Social skills are easier to understand when a child can practice them with other kids. A therapist can explain eye contact, conversation turns, tone, flexible thinking, and body language, but peer interaction gives those skills context. The child gets to see what happens when someone responds, changes the topic, disagrees, laughs, hesitates, or needs clarification.
That kind of practice matters because social situations rarely follow a script. A teen may know what to say in a worksheet activity but still struggle when a classmate changes plans at lunch. Therapy Clubhouse uses group interaction to help kids practice adapting, listening, asking questions, and staying engaged when the moment feels less predictable.
Social Skills Groups in Westlake Village
Social Skills Groups in Westlake Village
Social Skills Groups in Westlake Village give pre-teens and teens a place to practice conversations, friendships, conflict, self-advocacy, and group participation with peers. At Therapy Clubhouse, our small
therapist-led groups
help kids work on these skills in a setting that feels structured, supportive, and connected to the social moments they face outside the therapy room.
Friendships can feel complicated at this age. A child may want to join a conversation but freeze, miss a joke, talk too long about one topic, avoid group work, or feel overwhelmed when a friend disagrees with them. These moments are hard to practice in one-on-one therapy because social interaction changes when peers enter the room.
Therapy Clubhouse offers social skills groups for pre-teens and teens with in-home therapy, telehealth, and appointments in our upcoming Westlake Village clinic, opening Fall 2026. If your child needs a guided place to practice social communication with peers, call
(805) 624-3301
to ask about joining the next group.
How Social Skills Groups in Westlake Village Help Pre-Teens and Teens Practice With Peers
Social growth can feel different once kids reach the preteen and teen years. Conversations move faster, friendships become more layered, and group settings often come with unspoken rules.
Therapy Clubhouse
gives kids a structured place to practice those moments with peers instead of only talking about them after they happen.
In a small group, a child can work on joining a conversation, waiting for a turn, noticing another person’s reaction, repairing a misunderstanding, or asking for space when emotions rise. These are not abstract lessons. They are skills kids can rehearse in the moment with therapist guidance and supportive feedback.
A therapist-led group gives kids room to practice without being left to figure everything out alone. The therapist can pause an activity, name what happened, model a different response, and help the group try again. This keeps the session useful without turning every social mistake into a lecture.
The structure also helps kids who feel nervous in peer settings. A child who avoids group projects may feel safer when they know the session has clear expectations, predictable routines, and adult guidance. Over time, that structure can make peer practice feel less confusing and more manageable.
Parents often start looking for social skills groups when they see the same struggles repeat. A child may come home upset after lunch, avoid birthday parties, interrupt classmates, misread teasing, or melt down after a small disagreement. Some kids want friends but do not know how to start or maintain those connections.
Other children seem socially capable in familiar settings but struggle in groups. They may do well with one close friend, then shut down during a team activity or talk over others during a club meeting. Therapy Clubhouse helps families look at those patterns and decide whether a peer-based group is the right next step.
Our Services
Therapy Clubhouse serves families in Westlake Village and nearby Southern California communities through pediatric speech therapy, occupational therapy, Early Intervention support, in-home therapy, telehealth, and clinic-based care.
Speech Sound Mastery
Help your child produce sounds clearly and confidently through play-based therapy techniques.
Explore Speech Sound Mastery
Language Development
Build vocabulary, sentence structure, and comprehension skills through interactive learning.
Explore Language Development
Early Intervention
Specialized support for toddlers showing early signs of speech delays or difficulties.
Explore Early Intervention
Social Communication
Develop conversation skills, turn-taking, and social play in a warm environment.
Explore Social Communication
Fluency Therapy
Support for smoother communication, stuttering, and related confidence skills.
Explore Fluency TherapyDaily Living Skills
Support independence with routines, self-care, regulation, and age-appropriate participation goals.
