The Friends Program Philosophy
The Friends Program is a therapeutic group program designed to address the developing needs of young children with Asperger’s Syndrome and their families. The goals of the program are twofold. The first is to address the areas in which these children have the most difficulty: social communication, social interactions, and joint symbolic play with peers; the second is to help the children cope with the daily challenges of school, such as making transitions from the playground or a group activity.
The parents group provides the parents with guided observations of their children in the therapeutic group in addition to participating in a parents-only group facilitated by a therapist. The group aims to enhance the parent’s understanding of the child, provide guidance and support for the daily issues the parents are encountering, and provide an empathic setting for parents as they struggle with the impact that their child’s diagnosis has on various aspects of their lives.
The founder and director of the Friends Program is Dr. Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, a licensed clinical psychologist.
The founder and director of the Friends Program is Dr. Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, a licensed clinical psychologist.
The Friends Program
Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, PhD
Palo Alto, CA
Office: (650) 322-4431
Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, PhD
Palo Alto, CA
Office: (650) 322-4431
Criteria for participation in the program
The child must have had an evaluation prior to entering the group and received the diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome or related diagnoses such as PDD-NOS and Nonverbal Learning Differences. Children may also have the co-diagnoses of ADHD, OCD, or Anxiety Disorders. At least one of the child’s parents must be able to participate in the program on a weekly basis. Both parents are always welcomed in the group.
About Dr. Laurie
Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, a clinical Psychologist, is the founder and director of the Friends Program, a therapeutic group program for young children with AS and their families. She is co-author of the book, Asperger's Syndrome in Young Children: A Developmental Guide for Parents and Professionals, focuses on AS in preschool children. It is a resource for parents coming to terms with their childs AS diagnosis and for professionals who work with this age group. The book is available through the O.A.S.I.S. website bookstore. Dr. Laurie is a member of the Adjunct Faculty in the Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Child Development, Stanford Univsersity School of Medicine.
Why do I have to?
A Book for Children Who Find Themselves Frusterated by Everyday Rules
Why do I have to go to school before the show that I am watching is over? Why do I have to wear shoes and a jacket when I go outside? Rules like these can be really frustrating - but they don't have to be!
Why do I have to? looks at a set of everyday situations that provide challenges for children at home, with their friends, and at school. Laurie Leventhal-Belfer empathizes with children's wish to do things their way, explains clearly why their way does not work, and provides a list of practical suggestions for how to cope with these challenges and avoid feelings of frustration. This is the ideal book for children who have difficulty coping with the expectations of daily living, as well as for their parents and the professionals who work with them.
Illustrated by Luisa Montaini- Klovdahl
The Friends Program
Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, PhD
Palo Alto, CA
Office: (650) 322-4431
Laurie Leventhal-Belfer, PhD
Palo Alto, CA
Office: (650) 322-4431
