What is PEERS®?

 

PEERS® stands for the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills. It is a structured, evidence-based social skills program developed at UCLA to support youth who would like to improve their ability to make and maintain friendships.

 

The program teaches practical, real-world social skills through clear instruction, role-play demonstrations, guided discussion, and supported practice. Participants learn concrete strategies for navigating peer interactions, building friendships, handling social challenges, and applying these skills across everyday settings such as school, community activities, group programs, and online communication.

 

At Glowing Growth, the PEERS® program is delivered by certified PEERS® providers in a supportive group format. Each session focuses on specific friendship and social communication skills, followed by opportunities for participants to practise these skills through structured socialization activities.

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What will participants learn? 

• Conversational skills and trading information

• Entering and exiting peer interactions

• Developing and maintaining friendships

• Using humour appropriately

• Handling disagreements, teasing, and social challenges

• Organizing and participating in social get-togethers

• Navigating electronic communication

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How does the program work?​

Each session includes:

• Structured social skills lessons

• Role-play demonstrations

• Guided practice

• In-session socialization opportunities

• Weekly practice assignments to support real-life use of skills

• Parent training/meeting sessions

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Concurrent Parent Sessions

 

Parent participation is an essential component of the PEERS® program. While teens participate in their social skills group, parents attend concurrent parent sessions led by the program leaders. During these sessions, parents learn the same strategies being taught to their teens, discuss the weekly lesson, and receive guidance on how to support skill practice at home and in everyday social situations.

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Parents serve as social coaches by encouraging practice, providing feedback, and creating opportunities for their teen to apply newly learned skills between sessions. Weekly homework assignments are completed with parent support to promote generalization across home, school, and community settings.

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Research has shown that active parent involvement contributes to stronger skill acquisition, greater confidence, and improved maintenance of social skills over time. By working together, teens and parents develop a shared understanding of the strategies that support meaningful friendships and successful social interactions.

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Who is this for? 

• This program is designed for youth ages 13 to 17 who would benefit from structured support in developing friendship skills, peer interaction skills, and confidence in social situations.

• PEERS® may be appropriate for youth who experience difficulty starting or maintaining conversations, joining peer groups, making friends, handling disagreements, responding to teasing, or participating in social activities.
   

Program Leaders​

The program is led by certified PEERS® providers:

• Ida Chung, Ph.D., BCBA-D, R.B.A. (Ont.)

• Vivian Tam, M.Sc., BCBA, R.B.A. (Ont.)

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Now Accepting Registrations for Our Fall 2026 PEERS® Program
Give your teen the opportunity to develop practical social skills, build meaningful friendships, and gain confidence in peer interactions. Spaces are limited and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

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Click HERE for Registration Form