Social Skill Services for Adults
Ages 18 - 24 Years
Young adults with heart defects sometimes need some help developing their social skills. Intervention can help young adults to forge and maintain strong relationships, to navigate through daily social interactions with confidence, and to find and join a community.
In this section
Help through Schools
In the United States, young adults (ages 18-21) with disabilities sometimes qualify for Special Education. Special Education services can teach and support social skills.
Special Education services that can support social development include:
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Speech and Language Therapy
Behavior support with a board certified behavior analyst (BCBA)
Counseling with a psychologist or social worker
The help of an aide
Social skills groups
Home services
Supervised lunch or recess activities
Placement in a therapeutic classroom or school
If a family is worried about social skills and do not believe the school is meeting their adult child's needs, they should request an IEP meeting and explain their concerns.
&w=3840&q=75)
Psychotherapy
Many therapists are experts in helping young people to understand and develop social interactions. Therapists can be psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, or mental health counselors. There are many different types of therapy, and individuals should find a therapist who is a good fit with their values and goals.
Types of therapy that can help young adults include:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Exposure Therapy (for social phobias)
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Parent Guidance (for young people with intellectual disabilities)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Dialectical-Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Families can ask their medical or developmental care team to refer them to an appropriate therapist and type of therapy. Many therapists accept medical insurance.
&w=3840&q=75)
Speech and Language Therapy
&w=3840&q=75)
Social challenges are often closely related to language problems. Speech and Language Pathologists are often helpful in teaching young adults social skills.
SLPs can help adults build social skills by:
teaching them "pragmatics": the social and practical side of language
helping them to start, maintain, and leave conversations
teaching norms of interaction in different contexts
helping them to understand and react appropriately to what others are saying
helping them to communicate in a way other people understand
Young adults can receive speech and language therapy at school, in a hospital, or in a clinic. Families should ask their school team and their doctor about options for speech and language therapy in their area.
Social Skills for Overall Wellbeing
Social supports are important for nearly all people, and are particularly vital for people with chronic illnesses.
Developing strong social skills helps young people to develop relationships that substantially improve their quality of life.
This content was reviewed by a psychologist at Boston Children's Hospital.
Families local to Boston can find support for social development through the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program. Click here for more information:
Want to Learn More?
Look below for related resources, search resources by topic, or explore one of our custom guides.
Don't see what you're looking for? Let us know what you want to learn! We will try to add content to respond to your needs. Email CNPschedulingandquestions@childrens.harvard.edu