About the Program
PEERS® for Young Adults is a 16 week social skills class that helps young adults age 16-30 learn how to make and keep friends, handle challenging social situations, and navigate dating. Young adults select a social coach (such as a family member, friend, or other supportive person) to help them apply the skills they are learning in class to their daily lives.
Program Highlights
PEERS covers many different social skills, including:
- Conversation skills
- Using humor appropriately
- Identifying sources of friends
- Organizing get-togethers
- Electronic communication
- Dating and dating safety
- Handling arguments and disagreements
- Handling bullying and peer pressure
Both young adults and social coaches attend a weekly session to learn new social skills. Young adults practice the new skills in class, while social coaches learn about coaching methods. Participants are required to attend at least 14 out of the 16 sessions as the social skills learned each week build on each other.
Contact Information
If you are interested in learning more about PEERS® for Young Adults, contact us at PEERS@servicesource.org or talk with your DARS counselor. PEERS is currently available as a Virginia DARS funded or private pay service.