Explore Daily Living Skills
What Teen and Pre-Teen Social Skills Groups in Westlake Village Work On
Teen and preteen social skills groups at Therapy Clubhouse focus on the peer moments that can make school, friendships, and group activities feel harder than they need to be. A child may need help starting a conversation, reading someone’s face, handling a disagreement, or staying regulated when a group does not go their way.
These groups give kids a place to practice specific skills with therapist support. The work stays practical. Instead of only talking about friendship, kids practice the small pieces that help friendships grow, including listening, turn-taking, flexible thinking, problem-solving, and knowing how to speak up for themselves.
Conversation can feel easy to adults, but many kids struggle with the back-and-forth rhythm. A teen may answer with one word, talk at length about a favorite topic, forget to ask follow-up questions, or interrupt before another person finishes. These patterns can make peers pull away even when the child wants connection.
Therapy Clubhouse helps kids practice how to begin, continue, and end conversations in a way that feels more natural. Group sessions may work on greetings, topic changes, asking questions, noticing when someone looks interested, and repairing a moment when the conversation gets awkward.
Many social moments depend on clues that people do not say out loud. Facial expressions, tone, posture, personal space, and timing can all change the meaning of a conversation. A child who misses those cues may think someone is mad when they are joking, or may keep talking when another person has clearly checked out.
In a social skills group, kids can slow these moments down and talk through what happened. The therapist can help the group notice clues, compare possible meanings, and practice responding with more awareness. This gives kids more chances to understand the social information that moves quickly in school and community settings.
Making a friend often starts with small decisions. A child has to know when to approach, what to say, how to join without taking over, and how to stay connected after the first interaction. Those steps can feel confusing for kids who want friends but do not know how to enter the group.
Therapy Clubhouse uses group practice to help kids work through those moments in a safer setting. A preteen might practice joining a game already in progress. A teen might work on texting a friend without sending too many messages or giving up after one short reply. These small social choices can change how a child experiences peer relationships.
Conflict is part of friendship, but it can feel huge for kids who struggle with flexibility or emotional regulation. A child may shut down when someone disagrees, argue harder than they intend, walk away without explaining why, or assume the friendship is over after one uncomfortable exchange.
Social skills groups help kids practice what to do when peers have different opinions, rules change, or someone feels upset. Therapy Clubhouse can guide kids through calm language, perspective taking, apology, repair, and asking for a break. The goal is not to make every interaction perfect. The goal is to help kids recover from social friction without losing the whole relationship.
Some kids need help speaking up before frustration takes over. They may not know how to say they need more time, do not understand the instructions, feel left out, or want someone to stop. Without those words, the moment may turn into tears, anger, withdrawal, or refusal.
Therapy Clubhouse social skills groups can help kids practice clear self-advocacy in peer settings. A child may learn to say, “I need a minute,” “Can you explain that again,” or “I want a turn after you.” These phrases sound simple, but they can give a child a way to stay involved when a group feels hard.
Group work can be tough because kids have to manage ideas, personalities, timing, and compromise at the same time. A teen may take charge too quickly, refuse another idea, stay silent, or become upset when the group picks a different plan. These moments often show up during school projects, clubs, sports, and casual hangouts.In a therapist-led group, kids can practice sharing ideas, listening to other suggestions, making decisions together, and adjusting when a plan changes. Therapy Clubhouse helps kids understand that collaboration is a skill, not a personality trait. With practice, kids can learn how to contribute without controlling the whole group or disappearing from it.
Who Can Benefit From Social Skills Groups for Kids in Westlake Village
Social skills groups at Therapy Clubhouse are designed for pre-teens and teens who need guided practice with peers. Some kids want friendships but feel unsure about how to start. Others have social interest, but their timing, tone, reactions, or regulation make peer situations harder.
This group format can help children who need more than advice from adults. A parent may tell a child to “just say hi” or “try to join in,” but that does not always explain what to do next. In a therapist-led group, kids can practice the steps of social interaction while someone helps them notice what worked, what felt hard, and what they can try differently.
