# Social Skills Groups for Kids in Los Angeles

> Where LA kids and teens with autism, ADHD or social anxiety can practice making friends: UCLA PEERS, clinic groups and nonprofits, by age, with what they cost and who pays.

Social skills groups in Los Angeles are small, usually weekly groups where kids and teens with autism, ADHD or social anxiety practice making and keeping friends with a trained leader. Options range from UCLA’s PEERS clinic in Westwood to private groups on the Westside, in the Valley, Pasadena and the South Bay. Many run 6 to 16 weeks; others are ongoing. Self-pay prices we found ran from about $80 to $250 a week, and some groups take insurance or regional center funding.

By Summerground, updated October 12, 2026.

## At a glance

- Good groups teach one skill at a time, have kids practice it with peers and send it home as homework. Research-based programs like UCLA PEERS also train parents to coach.
- There are groups for every age, from Hiller Therapy’s Social Club at 2 to PEERS for young adults at UCLA and at Our Village in Torrance.
- Self-pay prices we found ran from about $80 to $250 a week. Some groups bill insurance, and many take regional center or Self-Determination funds.
- Before you sign up, ask who leads the group, how kids are matched, how big it is and what parents do between sessions.

## 15 social skills groups in Los Angeles

These start with UCLA’s two programs, then go by area: the Westside, central LA, the Valley, Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, and the South Bay. Each is a social skills group for kids or teens with autism, ADHD or social anxiety, or for kids who just find friendships hard. Ages, prices and funding are as each program posts them.

### 1. UCLA PEERS Clinic

Westwood · 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095

The UCLA clinic where PEERS was developed. Teens in middle or high school meet 90 minutes a week for 16 weeks, on Wednesday afternoons or evenings, while parents meet separately to learn to coach them. UCLA bills most insurance except Kaiser and Medi-Cal; self-pay is $508 for the intake and $250 a week. It also runs PEERS for preschoolers (4 to 6) and young adults (18 to 35), and self-pay online classes for ages 11 to 35.

- Middle and high schoolers
- 16 weeks, 90 minutes a week
- A parent takes part every week
- Self-pay: $508 intake, $250 a week
- Most insurance, not Kaiser or Medi-Cal
- Website: https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/peers
- Phone: 310-267-3377
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/westwood/ucla-peers-clinic.md

### 2. UCLA Children’s Friendship Program

Online (UCLA)

A 12-week telehealth group for children in 2nd through 5th grade (some 7-year-old first graders can join from April) who have few friends, are bossy or shy with peers, or get left out. Licensed clinical psychologists teach one skill each week, like joining a game or being a good host on a playdate, and children practice it as homework. One parent attends every Tuesday evening session to learn to coach. UCLA bills many insurance plans as outpatient group therapy.

- Grades 2 to 5
- 12 weeks, by video
- One parent attends each week
- Billed to insurance as group therapy
- Website: https://www.semel.ucla.edu/initiatives/childrens-friendship-program/
- Phone: 310-825-0142
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/westwood/ucla-childrens-friendship-program.md

### 3. The Miracle Project

Santa Monica and Beverly Hills

‘Improv for Interaction’ classes use theater games and role-play to practice starting conversations and play, naming feelings, taking turns and joining activities kids would rather skip. Groups for ages 5 to 8 and 8 to 11 meet at Adrian’s Place in Santa Monica, with adult groups at The Wallis in Beverly Hills and online. Every class is neurodiverse, with neurotypical peer ‘co-actors.’ Most local regional centers can cover tuition (vendor PW7471), as can the Self-Determination Program, and new families can try a class free.

- Ages 5 to 8 and 8 to 11
- Neurotypical peer co-actors
- Regional center vendor PW7471
- Free trial class
- Website: https://www.themiracleproject.org/socialskills/5-8
- Phone: 213-793-5495
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/beverly-hills/the-miracle-project.md

### 4. CARE-LA

Century City · 10323 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

A practice that specializes in anxiety in children and teens, with social skills groups led by its mental health clinicians. Groups are matched by age, developmental level and social-emotional needs, and use role-play, games and coached peer time to practice conversation, reading body language, handling conflict and managing emotions. Families get strategies to use at home, and a group can be paired with individual therapy.

