Programs

PEERS for Adolescents

Empowering middle and high school students with the evidence-based social skills needed to make lasting friends and handle peer pressure.

Learn About the Next Teen Cohort
Three smiling teenagers sitting at a table with a notebook and water bottle, talking in a classroom.

UCLA Social Skills Training for Teens

The teenage years present unique and fast-changing social landscapes. For adolescents with autism, ADHD, social anxiety, depression, or other learning differences, making friends can feel incredibly challenging. B.E.S.T. provides the UCLA Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS) for Adolescents.

Diverse group of teens and an adult woman sitting around table engaged in friendly discussion.
This internationally acclaimed, 16-week program focuses on helping teens develop and maintain authentic relationships. Our manualized curriculum provides practical, structured lessons and real-world practice to help adolescents discover where they fit in.

What Our Teens Learn

Adolescents attend weekly, 90-minute group sessions where they learn and practice concrete social skills. We use evidence-based lessons, therapist role-play demonstrations, and structured practice activities to teach:

Conversational Nuances
Finding common interests, trading information, and entering or exiting peer conversations gracefully.
Humor and Reputations
Using humor appropriately and changing a bad reputation with peers.
Good Sportsmanship
Being a good sport during games and structured team play.
Get-Togethers
Organizing and hosting fun, stress-free hangouts with friends.
Conflict and Rejection
Handling arguments, managing peer pressure, and safely responding to direct and indirect bullying.

Partnering with Parents for Success

Active parental involvement is a critical predictor of long-term social success. While teens participate in their group, parents attend a separate session running at the exact same time.

Woman talking with parents seated on couch in a colorful classroom setting with educational posters.
In these sessions, our clinical team guides parents on how to act as life-long social coaches. Parents learn how to support their teen with weekly homework assignments, help them organize playdates, and guide them through social hurdles confidently.

Program Details