Social Communication Groups

Small-group communication support for middle school students building conversation, friendship, and real-world social communication skills.

Real conversations. Real connections. Real-life practice.

Social communication is about much more than knowing what to say. It involves reading social situations, joining conversations, understanding others' perspectives, problem-solving with peers, and building meaningful relationships.

McQueen Speech Collective's Social Communication Groups provide a supportive, structured environment where middle school students can practice these skills alongside peers while receiving guidance from a licensed speech-language pathologist.

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What We Work On

Speech and language screenings may help identify concerns related to:

  • Initiating and joining conversations

  • maintaining back-and-forth conversations

  • perspective taking

  • reading social cues

  • flexible thinking

  • problem-solving with peers

  • friendship skills

  • self-advocacy

Topics are introduced through structured activities while allowing plenty of opportunities for authentic peer interaction.

Group Format

  • Small groups of 4-6 students

  • Middle school-aged participants

  • Saturdays

  • Approximately 60 minutes

  • Led by a licensed speech-language pathologist

  • Held in community settings throughout the Charlotte area

Why Group Therapy?

Some communication skills simply can't be practiced in one-on-one therapy. Working alongside peers allows students to:

  • practice conversation naturally

  • receive immediate feedback

  • develop confidence

  • build friendships

  • learn in authentic social situations

Parents are encouraged to drop students off so they can participate as independently as possible while still receiving professional guidance and support.

Is This Group Right for My Child?

These groups may be a good fit for students who:

  • have difficulty making or maintaining friendships

  • struggle to initiate or maintain conversations

  • miss social cues

  • have pragmatic language differences

  • would benefit from practicing communication in a peer setting

Learn More About Our Social Groups

  • No, these groups are designed to provide structured practice in a small-group setting and are not intended to replace individualized speech-language services.

  • Groups typically include 4-6 students to encourage meaningful interaction while allowing individualized support.

  • Groups are formed with a minimum of four participants to provide meaningful opportunities for conversation, collaboration, and social learning. If minimum enrollment is not met, families will be notified and offered the option to transfer to a future cohort or receive a full refund.

  • Groups are held at community locations throughout the Charlotte area, such as public libraries or other convenient meeting spaces.

  • Groups are offered in 8-week cohorts, meeting once a week for 60 minutes. Each cohort follows a structured curriculum while allowing flexibility to address the unique needs and interests of the group.

  • The investment for each 8-week cohort is $200 per student and includes all materials, weekly group sessions, and resources to support carryover at home.

Join the Next Cohort