Testimonials
Parents and Clients
"Our family is so grateful to the Friends Program. Even though our son is the one with the formal diagnosis, our entire family benefited from Dr. Laurie. When we started with the group our son's behavior was overwhelming and confusing to us. We felt so isolated and scared. The Friends Program provided us with a safe community with whom we could let down our hair and share experiences. While our son became more flexible and less rigid with his play and behavior, we became more accepting, understanding and proactive with the support we received and the tools we acquired. Our family is much stronger, calmer and hopeful after having participated in this wonderful program."
- Jen W.
- Jen W.
"I cannot overstate the impact that the Friends Program has had on our son’s social development. During his years in the program, he developed from an isolated child who would turn his back on the group, to an active participant in social activities and group discussions. He learned critical social skills that he couldn't learn at school or at home. I highly recommend this book to parents and professionals who are looking for ways to teach the unwritten social rules that are so perplexing to children on the Autistic Spectrum/AS."
- Dana N.
- Dana N.
"The early intervention my daughter has received in Friends Group has been wonderful! She has gone from barely interacting with classmates to actually initiating play with children she has never met! I feel confident about her ability to succeed in a regular kindergarten class this fall."
- Kathy Lawrence
- Kathy Lawrence
"Ever since we joined the Friends Program, we have been able to learn how to help David grow and develop his social-emotional needs. He has also received the individualized help he needs with social and real-life skills. We do not know where we would be without this therapy for our family. We felt completely lost until we were able to join the Friends Program. Friends Program has enabled us in countless ways to appreciate our son with much more understanding, and has given us the invaluable ability to help him cope and succeed in day-to-day life."
- Anne & Andy
- Anne & Andy
"My son was diagnosed at age 7 with Asperger's and The Friends Group was recommended by our psychologist. We did the program for two years and I have to say those two years were invaluable to our family. I'm so grateful that my son had such a fun, safe and nurturing place to learn and practice (with peers!) things that are so hard for him but that other kids pick up automatically. He worked on things like maintaining a back and forth conversation, learning how to enter a new situation and handle transitions, how to work with peers on group projects, and what it means to be a friend. He made great strides in his ability to recognize and talk about his feelings and to better control his emotions. My son will always have his special talents and his challenges, but I feel like The Friends Group was able to offer him some tools for managing those challenges, and some real insight on how to use them.
As a parent participant, I really don't know what I would have done without this group. I entered the group literally panic stricken and quite depressed over a diagnosis that my husband and I did not see coming and did not fully understand. The parent participation aspect of this group was key to me learning about the autism spectrum, the issues that we struggle with as parents and some effective ways to handle them. Dr. Leventhal-Belfer is extremely knowledgeable about high functioning autism spectrum disorders and has created a program that truly reflects that knowledge and that strives to meet the needs of the children and the parents involved. I feel lucky to have picked up some of that knowledge and understanding and I know it has made me a better parent to my son. The camaraderie that comes from talking with other parents who are dealing with similar issues was helpful beyond words.
The Friends Program has really helped my son learn how to "play" with his peers. The team works with him and each child with a gentle patience that most do not have. As a parent of a HFA child the parent support element has given me information that would have taken years for me to gain on my own."
- Anna Thayer
As a parent participant, I really don't know what I would have done without this group. I entered the group literally panic stricken and quite depressed over a diagnosis that my husband and I did not see coming and did not fully understand. The parent participation aspect of this group was key to me learning about the autism spectrum, the issues that we struggle with as parents and some effective ways to handle them. Dr. Leventhal-Belfer is extremely knowledgeable about high functioning autism spectrum disorders and has created a program that truly reflects that knowledge and that strives to meet the needs of the children and the parents involved. I feel lucky to have picked up some of that knowledge and understanding and I know it has made me a better parent to my son. The camaraderie that comes from talking with other parents who are dealing with similar issues was helpful beyond words.
The Friends Program has really helped my son learn how to "play" with his peers. The team works with him and each child with a gentle patience that most do not have. As a parent of a HFA child the parent support element has given me information that would have taken years for me to gain on my own."
