Group Therapy at KITES: Empowering Children through Collaborative, Evidence-Based Approaches

At KITES, our Group Therapy sessions offer a unique opportunity for children to develop essential social, emotional, cognitive, and functional skills in a supportive, peer-driven environment. Our group therapy is grounded in evidence-based approaches, ensuring that every child receives the tools they need to thrive in both social and academic settings. By fostering interaction, cooperation, and skill-building, we help children build confidence, improve communication, and enhance emotional regulation—all while learning from their peers in a fun and dynamic setting.

Our Evidence-Based Approaches: Holistic Development in Group Therapy

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Emotional Regulation

We incorporate CBT techniques in our group sessions to help children develop self-awareness and control over their emotions. By teaching children how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected, we empower them to manage their emotional responses and engage positively in group activities.

• Focus Areas:
  • Recognizing and challenging negative thoughts.
  • Developing coping strategies to manage frustration, anxiety, and other strong emotions.
  • Building resilience and fostering self-confidence in social situations.
• Impact: CBT has been shown to help children manage anxiety, depression, and emotional challenges, equipping them to regulate their emotions in social contexts (Kendall, 2011).

2. Social Skills Training (SST) for Peer Interaction

Social Skills Training (SST) is an essential component of our group therapy, teaching children how to engage with others in a positive, effective manner. This structured approach uses role-playing, modeling, and reinforcement to help children learn how to communicate and interact successfully.

• Focus Areas:
  • Improving eye contact, active listening, and turn-taking in conversations.
  • Recognizing and responding to social cues such as body language and tone.
  • Learning to resolve conflicts and interact appropriately in group settings.
• Impact: SST has proven to improve children’s social competence, particularly in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and social communication challenges (Gresham, 2002).

3. Peer-Mediated Interventions for Positive Behavioral Change

Our peer-mediated interventions harness the power of positive peer influence to encourage desired behaviors. By training typically developing children to model and reinforce positive social interactions, we create a natural support system within the group.

• Focus Areas:
  • Encouraging positive peer interactions and reinforcing appropriate behaviors.
  • Using peers as role models for desired social skills and behaviors.
  • Promoting group problem-solving and cooperation.
• Impact: Peer-mediated interventions have been shown to enhance social skills and reduce problem behaviors by leveraging the social influence of peers (Kamps et al., 2007).

4. Play-Based Therapy for Engagement and Skill Development

In our group sessions, play-based therapy provides a fun and engaging way for children to develop critical skills. Through structured play, children practice social interaction, teamwork, and problem-solving in a supportive and relaxed environment.

• Focus Areas:
  • Facilitating turn-taking, sharing, and cooperative play.
  • Enhancing communication and social skills through group games and activities.
  • Encouraging creativity and teamwork in group play settings.
• Impact: Play-based therapy encourages engagement and fosters both social and cognitive development, helping children learn skills they can apply in daily life (Pica et al., 2017).

5. Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) for Functional Skill Acquisition

Our group therapy also integrates ABA principles to reinforce positive behaviors and teach functional life skills. Through consistent reinforcement and behavior management techniques, we help children practice and apply skills in a natural, group-based setting.

• Focus Areas:
  • Reinforcing positive behaviors such as initiating conversations and cooperating in tasks.
  • Using reinforcement to encourage participation and engagement in group activities.
  • Teaching functional skills like self-care, organization, and time management within the group.

Impact: ABA is an effective method for promoting adaptive behaviors and functional independence, particularly for children with developmental delays (Lovaas, 1987).