- Children and teens
- Anxiety specialists
- Matched by age and needs
- Website: https://www.care-la.com/social-skills-group
- Phone: 424-421-2273
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/century-city/care-la.md

### 5. LA Speech & Language Therapy Center

Culver City, Lawndale and online · 5761 Buckingham Pkwy, Culver City, CA 90230

Speech-language pathologists lead weekly two-hour social skills classes, in person and online, for children, teens and adults with autism or other communication needs. The week includes pre-social skills, elementary and teen groups and a drama class, with participants matched by age, ability and maturity. Classes go on regular community outings, and parents get a weekly debrief. The center lists regional centers, Serenity Health and L.A. Care as funders.

- Children through adults
- Weekly 2-hour classes
- In person and online
- Regional centers and L.A. Care fund it
- Website: https://speakla.com/social-skills-training/
- Phone: 310-649-6199
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/culver-city/la-speech-and-language-therapy-center-inc.md

### 6. Hiller Therapy Social Club

Carthay · 1137 S Point View St, Los Angeles, CA

An outdoor, multi-sensory group for children 2 to 6, led by a pediatric occupational therapist with an OT student and assistants, so there’s at least one adult for every two children. Groups of six to eight same-age kids meet Thursday mornings from February through November, drawing on Social Thinking with a neurodiversity-affirming approach. Your child doesn’t need to be in OT. Its page lists $800 for six weeks or $1,050 for eight, including a $100 nonrefundable deposit.

- Ages 2 to 6
- 6 to 8 kids, one adult per two
- $800 for 6 weeks, $1,050 for 8
- Thursday mornings, Feb. to Nov.
- Website: https://www.hillertherapy.com/socialclub
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/miracle-mile/leah-hiller-therapy.md

### 7. Potential On The Rise

Silver Lake, Frogtown and Glendale

A 14-week program that meets in city parks and rec centers, including Robert Burns Park, the Bellevue and Silver Lake rec centers, Lewis MacAdams Riverfront Park and Palmer Park in Glendale. Groups are set by age (3 to 6, 7 to 12 and 13 to 19) and peer fit after a short consultation, and sessions run 2½ hours once or twice a week. It can set up pods of up to three kids who live near each other. It’s vendored with Lanterman Regional Center and takes Self-Determination funds and private pay.

- Ages 3 to 19, in age groups
- 14 weeks, 2½-hour sessions
- Lanterman Regional Center vendor
- Self-Determination funds accepted
- Website: https://potentialontherise.com/social-skills/
- Phone: 323-767-3243
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/east-hollywood/potential-on-the-rise.md

### 8. The Nest LA

Studio City · 11425 Moorpark St, Studio City, CA 91602

Small, clinician-led play groups for young children who need practice with peers, using a neuro-affirming, play-based approach to communication, emotional regulation, conflict and empathy. Its fall 2026 Social Skills Fun Club groups, split by age between 3½ and 8, meet for an hour once a week and cost $640 for the session. The Nest also offers individual social coaching, takes regional center payments through Aveanna and gives a free 15-minute consultation.

- Ages 3½ to 8
- One hour a week
- $640 per session
- Regional center through Aveanna
- Website: https://thenestla.com/social-skills-groups/
- Phone: 310-920-8544
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/studio-city/the-nest-los-angeles.md

### 9. LUNCH Groups

Encino · 16311 Ventura Blvd, Suite 1255, Encino, CA 91436

A social skills program in Encino since 2002, for ages 6 to 26. Elementary groups (grades 1 to 5) meet weekly; middle school, high school and young adult groups meet twice a month, and every group goes on a monthly community outing. The school-year program runs October through May. LUNCH takes regional center funding (vendor code PL0514), school district contracts and private pay; ask for current rates.

- Ages 6 to 26
- October to May
- Monthly community outings
- Regional center vendor PL0514
- Website: https://lunchgroups.com/
- Phone: 818-788-2100
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/encino/lunch-groups.md

### 10. Social Scholars

Encino · 15821 Ventura Blvd, Suite 685, Encino, CA 91436

Small, age-based groups for children, pre-teens and teens that practice conversation, reading tone and body language, flexible thinking and getting back on track after a hard moment, through coached games, role-play and team challenges. Placement depends on age, communication style, goals and fit rather than a diagnosis, and starts with a free consultation. Groups meet in person in Encino, with virtual groups for some ages.

