Monthly Outings for
Neurodivergent Teens

 Some teens have known they were different from their peers since elementary school. They have found it difficult to find other like-minded peers or well-meaning professionals and parents kept trying to connect them with neurotypical peers who did not share the same interests or had different ways of engaging and connecting that did not work for them. This group aims to help neurodivergent teens connect with other neurodivergent teens. We have found this promotes a more positive well-being, increases self-esteem and confidence. Research shows that while a large focus tends to be on academics, skill building and being with neurotypcial models to emulate, that it’s social connection that is most meaningful long-term and later in life. It’s imperative to help our young people foster those connections. This group aims to focus on emotionally validating experiences, facilitate connections with peers, empathize with group members, acknowledge strengths and values, offer suggestions and peer input and provide supportive feedback. 

Our program aims to bring independently functioning neurodivergent teens together and provides services that are essential for the formation of lasting relationships by focusing on these components:

1. One outing per month: We provide the shared social/emotional experiences in the form of fun and interesting monthly outings in the community (ropes course, bowling, laser tag, etc.).

2. Each outing is designed to allow our members to engage with each other socially and get to know other members. We ensure all of our members share the same goal; to make friends and have fun shared social experiences. We want them to feel safe and accepted. We are acutely aware that our members need opportunities to feel competent and be successful and the components of our program foster that goal. We provide our members with a welcoming, accepting and inclusive peer group. Our members have diverse interests and personalities and we get to know our members so that we can facilitate shared commonalities. Our coaches and therapists attend each outing to ensure everyone feels supported, is guided and encouraged and safe. Coaches and therapists facilitate positive social interactions between members. 

3. Twice monthly social coaching sessions: Each member is assigned a therapist/coach who has specialized training and experience in teaching general social understanding skills and teaching the specific skills of our program, to ensure success. Members receive twice monthly social coaching sessions that address any barriers to their social success and prevent them from developing friendships. These barriers may be social anxiety, rigidity, unrealistic expectations, social skills deficits, and cognitive distortions and beliefs. 

*It is important to note that the success of these outings depends on active and consistent participation by all members. There may be activities or outings that a member has already decided they will not enjoy. Due to cognitive inflexibility/rigid thinking styles, anticipatory anxiety, neurodivergent teens tend to believe they need to rate the activity at a “10” (indicating they expect to have the “most” fun) prior to agreeing to the outing. However, to practice flexible thinking and cultivate friendships, we strongly encourage teens to try something new, try something different and expect to have at least “some” fun. It is extremely helpful for the parents to encourage their teens to join every outing. Participation in this program is a commitment to attend all outings and participate in all social coaching sessions throughout the duration of the program (10 months). 

Some activities will push our members out of their comfort zone. They may feel scared of the activity and may want to resist participating. However, activities that have a heightened sense of fear or danger factor actually work in the opposite way for neurodivergent individuals. It pushes them to be more independent, mindful and adhere to safety rules they might not usually adhere to. This is particularly true for individuals who have a lower attention threshold. Activities like a ropes course, archery, and ax throwing help members tune in to their senses in ways most activities do not.