Social Skills Unscripted

May 13 2024 16

Social Skills Unscripted Podcast artwork

Can we help our neurodivergent kids and teens have more successful social interactions WITHOUT relying on rewards and consequences? I'm Steph West, and my guests and I share strategies and techniques for helping autistic and ADHD kids become more socially competent, confident, and connected so they can make and keep friends! (PS. I also teach people how to start a social club like mine in their own community!) You can find more about me and my program at www.StarfishSocialClub.org.

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

Autistic dating, with Jen and Kim from The Mix

May 13 2024 42 mins

While our social groups and summer camp here at Starfish Social Club are geared towards kids and teens, kids and teens grow into adults! At some point along the way, the focus often shifts from making friends to dating and romantic relationships. We talked about romantic relationships a bit this month in the module our students are currently going through, but it's not someth

Things parents misunderstand about autistic/ADHD friendships

May 06 2024 46 mins

I'm going through a 'life phase' right now where I'm learning and doing and trying a bunch of new things. Some days I feel a bit frustrated that I didn't know some of these things sooner, or that I have never done something like this before, or that I'm as old as I am and this is all new to me. And then I cut myself some slack because it's not like

Supporting the brain holistically, with Christine MacCarroll

Apr 29 2024 68 mins

Last week a friend of mine posted a picture on Facebook of a messageboard with a cryptic message that I couldn't uncrack. I scrolled through the comments and saw that it's 'court reporter speak'. I have zero familiarity with this 'language', and seeing it made me even more confused as to how it's actually useful! It's interesting how we all interpr

Things your autistic/ADHD kid doesn't understand about friends

Apr 22 2024 49 mins

In our weekly social groups, we are finally talking about friends! We've been building up to this point for a while. Any time we learn something new, there's also some unlearning that has to happen. That's what has been going on in our groups: I am helping students unlearn what they THINK friendship is. Over the years, I've realized and recognized several differe

When your neurodivergent kid is socially AND physically awkward, with Niki McGlynn

Apr 15 2024 66 mins

I really love learning new things, especially when those things help me figure out more about myself. I had no idea that was going to be the case when I scheduled an interview with this week's guest, Niki McGlynn. The more Niki talked about her work with primitive reflexes, the more I realized she was describing so many of the things that are a challenge for me physically. Fr

Who is your child, really?

Apr 08 2024 72 mins

One of the most important needs we all have as humans (once our basic needs are met) is the need to be seen for who we are. If you think about the people in your life that are the most important to you, chances are it's because they make you feel seen for who you are. They love you, they care about you, they respect you. Even when you've had a rough day. Even when you me

Balancing parent and child boundaries, with Rose Clark

Apr 01 2024 72 mins

Have you ever noticed how much the way you were raised influences the way you parent/teach? Honestly, I think it was a big factor in my decision to NOT have kids. These human brains of ours only know what we've been exposed to, so they carry on with what we have been taught or have experienced. They just don't know any better. In this week's podcast/YouTube episode

What to do when your autistic/ADHD child doesn't have friends

Mar 25 2024 66 mins

The number one reason parents register their kids for either the group program here at Starfish Social Club or my 1/1 support is because they recognize their child doesn't have friends. This can be a very emotional and pivotal point for parents. But you know what event may be even more important? When kids recognize this for themselves. When our kids first start to realize th

Empowering strategies for neurodivergent kids, with DJ Nicholson

Mar 04 2024 69 mins

One of the things I really enjoy about being an adult is being able to figure out what I need to be happy and functional. It has taken me a while to be honest, but I'm grateful to have the autonomy to know what I need and be able to integrate the things I need into my life. Our kids often don't have enough life experience to be able to tell us what they need to be more ha

Helping neurodivergent kids understand relationships

Feb 26 2024 44 mins

My main goal here at Starfish Social Club is helping kids learn the skills and strategies that make it easier for them to make friends. While we all notice when our kids are struggling socially, I don't think we always realize how much it can impact the quality of their lives. I came across this quote last week: "As a culture, we could improve our national happiness level