- Children, pre-teens and teens
- In person, some virtual groups
- Free consultation
- Website: https://www.socialscholarsinc.com/social-skills-groups-encino
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/encino/social-scholars.md

### 11. Insight Collective Children’s Social Skills Program

South Pasadena · 625 Fair Oaks Ave, Suite 101, South Pasadena, CA 91030

A 12-week program for children 7 to 12, modeled on UCLA’s Children’s Friendship Program. Each week children learn and practice a skill, such as slipping into a game, being a good sport or handling teasing, while parents meet in a required group of their own. Classes are capped at 10 children, and the team meets each family before the group starts.

- Ages 7 to 12
- 12 weeks
- Parent group required
- Up to 10 children
- Website: https://www.insightcollective.net/children
- Phone: 626-765-4482
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/south-pasadena/insight-collective.md

### 12. GOALS Group (David Lorentzen, Psy.D.)

Pasadena · 299 N Euclid Ave, Suite 500, Pasadena, CA 91101

Dr. David Lorentzen’s group for boys 5 to 14 that builds social skills and emotion regulation through real interactions with peers rather than lectures. Three ongoing weekly groups (ages 5 to 7, 8 to 11 and middle school) take up to six boys each, and boys join as spots open. It suits boys with ADHD, autism, ODD or social anxiety who are doing fairly well overall, and boys with no diagnosis. Sessions are $100 each, with a few reduced-fee spots.

- Boys 5 to 14
- Up to 6 boys per group
- $100 a session
- Some reduced-fee spots
- Website: https://www.davidlorentzen.com/social-skills-groups-pasadena
- Phone: 818-523-4628
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/pasadena/david-lorentzen-psy-d.md

### 13. SoCal Speech-Language Therapy (PEERS)

La Cañada Flintridge · 808 Foothill Blvd, Unit D, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

PEERS for Adolescents led by Dr. Carla Kekejian, a licensed speech-language pathologist and UCLA-certified PEERS provider. Groups meet 90 minutes a week for 16 weeks, in person or online: teen groups for ages 9 to 12 and adolescent groups for 13 to 16, matched by age and fit after a short intake interview. The practice gives superbills you can send for possible reimbursement, usually from PPO plans, and accepts regional center Self-Determination funds.

- Ages 9 to 12 and 13 to 16
- 16 weeks, 90 minutes a week
- In person or online
- Superbills; Self-Determination funds
- Website: https://socalspeech.com/peers-for-adolescents/
- Phone: 323-407-8948
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/la-canada-flintridge/socal-speech-language-therapy-la-canada-flintridge.md

### 14. Our Village

Torrance · 3848 W Carson St, #115, Torrance, CA 90503

A Torrance nonprofit running PEERS groups for teens (12½ to 17) and young adults, led by UCLA-certified providers, plus ‘Kid 2 Kid’ play and social skills groups for younger children and Sibshops for brothers and sisters. It’s vendored with Harbor and Westside regional centers for its teen and young adult groups, accepts Self-Determination funds and offers private pay. Screening is free, and it has 2026-27 scholarships for PEERS for Preschoolers (ages 4 to 6).

- Teens 12½ to 17 and young adults
- Harbor and Westside regional centers
- Free screening
- Nonprofit
- Website: https://www.ourvillageslc.org/
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/redondo-beach/our-village-inc.md

### 15. Stepping Stones Therapy

Torrance · 3510 Torrance Blvd, #112, Torrance, CA 90503

Weekly one-hour groups, preschool through young adult, that work on pragmatic language (how we use language with other people) and social cognition (understanding others’ thoughts and feelings). Each group is led by a licensed therapist and made up of kids at a similar age and skill level. The Torrance office offers only speech therapy and social skills groups, and the practice lists Kaiser, Cigna and Blue Shield among the plans it accepts.

