Building Social Skills


Welcome to the Connections & Care counseling program. In this module, you will find new ideas, learning activities, and handouts to use when talking with your clients about building their social skills. Because there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to meeting the education and support needs of people with schizophrenia, flexibility is the hallmark of this program. These materials can be used over a period of time to explore the topic in depth.

Tips for facilitating this module Emphasize that social skills are the keys to connection Schizophrenia is an inherently isolating illness.Many of its symptoms — including issues with perceiving and processing communication — have the effect of cutting clients off from others, which may leave them feeling lonely and unconnected from those around them. Learning and practicing social skills can enable clients to connect with others. Social skills are also the basis of many of the meaningful daily activities that further the process of recovery. Support clients’ social strengths Individuals with schizophrenia may receive negative feedback about their social skills. This can make them uncomfortable in or withdraw from social situations. As you use this module, try to acknowledge clients’ existing strengths in this area. Let them know that everyone has the ability to build on their social skills. The activities in this module are intended to reinforce and enhance these skills. Remember that you are a role model  Every interaction that you have with a client is an opportunity to  model effective social skills. The more opportunities clients have  to observe appropriate social skills in action, the more likely they  are to learn the skills and put them into practice.

Using the materials The materials are designed to be flexible. Here are suggestions for using them: Review the learning activities and handouts as you plan your session Choose the activities, discussion questions, and/or handouts that are appropriate for your clients’ needs, interests, and abilities Use the handouts in ways that match your clients’ abilities. For example, use them for discussion ideas, read aloud as a group before completing, hand to clients to complete, or assign as homework Revisit the learning activities and handouts as often as needed to cover the topic

Icons Look for these icons to help you choose activities to use with your clients during individual or group sessions. Discussion starters - Ask questions to introduce and spark your clients’ interests in a topic. Brainstorming - Ask your clients to suggest possible solutions to a problem or a situation. Debate - Ask your clients to engage in a debate, which helps them see all sides of an issue. Journal writing - Encourage your clients to write down their thoughts in a journal. Creative expression - Invite your clients to explore and express thoughts and feelings through art. Icebreaker - Ask clients for verbal responses to a topic question to help them feel comfortable with sharing.

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