Friendship Building Psychological Services, PLLC

03/17/2026

What do we mean by “explicit teaching”? Many parents hear this phrase but aren’t always sure what it looks like in practice.

Instead of simply telling a child to “be flexible” or “just take turns,” we:

• Define what flexibility looks like in specific situations
• Model the skill clearly
• Practice it in structured group activities
• Reflect afterward on what worked and what felt challenging

Skills such as reciprocal conversation, perspective-taking, or managing frustration are broken down into concrete, teachable steps.

When children understand what a skill looks like, why it matters, and how to practice it, confidence grows through competence ✅

03/11/2026

Parents often ask what distinguishes psychologist-led social skills groups.

Our approach includes:
✔️ A structured, evidence-based curriculum designed to build nuanced social skills
✔️ Explicit breakdown of complex skills such as reciprocity, flexibility, and perspective-taking
✔️ Thoughtful screenings to ensure carefully matched peer groups
✔️ Ongoing parent collaboration to support skill generalization beyond the group setting

Social development is complex. Having licensed psychologists guide this process ensures that teaching, practice, and reflection are intentional and developmentally informed.

03/08/2026

On International Women’s Day, we recognize the strength and leadership of women across professions—and within our own team 💕

Friendship Building Psychological Services is founded and led by licensed female psychologists who bring both clinical expertise and experience to their work.

As clinicians and as mothers, we understand how deeply families care about their children’s emotional and social well-being. We approach our work with thoughtfulness, structure, and a strong commitment to evidence-based care 👥

We are proud to be a women-led team dedicated to supporting children, teens, and families in building meaningful connections.

03/07/2026

After school breaks, family gatherings, or playdates/hangouts 🧸🪀🛴🎮 parents sometimes notice patterns more clearly.

You might see:
• Difficulty joining cousins or peers once conversation is already underway
• Frustration when the rules of a game change
• Walking away from group play
• Becoming overly rigid/inflexible during board games
• Quitting when flexibility is required

These moments are not character flaws. They often reflect skills that benefit from direct teaching and guided practice, such as flexibility, perspective-taking, reciprocity, and problem-solving.

When social expectations shift or become unpredictable, children may need clearer structure to understand how to respond.

Explicit instruction helps break these moments down into manageable steps, giving children tools they can use the next time a similar situation arises.

03/06/2026

Do big emotions show up after school, even when the day sounded “fine”?

Many parents describe a similar pattern: Their child reports that school was fine, but once home, emotions spill out.

You might notice:
😤 Irritability that seems out of proportion
😴 Emotional exhaustion
😨 Meltdowns after a long day
😒 Resistance before returning the next morning

Often, academics are going well. The challenge is not the work, it’s the social and emotional effort required throughout the day.

Navigating unstructured peer time, reading subtle cues, sustaining conversations, and managing group dynamics can require significant cognitive and emotional energy. When children are holding it together socially all day, home can become the place where that effort releases.

Structured, explicit social support can help children build the skills and confidence needed to navigate these moments more comfortably.

If this pattern feels familiar, additional support may be worth exploring.

02/26/2026

Our groups offer more than social exposure. They provide intentional instruction, guided practice, and expert support.

Children learn concrete social strategies in an environment designed to feel safe, structured, and supportive. Groups are led by psychologists, formed thoughtfully, and focused on building real-world skills that extend beyond the group setting.

Families often choose our program because of our clinical expertise, our emphasis on fit, and our commitment to helping skills generalize into everyday life.

When social skills are taught clearly and practiced with the right support, meaningful growth follows.

To learn more, visit: friendshipbuildingpsych.com

02/25/2026

As routines shift and schedules change, many families notice social challenges more clearly.

You might see it during playdates/hangouts, family gatherings, or group activities; difficulty joining conversations, navigating peer dynamics, managing frustration, or adapting when things don’t go as expected.

Our spring Friendship Building Groups are now enrolling. These groups provide structured, psychologist-led support for children and teens who benefit from explicit teaching and guided practice of social skills in a supportive peer setting.

If you’ve noticed social moments feeling harder than they should, this may be a helpful next step.

02/24/2026

Families often come to us after searching for a group that truly feels like the right fit.

One parent shared that since joining our program, they’ve seen meaningful growth, not only in their daughters’ confidence, but also in their flexibility and ability to navigate social situations more smoothly. Skills practiced in group have carried over into everyday life, helping their children manage unexpected changes, group dynamics, and peer interactions with greater ease.

Progress like this reflects what happens when social skills are taught explicitly, practiced intentionally, and supported consistently, by clinicians who understand both the child and the family.

02/18/2026

Our Friendship Building Groups are designed for children and teens ages 4–17 who communicate verbally, demonstrate strong thinking and learning abilities, and benefit from direct, structured support to build social skills.

These groups are led by psychologists and grounded in an evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning. Skills are explicitly taught, broken into manageable steps, and practiced through guided group experiences with carefully matched peers.

Children learn how to navigate real-world social situations—such as starting and sustaining conversations, reading social cues, demonstrating flexibility, managing emotions, and maintaining friendships over time.

Groups are intentionally formed through a thoughtful screening process to ensure a supportive and appropriate fit for every child. Our goal is to create an environment where children can practice, grow, and build confidence through meaningful social experiences.

02/13/2026

As we approach Valentine’s Day, we’re reminded that friendship and kindness are skills that grow through understanding and practice ♥️

One book we love using with children around this time of year is A Wrinkled Heart. Through a simple, tangible metaphor, the story shows how moments of unkindness, exclusion, or misunderstanding can leave a mark—and how empathy, repair, and kindness can help heal those moments.

For many children, this visual representation makes abstract social concepts easier to understand. It opens meaningful conversations about how words and actions affect others, and how small moments of repair can matter.

It’s a powerful reminder that social learning is not just about behavior, but about awareness, connection, and care.

Check out A Wrinkled Heart on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Wrinkled-Heart-Tracy-Hoexter/dp/B0FXBBT3GJ

02/09/2026

Friendship Building Psychological Services is founded by licensed psychologists with deep expertise in child development, social thinking, and evidence-based approaches to care.

Dr. Fern and Dr. Kristin began working together over eight years ago, running social skills groups in a school setting. As their individual private practices grew, a consistent challenge emerged: children could learn social strategies in individual therapy, but struggled to generalize those skills naturally with peers.

That insight led to Friendship Building. Groups are intentionally designed to allow children to learn and practice real-world social skills, with expert guidance and carefully matched peers.

Dr. Fern and Dr. Kristin remain closely involved in every aspect of our work, personally overseeing screening and curriculum development, while continuing to run groups themselves.
As our community has grown, we’ve built a supportive team of licensed and certified clinicians who help lead groups and provide consistent, high-quality care. Many families stay with us for years, not because of promises, but because of progress.

We believe social skills can be taught, practiced, and strengthened when done thoughtfully, explicitly, and with the right support.

09/27/2025