- Anna Thayer
Workshops and Training Sessions
"Dr. Laurie Leventhal-Belfer is an exceptional teacher of issues regarding people with autism spectrum disorders. Her vast experience provides her with invaluable insights to teachers and clinicians in the field. She clearly understands why people on the spectrum behave the way they do, and how to enhance their talents and skills to help them negotiate their way in the world. I recommend her expertise and training highly."
- Jennifer Sullivan
Former Executive Director of Morgan Autism Center, Board Member of SFASA and Advisory Board Member of SCCOE EPIC Program for Teachers.
- Jennifer Sullivan
Former Executive Director of Morgan Autism Center, Board Member of SFASA and Advisory Board Member of SCCOE EPIC Program for Teachers.
"Dr. Laurie Leventhal-Belfer presented a talk to our staff on "Asperger’s in Adults: A Developmental and Clinical Perspective”. The talk was very informative and her use of videos made it very entertaining. She discussed how this diagnosis presents itself in children, how parents cope and characteristics of individuals with this diagnosis mature. This talk challenged us to think more about how individuals with this diagnosis do in relationships as well as how their partners cope with them. It left us pondering effective clinical interventions with this population and a desire to learn more!"
- Mary Foston-English, M.A.,MFT,CEAP
Assistant Director, Stanford Faculty Staff Help Center
- Mary Foston-English, M.A.,MFT,CEAP
Assistant Director, Stanford Faculty Staff Help Center
"Laurie has provided staff development presentations for Palo Alto Unified School District staff and parents at both the site and district level. At each session, Laurie provides both theoretical and hands-on information about working with students with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Laurie's ideas are utilized immediately and staff continuously reference them as they work with students. In spite of the busy schedule of most staff members, when Laurie presents, every seat is full."
- Carol Zepecki Ed.D.
Director of Student Services (Retired)
Palo Alto Unified School District
- Carol Zepecki Ed.D.
Director of Student Services (Retired)
Palo Alto Unified School District
"Laurie Leventhal-Belfer presents a very thorough, as well as entertaining workshop on Asperger's. She outlines the history, specifications, and general treatment of Asperger's, while highlighting clinical issues for therapists new to the diagnosis; such as the benefits and challenges, myths about working with couples, as well as a compassionate view of what parents of children with Asperger's face. The weaving in of her clinical expertise and passion over the years helps make it memorable and meaningful. You may leave thinking differently about clients, as well as friends, in a new way and with your idea of what's 'normal' is expanded."
- Colleen King Ney, LCSW
A Participant of Concern's-EAP in-Service; "Autism Spectrum Disorder/ Asperger's in Adults; A Developmental and Clinical Perspective.
- Colleen King Ney, LCSW
A Participant of Concern's-EAP in-Service; "Autism Spectrum Disorder/ Asperger's in Adults; A Developmental and Clinical Perspective.
"Wow! I was left quite sensitive to the families who have children with Asperger’s."
- Lucipta Reyea O’Malley, SCCVE
- Lucipta Reyea O’Malley, SCCVE
"Excellent experience. Well presented. Appreciated both the wealth of knowledge and enthusiasm."
- Steven Corells, Educational Therapist
- Steven Corells, Educational Therapist
Colleagues
"Dr. Leventhal-Belfer's groups have provided a much-needed support to many children and families struggling to understand and help develop the social cognitive skills of their young children. This model empowers the socially motivated but socially naïve child to feel successful in peer situations and to generalize those skills."
- Jennifer Phillips, Ph.D., Stanford University
- Jennifer Phillips, Ph.D., Stanford University
"As a Pediatric Psychologist, I have appreciated having the Friends Program to refer to when children and parents need the benefit of group therapy and support in navigating life with a child who has an ASD. As a previous clinician in the program, I am able to recommend the program with absolute confidence and enthusiasm and am glad that it is now available to those who want to do this invaluable work."
- Leslee T. Belzer, Ph.D., Los Altos, CA
- Leslee T. Belzer, Ph.D., Los Altos, CA