The Friends Program

Does your child have trouble:

• Making friends?
• Playing with other children?
• Adjusting to changes in his or her daily schedule?
• Being flexible?
• Talking with his or her peers?
• Not acting like the “little professor”?

The Friends Program Philosophy

• The Friends Program is a therapeutic group program designed to address the developing needs of young children with Asperger’s Disorder/High Functioning Autism Spectrum and their families. The goals of the program are twofold:  
  • The first is to address the areas in which these children have the most difficulty: social interactions, joint play with peers, emotional regulation, social communication, and sensory regulation.
  • The second is to help the children cope with the daily challenges of school, such as making transitions from the playground or participating in a group activity.   
• The Parents' Group provides the parents with guided observations of their children in the therapeutic group in addition to participating in a parents-only group facilitated by a therapist. The group aims to enhance the parent’s understanding of the child and provide guidance and support for the daily issues the parents are encountering.​

Criteria for Participation in the Program

• The child must have had an evaluation prior to entering the group and received the diagnosis of HF Autism Spectrum Disorder/Asperger’s Syndrome or R/O Asperger’s. Children may also have the co-diagnoses of OCD, ADHD, or Anxiety Disorders.  
• At least one of the child’s parents must be able to participate in the program on a weekly basis. Both are always welcome in the group.

Ongoing Programs
The time of the groups depends on the ages of the children enrolled in the program. The times are typically determined in August. The groups meet on Tuesdays due to space availability for the program. 

Schedule

The 2nd - 5th Grade Group meets on Tuesdays from 4:00 – 5:15 pm
Cost: This group is $165 per session for the child and parent(s).

The Middle / High School Parents Group meets virtually on Tuesday Evenings from 7:00 – 8:00 pm
Cost: This group is $100 per session for the parent(s).
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Registration: To sign up for the Friends Program, go to the Intake Forms page, download, and complete the Friends Program Consent Form. If you are new client, please also fill out the Children's Intake Form. For questions, contact  Dr. Laurie Leventhal-Belfer at dr.laurielb@gmail.com or 650-322-4431. ​
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Location: 4275 Los Palos Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94036 or virtually, as appropriate.

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