- Preschool to young adult
- One hour, weekly
- Led by licensed therapists
- Lists Kaiser, Cigna, Blue Shield
- Website: https://steppingstonestherapy.org/social-skills-groups-for-kids/
- Phone: 310-921-8797
- On Summerground: https://summerground.com/torrance/stepping-stones-therapy.md

## What a good social skills group looks like

A social skills group isn’t a playdate with an adult watching. Research-based programs, such as UCLA’s PEERS and Children’s Friendship Program, teach one skill at a time, have kids practice it in the room, then send it home as homework. Look for:

- **A trained leader.** Groups on this list are led by psychologists, speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, marriage and family therapists or behavior analysts. Ask who leads yours and how they were trained in the method they use.
- **Kids matched by age and skill.** Nearly every program here starts with a screening, intake, consultation or trial class to find the right group.
- **A small group.** Programs here that post a size cap set it at 6 to 10 children.
- **A role for parents.** UCLA’s programs require a parent at every session; others hold parent groups or debriefs. Skills stick when you can coach them at home.
- **Practice in real life.** Homework, get-togethers and community outings help skills carry over to school and the park.
- **A named method.** PEERS, the Children’s Friendship Program and Social Thinking are established curricula. Ask what the group follows and what your child will work on each week.

Be wary of a group that promises to make your child seem ‘normal’ or can’t explain what it teaches. Several programs here, like The Nest and Social Scholars, say the aim is confidence and connection while your child stays themselves.

## Social skills groups by age

Groups work best when everyone is at a similar stage. Here’s what we found:

- **Preschool (2 to 6):** play-based groups for sharing, turn-taking and joining play, such as Hiller Therapy’s Social Club (2 to 6), The Nest’s Social Skills Fun Club (3½ to 8), Potential On The Rise (from 3) and UCLA’s PEERS for Preschoolers (4 to 6).
- **Elementary school:** UCLA’s Children’s Friendship Program (grades 2 to 5, online), Insight Collective (7 to 12), LUNCH Groups (grades 1 to 5), the GOALS group for boys and The Miracle Project’s improv classes (5 to 11).
- **Tweens and teens:** PEERS for Adolescents at UCLA, SoCal Speech (9 to 16) and Our Village (12½ to 17), plus LUNCH Groups’ middle and high school groups and teen classes at LA Speech & Language Therapy Center.
- **Young adults:** PEERS at UCLA (18 to 35) and Our Village, and LUNCH Groups up to 26. PEERS young adult groups ask a parent or other ‘social coach’ to come too.

Teens need to want to be there: UCLA’s teen program takes only teens who agree to take part. If your child isn’t ready, individual work with a [child psychologist](https://summerground.com/guides/child-psychologists-los-angeles) can come first, and [executive function coaching](https://summerground.com/guides/executive-function-coaching-for-kids) may help more when planning and follow-through are the bigger problem.

## Who pays: insurance, regional center, school or you

**Insurance.** Some clinics bill your health plan as group therapy. UCLA bills most insurance for PEERS (not Kaiser or Medi-Cal) and will share its billing codes so you can check your copay first; its Children’s Friendship Program also bills many plans. SoCal Speech gives superbills to send to a PPO plan, and Stepping Stones lists Kaiser, Cigna and Blue Shield.

**Medi-Cal.** LA Speech & Language Therapy Center lists L.A. Care among its funders. UCLA’s clinic groups can’t take Medi-Cal, but Medi-Cal families can join its self-pay online PEERS classes.

**Regional center.** Harbor Regional Center lists social skills classes among its [services](https://www.harborrc.org/services/services-we-provide/) for school-age children, and notes that the 2021-22 state budget restored regional centers’ ability to fund social recreation. If your child is a client, ask your service coordinator to add a group to the [Individual Program Plan](https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/ipp/). Groups here that say they’re vendored include The Miracle Project, LUNCH Groups, Potential On The Rise, Our Village and LA Speech & Language Therapy Center; The Nest takes regional center payments through Aveanna.

**Self-Determination Program.** Open to every eligible regional center client since July 2021, it gives families more control over services and providers ([DDS](https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/)). SoCal Speech, Potential On The Rise, Our Village and The Miracle Project accept its funds.

**School.** If friendships are getting in the way at school, raise it at your child’s IEP meeting. LUNCH Groups takes school district contracts.

**Paying yourself.** Posted prices we found: The Nest, $640 for a fall session; the GOALS group, $100 a session; Hiller Therapy, $800 for six weeks; UCLA PEERS, $508 for intake and $250 a week.

