SocialThinking: Crash Course

You might be thinking what is “social thinking”? or you might be familiar with it but could still use some more concrete information to ensure your understanding is 100%. Below I have compiled what I feel to be the main points of what social thinking is and how it can be used in therapy.

What is Social Thinking?

• “The process by which one interprets the thoughts, beliefs, emotions, knowledge and actions of another person along with the context of the situation to understand that person’s experience” - Michelle Garcia Winner

• Social Thinking curriculums are most often used with children with autism; however, they can be useful for all children of all different ages. For example, it is not uncommon for teachers to utilize aspects of the social thinking curriculum (e.g. reading books such as “Whole Body Listening”) with their entire classroom despite only one or two children in the class having autism. All children can benefit from the messages social thinking delivers.

The Approach

• A comprehensive curriculum created by Michelle Garcia Winner (SLP) to provide strategies for clinicians to help students from age 4 through to adulthood to build their social competencies in:

  • Self-regulation

  • Social-emotional learning

  • Executive functioning

  • Perspective taking

  • Social problem solving

Social Thinking Materials

Below are some example of social thinking materials you may have heard of or are familiar with already.

• We Thinkers! program

  • The Group Plan

  • Thinking with Your Eyes

  • Body in the Group

  • Whole Body Listening

  • Thinking Thoughts and Feeling Feelings

  • Accompanying songs

• You are a Social Detective!

  • Expected and Unexpected Behaviours 

    • A way you can use expected and unexpected behaviours in therapy is by taking pictures of expected behaviours (e.g. reading quietly in a library) and unexpected behaviours (e.g. reading loudly in a library while sitting too close to someone else) and having children identify what is and isn’t expected and why.

• Superflex curriculum

  • Superflex Takes on Rock Brain and the Team of Unthinkables

  • Handouts and lesson plans

Importance of Social Thinking

• Meaning Maker: Helps us understand the meaning behind what others do and prompts us to respond (if necessary) accordingly.

• Relationship Builder: Affects one’s relationships and success in his/her environment (i.e., school, work).

• Mediator of Higher Level Cognitive Functions: 

  • Perspective taking

  • Self-awareness

  • Self-regulation

  • Critical thinking

  • Social problem solving

  • Play skills

  • Reading comprehension

  • Written expression

  • Ability to learn and work in a group

  • Organizational skills

In my clinical experience aspects and pieces of the social thinking curriculum can be used in all therapy sessions. For example, encouraging children to think with their eyes, keep their body in the group and follow the group plan can become common themes and messages utilized consistently by clinicians, early educators and parents to help aid in the development of skills such as perspective taking, self-regulation and executive functioning.

To learn more about Social Thinking and its methodology click here.

-Shannon