Social Skills Groups for Teens with Autism in Bergen County: A Parent's Guide

Understanding Social Skills Groups for Teens with Autism

Social skills groups are structured programs where teens with autism practice interacting with peers in a supportive, small-group setting. Led by a trained professional-often a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), speech-language pathologist, or occupational therapist-these groups teach skills like starting and ending conversations, reading social cues, sharing interests, handling disagreements, and building friendships. The goal is not to "fix" a teen's natural way of communicating but to provide a safe, predictable environment where they can learn and practice strategies that work for them.

In Bergen County, New Jersey, families have access to a growing number of these groups. Some meet at therapy centers in towns like Hackensack, Paramus, or Ridgewood. Others are run through the Bergen County Special Services (BCSS) school district or local community organizations. Understanding what's available-and knowing how to evaluate a group's fit for your teen-can make all the difference.

Why Social Skills Groups Matter in the Teen Years

The teenage years bring new social demands: navigating peer cliques, group projects, extracurricular activities, and the complexities of dating and friendship. For autistic teens, these situations can feel overwhelming. Social skills groups offer a low-stakes way to practice before facing real-world situations.

Benefits of Group Practice

• Real-time feedback: A trained facilitator can gently guide interactions, helping a teen recognize when a friend might be bored or when it's time to shift topics.
• Peer modeling: Seeing other teens with autism try new skills reduces isolation and builds confidence.
• Generalization: Practicing with different people (not just one therapist) helps skills transfer to school, clubs, or jobs.
• Self-advocacy: Many groups include discussions about disability identity, accommodations, and how to ask for help.

Importantly, groups are not one-size-fits-all. Some focus on conversational skills, others on handling bullying or navigating apps like Discord. The best groups match a teen's interests and developmental level.

Types of Social Skills Groups in Bergen County

Bergen County families have several pathways to find a group. Here are the most common types:

Therapy Center-Based Groups

Private clinics in Bergen County-such as those in Paramus, Hackensack, Teaneck, or Fair Lawn-often run after-school social skills groups for teens. These may be led by a BCBA, SLP, or OT and typically charge a fee. Many accept insurance; always check if the group is considered a medical service. Some groups are open to any teen with an autism diagnosis, while others require a certain level of communication support.

School-District and County Programs

Many public schools in Bergen County offer social skills groups as part of their special education programming, especially through the child study team. You can request a group as part of your teen's IEP or 504 plan. The Bergen County Special Services (BCSS) School District also runs social skills programs for students who attend its specialized schools or who are placed through the county. Additionally, the county's PerformCare system (New Jersey's Children's Behavioral Health Services) may fund group therapy for qualifying families.

Community and Nonprofit Groups

Organizations like The Arc of Bergen County, the YMCA, and local chapters of Autism New Jersey sometimes offer leisure-time social groups (e.g., video game clubs, board game nights, volunteer projects) that naturally build skills. These groups may be less clinical but still provide structured social opportunities.

How to Find Social Skills Groups in Bergen County

Start with these concrete steps:

• Ask your child's school child study team. They can tell you if the district runs a social skills group or can recommend outside providers.
• Call PerformCare (1-877-652-7624). They maintain a list of in-network therapy providers in Bergen County, including those offering group services.
• Contact the Bergen County Special Services. They run several programs and can connect you with appropriate resources.
• Search the Autism New Jersey Provider Directory. Filter by "social skills groups" and Bergen County.
• Reach out to local therapy centers. Clinics in Paramus, Ridgewood, Hackensack, and Woodcliff Lake frequently run teen groups.

If your teen is not yet ready for group settings-for example, if they struggle with severe anxiety or have difficulty following group directions-you might first consider individual, in-home therapy to build those prerequisite skills.

What to Look for in a Quality Group

Not all social skills groups are created equal. Before enrolling your teen, consider these factors:

Qualified Leadership

The group should be led or closely supervised by a BCBA, speech-language pathologist, or occupational therapist with autism experience. Ask about their training and how they handle challenging moments.

Small Group Size

A good ratio is no more than four or five teens per facilitator. Larger groups can be overwhelming and provide less individual coaching.

Age and Skill Matching

Teens develop social skills at different paces. The group should be organized by both age and communication/behavioral needs. Avoid groups that mix very different levels unless they have multiple facilitators.

Practical Topics

The best groups teach skills that teens actually use: asking someone to hang out, handling a disagreement in a group chat, or ordering food at a restaurant. Role-playing, video modeling, and real-life outings (like a trip to a local coffee shop) make skills stick.

Opportunities for Parent Feedback

A quality group will check in with parents regularly about what's working and what needs more practice at home.

When Social Skills Groups Aren't Enough: The Role of In-Home ABA

For some autistic teens, a group setting is still too demanding. If your teen has difficulty with basic social readiness-like waiting for a turn, regulating emotional reactions, or understanding when someone is joking-they may benefit from individualized therapy first. That's where in-home ABA therapy can help.

Liftoff ABA provides personalized, BCBA-designed and supervised in-home therapy for children and teens across New Jersey, including Bergen County. Unlike a group, in-home ABA starts with a one-on-one trusted relationship, so your teen can practice skills like conversation, perspective-taking, and coping with frustration without the pressure of peers. Once those foundational skills are solid, the BCBA can help transition the teen into a social skills group with confidence.

One advantage of Liftoff ABA is no waitlists-most families start within weeks. They accept most major insurance plans, including NJ Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare), and offer free insurance verification. If you think your teen needs individual support before tackling group social skills, you can call (973) 566-3180 to learn more.

Steps to Get Started

Whether you choose a group, in-home therapy, or both, here's a simple roadmap:

• 1. Assess your teen's current social strengths and challenges. Talk with their school team and any current therapists.
• 2. Explore group options in Bergen County using the resources listed above. Visit a couple of groups to observe if possible.
• 3. Consider a "pre-group" foundation with in-home ABA if your teen is very anxious or needs individual coaching first.
• 4. Check insurance coverage. Many groups and ABA providers accept NJ Medicaid, PerformCare, and commercial insurance. Liftoff ABA verifies benefits for free.
• 5. Start small-maybe a short-term summer group or a weekly after-school session-and build from there.

Building social confidence takes time, but with the right supports, your teen can find their community and connect in their own authentic way.

Frequently asked questions

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