Social Skills
For when socialising is hard: reading situations, knowing what to say, making and keeping friends. These are skills, and they can be built.
Why socialising takes so much energy
For lots of young people, particularly those with autism, ADHD, anxiety, or social anxiety, socialising isn't automatic. It takes energy and attention that other people don't seem to need. That's a neurological difference, and there are specific things we can work on to make social situations easier.
We give you tools to connect with people in ways that work for you.
Session info
- 50-60 minute sessions
- In person, at home, or online
- Qualified, experienced counsellors
- NDIS and fee-for-service
What we work on in social skills
Reading social situations
Understanding cues, tones, and unwritten rules, without having to mask or constantly second-guess yourself.
In practice: Walking through a recent social scenario step by step, identifying the cues that were confusing, and building a framework for reading similar situations.
Social anxiety
When anxiety about being judged makes social situations feel impossible. We work on the anxiety alongside the social skills.
In practice: Creating a hierarchy of social situations from easiest to hardest, then tackling one per week with a debrief after each.
Making & keeping friendships
Starting conversations, following through, and knowing when to push and when to give space are specific skills that feel obvious to some people and aren't to others.
In practice: Identifying what makes a good friendship, practising conversation starters, and planning one social initiative for the coming week.
Conflict & confrontation
Something's wrong in a friendship and you either don't know how to raise it without it blowing up, or you avoid it entirely.
In practice: Role-playing a recent peer conflict with different approaches, then choosing which one to try next time and practising it.
Online vs in-person social
For many young people, online feels safer and more manageable. We work on carrying that into in-person connections.
In practice: Reviewing recent online interactions together, identifying what went well and what was misread, and building guidelines for digital communication.
Authentic connection (not masking)
For autistic young people especially, we look for ways to connect that don't require exhausting performance, so socialising feels worth the energy.
In practice: Picking out the people and settings where you can drop the performance, then planning how to spend more time with them and how to recover after draining events.
Who this is for
- Autistic young people and young people with ADHD who find social life hard
- Those with social anxiety making connection hard
- Anyone who feels like they're always getting social wrong
- Young people who are lonely but don't know how to change it
- Those who want friendships that feel authentic
- Anyone exhausted from masking who they are
Social situations can get easier
We practise reading situations, starting conversations and handling conflict.
NDIS & fee-for-service
Book a free chatCosts, eligibility and where we work
What it costs
Pricing for social skills work follows the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. What you pay depends on the session type and whether it falls on a weekday, evening, or weekend. Sessions are also available privately (self-funded) or through other schemes if NDIS doesn't apply to you. Cost is always confirmed in writing before anything starts.
Am I eligible?
Social skills support usually sits under NDIS Capacity Building, most often Improved Daily Living and Improved Relationships, since building connection with others is often part of the goal. If a young person's plan includes that funding, it can usually be used here. A support coordinator or plan manager can help check. Private, self-funded access is also available without any NDIS involvement.
Where we work
We're based in Thomastown and work across Greater Melbourne, including the northern, western, and eastern suburbs. Sessions are also available online for young people who find that a more comfortable starting point. Some support extends into regional Victoria too.
How to start
Reach out by phone, our contact form, or email. The first conversation is about what social situations feel hardest, and you share as much as you want to. From there we match you with a practitioner who suits you, and a first session is usually booked within a few business days.