Pillars Behavioral Health

Skills We Teach

Communication

We guide our patients in expressing their needs in the manner that suits them best. Our approach involves gradually increasing the complexity of their communication skills until they can effectively articulate their wants and needs. For instance, if a child is initially limited to gesturing for items, we may start by encouraging them to make any sound to request what they want. Once they demonstrate proficiency in this, we can progress to having them use the initial sound of a word. After they consistently use the first sound, we may move on to teaching them to ask using the first half of the word. This process continues, evolving until they are able to use multiple words for requests. Additionally, we can focus on more advanced communication skills, such as engaging in conversations, using adjectives and adverbs, and discussing appropriate topics.

Social Skills

We cover a wide range of social skills in our sessions. For example, we may work with a patient to help them feel comfortable making eye contact, listening attentively, or approaching peers to make a request. We also assist in fostering interests in peers, sharing, and waiting for turns while playing games. Furthermore, we teach other essential skills, such as how to cope with losing a game, following instructions in a classroom setting, and appropriately responding to greetings.

Other Skills

We offer instruction in a wide range of skills, including matching pictures, completing puzzles, and sorting items into groups. Our focus extends to helping children identify objects upon request (e.g., “Show me the dog!”), label items in their environment, and complete patterns. Additionally, we work on recognizing the alphabet, numbers, and shapes. Beyond cognitive skills, we also emphasize teaching imitation skills. This includes encouraging our patients to imitate gestures or use objects, as well as replicating facial expressions or following a peer during arts and crafts activities. We strive to foster a child’s interest in various toys, guiding them to engage with toys as intended and to play for extended periods. Based on your child’s individual needs, we will develop a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses all areas requiring attention.

Pillars Behavioral Health