takes over or pulls back in conversations, or comes home lonely.
These are learnable skills, not fixed traits. Many kinds of children find friendships hard, including autistic children, children with ADHD, anxiety, or language differences, and children who are simply slower to warm up. Our approach is neurodiversity-affirming: we build on who your child is, rather than trying to make them look like everyone else.
Why is my child fine at home but struggles with friends at school?
Home is predictable and forgiving. A playground is fast, loud, and full of unwritten rules.
Many children who are warm and chatty with family find the quick social rules of peers hard. That does not mean a child doesn't want friends. Often the "how" hasn't clicked yet, and that gap is what social skills work targets.
How are social skills groups different from one-on-one therapy?
According to ASHA, one-on-one sessions are useful for teaching new skills, and groups are used alongside them to practice those skills with peers.
Social communication is part of speech-language pathology, so much of this work is led by a speech-language pathologist, with occupational therapy supporting the self-regulation underneath it. Many children do well with both, and we will help you find the right mix.
Some children need to build the underlying skills before a group is the right fit. Our page on social communication therapy explains that groundwork.
Do you offer social skills groups in Westlake Village now?
Yes. Groups meet now in a private office on Townsgate Road in Westlake Village. From December 1, 2026, they meet in the treatment rooms or the 1,000-square-foot soft play area at our new clinic, 2535 Townsgate Road.
- Ages18 months to 18.
- Group size2 to 8 children.
- How long and how often60 minutes, 2 or 3 times a week, depending on the caseload.
- Who leadsA licensed speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist.
- Getting inNo evaluation needed. You can sign up now.
On your free 15-minute call, we will talk through whether a group fits your child now, and whether one-on-one help makes sense too.
How do we get started?
It starts with a free 15-minute call. No evaluation is needed to join a group, and you can sign up now.
Free 15-minute call
You talk with a licensed therapist about what you are seeing with friends and at school. If a group is not the right fit yet, we will say so.
Sign up for a group
No evaluation is needed, and you can sign up now.
Group sessions
Groups of 2 to 8 children meet for 60 minutes, 2 or 3 times a week, depending on the caseload.
One-on-one help, if needed
If one-on-one therapy would help too, an evaluation is scheduled within 3 business days of your call. The written report follows within 14 business days, with a treatment plan if therapy is recommended.
Who would my child work with?
A licensed speech-language pathologist or occupational therapist leads each group. Therapy Clubhouse is led by its two co-founders, a licensed speech-language pathologist and a licensed occupational therapist.
Speech therapy for late talkers, speech sounds, stuttering, and myofunctional therapy.
Occupational therapy for handwriting, sensory needs, feeding, and everyday skills.
How much does it cost, and can I use insurance?
Insurance coverage for social skills groups depends on your plan, so please ask your insurance company. It is not something we can answer for your plan.
For one-on-one therapy, you can use your insurance through our partner, Village, which handles the billing. Village accepts PPO plans from several major insurers, and TRICARE.
Village also charges its own fee for each visit, in addition to your copay or deductible. Before therapy starts, Village goes over the expected cost with you.
You can also pay privately.
What else do parents ask about social skills groups?
Does my child need an evaluation to join a group?
No. You can sign up for a group now, without an evaluation.
Is this only for autistic children?
No. Social skills work is for any child who finds friendships hard, autistic or not, including children with ADHD, anxiety, or language differences.
Can social skills be taught?
Yes. Turn taking, staying on topic, reading tone, and fixing a misunderstanding are all learnable. Personality does not change and should not need to.
Is the free call the same as an evaluation?
No. The free 15-minute call answers your questions and points you to the right next step. It is not an evaluation. If therapy looks like a fit, the evaluation comes next.
What social milestone should a 4-year-old reach?
By age 4, most children ask to go play with children if none are around, like "Can I play with Alex?", according to the CDC.
What areas do you serve?
We provide social skills support for families in Westlake Village and nearby towns. These include Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Calabasas, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. Telehealth is available anywhere in California.Thousand OaksAgoura HillsOak ParkNewbury ParkCalabasasMoorparkSimi ValleyAll locations
Not sure if your child needs therapy?
Start with a free 15 minute consultation. No commitment, just clarity on whether your child would benefit and what the next step looks like.
Speech therapy and occupational therapy for children ages 0 to 18.
Our goal
We build every child's plan and goals around one aim: graduating from speech or occupational therapy. That is our goal with every child.
“If you're concerned about your child's development, don't wait. You know your child best.”
About 1 in 6 children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities. (CDC)
If your child is coming home lonely, being left out, or dreading school, that's reason enough to call. Tell us a little more about what you're seeing. Let's talk about it.
Request your free 15-minute consultation
Tell us what you are noticing about your child. A licensed therapist and our team read every message. Within one business day, our team calls to learn what you need and check insurance, then sets up a free call with Nita, Rachel or both. The consultation is free, lasts about 15 minutes, and carries no obligation. There is no waiting list. If you would rather talk now, call (805) 702-3427.
Tell us what you are noticing. A licensed therapist reads every message, and during business hours we return calls within an hour.