Some kids want to connect, but they freeze when the moment arrives. A preteen may stand near a group at recess without joining. A teen may want to sit with classmates at lunch but choose the safest option, staying quiet or avoiding the table altogether.
Therapy Clubhouse gives kids a place to rehearse those first steps before they have to use them in a busier setting. They can practice how to approach, what to say, how long to wait, and how to respond if the group says yes, no, or not right now. That kind of practice can make social situations feel less random.
Neurodivergent kids may experience social settings differently. They may process language, sound, movement, facial expressions, or group expectations in ways that affect peer interaction. Therapy Clubhouse does not treat autism as a separate service line, but we do provide speech therapy and occupational therapy support for children who may be autistic or neurodivergent.
In a social skills group, these children can practice peer interaction with structure and respect. A child may work on noticing when another person wants a turn, understanding sarcasm, handling a change in activity, or asking for space before they feel overloaded. The group gives them a place to practice without shame or pressure to act like someone else.
Kids with ADHD, anxiety, or social communication differences may run into different social challenges. One child may interrupt often because ideas come fast. Another may avoid speaking because they worry about saying the wrong thing. Another may miss the point of a conversation even though they are trying to follow along.
Therapy Clubhouse helps kids work on the social skills that match their needs. A child with impulsivity may practice waiting, checking in, and repairing an interruption. A child with anxiety may practice joining a conversation in small steps. A child with social communication differences may practice reading cues, asking questions, and staying with a shared topic.
Some kids do not fit neatly into one category. They may do well with adults, siblings, or one familiar friend, but struggle when the group gets bigger. They may avoid clubs, dread partner work, or come home exhausted after trying to keep up socially all day.A social skills group can give those kids a place to practice without the pressure of grades, popularity, or school politics. Therapy Clubhouse helps kids try new responses, learn from peers, and build comfort with group interaction over time. The child does not need to become the loudest person in the room. They need workable tools for the social moments that matter to them.
What Happens During Social Skills Groups at Our Upcoming Therapy Clubhouse Clinic (Opening Fall 2026)
Social skills groups at Therapy Clubhouse are small, therapist-led sessions held through in-home therapy, telehealth, and appointments in our upcoming Westlake Village clinic, opening Fall 2026. The group format gives pre-teens and teens a chance to practice with peers while still having adult guidance close by. Kids are not expected to figure everything out on their own or perform socially without support.
Each session gives the group a focused way to work on peer interaction. A child may practice starting a conversation, joining an activity, disagreeing respectfully, asking for a turn, or handling a change in the plan. The therapist can guide the moment, help the child notice what happened, and give the group a chance to try again.
Small groups help kids practice without feeling lost in a crowd. The therapist can watch how each child communicates, responds to peers, handles frustration, and participates when the activity changes. That observation matters because social challenges often show up in small details, not just big moments.
A child may look away when confused, laugh when nervous, correct peers too sharply, or stop participating when another child takes the lead. Therapy Clubhouse can use those moments to teach skills in context. Instead of turning the session into a lecture, the therapist can guide the group back into practice.
Once it opens in Fall 2026, weekly sessions will give kids a predictable rhythm. Social skills take repetition, especially when a child needs time to use new language, notice peer cues, or stay regulated during group activity. One conversation about friendship rarely changes what happens during lunch, school clubs, or weekend plans.
At our upcoming Westlake Village clinic (opening Fall 2026), kids can return to the same type of structured peer practice each week. A teen may need several chances to work on flexible thinking during a group game. A preteen may need repeated practice asking to join without interrupting. Therapy Clubhouse uses consistency to help those skills feel more familiar.
Semester-based enrollment gives the group enough time to develop trust and routine. Social learning works better when kids know who they are practicing with and what to expect. A rotating group can make it harder for some children to feel settled.
With a consistent group, kids can practice more layered skills over time. Early sessions may focus on greetings, conversation turns, and group expectations. Later sessions can move into conflict repair, collaboration, self-advocacy, and handling unexpected social moments. Therapy Clubhouse structures the group so kids can build on what they have already practiced.