## Questions parents ask

### What is a social skills group?

A social skills group is a small group of children or teens of a similar age who meet, usually weekly, with a trained leader to learn and practice things like starting a conversation, joining a game, handling teasing and being a good sport. Good groups teach one skill at a time, practice it in the room and give homework so it carries over to school and home, and many coach parents too. They’re used for kids with autism, ADHD or social anxiety, and for kids with no diagnosis.

### How much do social skills groups cost in Los Angeles?

Posted self-pay prices we found ran from about $80 to $250 a week. The Nest in Studio City charged $640 for its fall session of hour-long weekly groups, the GOALS group in Pasadena is $100 a session, Hiller Therapy’s Social Club lists $800 for six weeks, and UCLA’s PEERS for Adolescents is $508 for intake plus $250 a week. Many programs don’t post prices, so ask, and ask whether insurance or your regional center can pay.

### Does insurance cover social skills groups?

Sometimes. Some clinics bill your health plan as group therapy: UCLA bills most insurance for PEERS, though not Kaiser or Medi-Cal, and many plans for its Children’s Friendship Program. Others, like SoCal Speech, give you a superbill to send in yourself, usually to a PPO plan. Before you enroll, ask the program for its billing codes and call your plan to check coverage and your copay; UCLA offers its codes for exactly this.

### Will the regional center pay for a social skills group?

It can. Harbor Regional Center lists social skills classes among its services for school-age children, and several groups here say they’re vendored, including The Miracle Project, LUNCH Groups, Potential On The Rise, Our Village and LA Speech & Language Therapy Center. Ask your service coordinator to add a group to your child’s Individual Program Plan. In the Self-Determination Program you have more say over which provider you use. Not a client yet? Start with our [regional centers guide](https://summerground.com/guides/regional-centers-los-angeles).

### What is the UCLA PEERS program?

PEERS (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is a social skills program developed at UCLA by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson and Dr. Fred Frankel. It has a strong research base with autistic preschoolers, teens and young adults, and UCLA says it also suits young people with ADHD, anxiety or depression. Groups meet 90 minutes a week for 16 weeks while parents or another ‘social coach’ meet separately. Besides UCLA’s clinic in Westwood, certified providers run it in LA, including SoCal Speech and Our Village.

### Are social skills groups only for kids with autism?

No. Many groups here take children with ADHD, social anxiety or learning differences, and some welcome kids with no diagnosis who just find friendships hard. CARE-LA’s groups grow out of its work with anxiety, the GOALS group in Pasadena suits boys with ADHD, anxiety or trouble with anger, and Potential On The Rise includes typically developing kids. If you’re not sure what’s behind your child’s struggles, an [ADHD evaluation](https://summerground.com/guides/adhd-testing-for-kids-los-angeles) or [autism evaluation](https://summerground.com/guides/autism-testing-for-kids-los-angeles) can help you choose.

## How we made this list

We searched the web for social skills groups across Los Angeles County, then read each program’s own pages in October 2026 and checked current schedules or prices on a few programs’ sites. We kept groups for children and teens with a clear leader, approach or schedule, and left out adult-only programs, directories, research papers and groups whose pages looked out of date. Openings, prices and schedules change, so check with each program.

- [UCLA PEERS for Adolescents: enrollment and costs](https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/peers/teens)
- [UCLA PEERS programs by age](https://teams.semel.ucla.edu/peers/programs)
- [UCLA Children’s Friendship Program](https://www.semel.ucla.edu/initiatives/childrens-friendship-program/)
- [Self-Determination Program (California Department of Developmental Services)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/initiatives/sdp/)
- [Individual Program Plan (DDS)](https://www.dds.ca.gov/rc/ipp/)
- [Services we provide (Harbor Regional Center)](https://www.harborrc.org/services/services-we-provide/)

More guides: https://summerground.com/guides/child-psychologists-los-angeles.md, https://summerground.com/guides/regional-centers-los-angeles.md, https://summerground.com/guides/executive-function-coaching-for-kids.md, https://summerground.com/guides/special-needs-summer-camps-los-angeles.md. All of them: https://summerground.com/guides.md.