Social Skill Problems

Countless numbers of times, parents have come to me explaining that their children have "social skills problems". Indeed they do! However, well-meaning parents often simplify the actual problem. This is because social skills have to be learned experientially. They cannot be learned off a blackboard, or in a book. Etiquette can be learned this way, but it is different for social skills. Often what confuses a parent is the fact that anxiety inhibits the process of learning social skills. This is because anxiety creates avoidance. The more avoidance, the less an individual has the opportunity to learn skills.

Social anxiety is the ultimate social skills deficit. The more it is controlled, the more learning can take place.

Social skills deficits affect individuals of all ages. For example, many adults explain their challenge as they don't know what to say in social situations. They don’t know what to say after they say “hello”.

Social skills challenges include communication-conversation issues, body language, social-ability, interactive sensitivity, and more.