Social skills groups should connect to the situations kids actually face. Therapy Clubhouse may use group games, conversation practice, role play, problem-solving activities, and guided peer discussion to make skills easier to use outside the clinic. The goal is for kids to understand what to do when a real peer moment feels confusing.A child might practice how to respond when classmates change the rules of a game. A teen might work on how to disagree during a group project without sounding harsh. Another child might practice asking for clarification instead of walking away. These clinic-based activities (coming Fall 2026) give kids a safer place to rehearse the social moments that show up at school, in clubs, and with friends.
How Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy Support Social Skills Groups in Westlake Village
Social skills groups at Therapy Clubhouse are shaped by the two pediatric services we provide, speech therapy and occupational therapy. That matters because social interaction is not one single skill. A child may need help understanding language, reading the room, managing frustration, staying with a group activity, or using words when emotions rise.
Therapy Clubhouse looks at the full picture of how a child communicates and participates. One child may need speech support for conversation turns and topic maintenance. Another may need occupational therapy support for regulation, sensory needs, body awareness, or group readiness. Social skills groups give those needs a shared place to meet.
Speech therapy can support the language side of peer interaction. A child may understand vocabulary and speak clearly, but still struggle with how conversation works between people. They may miss implied meaning, forget to ask questions, change topics suddenly, or struggle to explain what they need.
In social skills groups, Therapy Clubhouse can help kids practice pragmatic language in the moment. Pragmatic language includes how a child uses communication socially, such as greeting others, taking turns, adjusting tone, staying on topic, and repairing confusion. These skills matter when a teen tries to join a lunch table, respond to a joke, or explain a disagreement without shutting down.
Occupational therapy can support the body and regulation skills that make group participation possible. Some children understand what they should say, but their sensory needs, frustration level, movement needs, or anxiety make it hard to stay involved. They may leave the activity, talk over others, become rigid about rules, or withdraw when the room feels too busy.
Therapy Clubhouse can use occupational therapy knowledge to help kids notice what their bodies need during group interaction. A child may practice asking for a break, using a regulation strategy before conflict grows, or staying seated long enough to finish a shared task. These are practical skills that can change how a child participates with peers.
No two children enter a social skills group with the exact same needs. One teen may need help starting conversations. Another may need help listening without correcting peers. Another may need support staying calm when a game changes or when someone else wins.Therapy Clubhouse uses the group setting to work on shared goals while still watching the individual child. A therapist can notice when a child needs more language modeling, more regulation support, or more practice with flexible thinking. The group gives kids a chance to practice together, but the guidance stays personal enough to matter.
How Parents Can Know Whether a Social Skills Group Is the Right Fit
A social skills group can be a strong fit when a child needs practice with peers, not just more explanation from adults. Many pre-teens and teens already know the rules in theory. They know they should take turns, listen, stay calm, or ask questions. The hard part is using those skills when another child reacts in a way they did not expect.
Therapy Clubhouse helps families look at the child’s
current needs before group enrollment
. The right fit depends on the child’s age, communication profile, regulation needs, group readiness, and social goals. Some kids are ready to practice with peers now. Others may need one-on-one therapy first so they can enter the group with enough language, regulation, or participation skills to benefit.
Parents can start by looking at what happens in the moments their child struggles. Does your child want friends but avoid starting conversations? Do they get upset when peers do not follow their rules? Do they talk mostly to adults? Do they seem confused after social situations and need help understanding what happened?
These questions help clarify whether the child needs a peer practice setting. A teen who only needs general encouragement may not need a therapy-led group. A child who repeatedly struggles with conversation turns, conflict repair, body language, flexible thinking, or self-advocacy may benefit from structured practice at Therapy Clubhouse.
Some children need one-on-one support before they join a group. A child may need help using basic communication, tolerating transitions, following simple group expectations, or staying regulated long enough to participate. Starting with individual speech therapy or occupational therapy can give that child a stronger foundation.
Therapy Clubhouse can help parents think through that order. For example, a child who leaves the room every time a task changes may need occupational therapy support before joining a peer group. A child who cannot explain a need or respond to simple peer questions may need speech therapy first. The goal is to choose the setting that gives the child the best chance to succeed.
Group readiness does not mean a child already has strong social skills. It means the child can participate with enough support to benefit from peer practice. A child can still be nervous, awkward, impulsive, quiet, or unsure. Those are often the exact reasons parents look for social skills groups.Therapy Clubhouse looks for whether the group can meet the child’s needs safely and productively. A child should be able to stay in the group space, follow basic safety expectations, and engage in some level of shared activity. When those pieces are in place, the group can become a useful setting for practicing the social moments that feel hard elsewhere.
What Families Near Westlake Village Can Expect When They Join the Next Group
Families who join a Therapy Clubhouse social skills group can expect a structured, clinic-based experience (coming Fall 2026) for pre-teens and teens. The group gives kids time to practice with peers while therapists guide the interaction, adjust activities, and help each child understand what happened during the session.
Parents can also expect the work to stay connected to the child’s everyday social settings. A skill practiced in our upcoming clinic should make sense for lunch tables, group projects, birthday parties, sports teams, clubs, and family gatherings. Therapy Clubhouse keeps the group focused on the moments kids actually face with peers.
Therapy Clubhouse works with families throughout the Conejo Valley who want pediatric therapy support close to home. For many parents, the upcoming Upcoming Westlake Village clinic will give their child a consistent place to practice social communication without adding a long drive across Los Angeles.
A family in Thousand Oaks may be trying to help a teen who avoids group projects. A parent in Agoura Hills may notice their preteen wants friends but misreads teasing or sarcasm. A family in Newbury Park may need help after repeated lunch conflicts. These are the types of social moments that can make a group setting useful.
The upcoming Upcoming Westlake Village clinic will give nearby families a central place for weekly social skills practice. Parents from Thousand Oaks, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Newbury Park, and surrounding Ventura County communities can contact Therapy Clubhouse to ask about group fit, age range, and enrollment timing.
Clinic-based groups (coming Fall 2026) can help kids separate social practice from the stress of school. A child who feels judged in the classroom may be more willing to try again in a therapist-led setting. The group can become a place where mistakes are part of learning, not something the child has to hide.
Getting started begins with a conversation about your child’s needs. Therapy Clubhouse can talk with you about your child’s age, social concerns, communication style, regulation needs, and whether a group format makes sense right now. If the group is not the right first step, the team can discuss whether speech therapy or occupational therapy support may be a better starting point.Parents do not need to know the exact therapy terms before they call. You can explain what you see at home, at school, or during peer activities. Maybe your child avoids hangouts, dominates conversations, misses social cues, or becomes upset when plans change. Therapy Clubhouse can help you sort through those concerns and decide what to do next.
Call Therapy Clubhouse To Join the Next Social Skills Group
If your preteen or teen wants friendships but keeps running into the same social roadblocks, a small therapist-led group may help. Social Skills Groups in Westlake Village give kids a place to practice conversation, peer problem-solving, flexible thinking, self-advocacy, and emotional regulation with guidance close by.
Therapy Clubhouse works with children and teens who need more structured peer practice than they can get from reminders at home. Your child may need help joining a group, staying connected with friends, understanding body language, handling disagreement, or speaking up before frustration takes over. The group gives them a supportive place to practice those moments with other kids.
Parents do not have to figure out the next step alone. Therapy Clubhouse can talk with you about your child’s needs, group readiness, enrollment timing, and whether social skills groups are the right fit. If another starting point makes more sense, we can help you understand that too.
Call Therapy Clubhouse at
(805) 624-3301
or contact us through our
contact page
to ask about joining the next Social Skills Group in Westlake Village.