Pyzza Speech Therapy

04/29/2026

Social anxiety and conversation skills gaps can look almost identical from the outside.

Sometimes what looks like social anxiety is actually a conversation skills gap, and those two things need very different kinds of support.

When anxiety is the bigger driver, your child may have some conversation skills but struggle to use them. They’re likely held back by worry about saying the wrong thing, being judged, or not fitting in.

A conversation skills gap looks a little different. Your child may be unsure of how to start a conversation, what to say, or what to do when it’s their turn to talk. The anxiety builds over time, as a result of repeated attempts that don’t go the way they hoped.

What I notice in my practice is that many kids who are struggling socially have never been explicitly taught how conversation actually works. When they get that support, many of them start to feel more equipped, and more willing to try.

If you’ve been wondering which one you’re looking at with your child, my free Conversation Skills Quiz is a good place to start. It takes about 2 minutes and gives you a clearer picture of where your child is, plus tips you can actually use.

Comment QUIZ below and I’ll send you a DM.

04/27/2026

A misconception I hear from providers is holding our students back from real support.

The idea goes something like this: if we teach social skills, we’re imposing neurotypical norms on neurodivergent students. So the neurodiversity-affirming thing to do is step back and stop focusing on social skills altogether.

I get where this comes from. Our field has a history of using social skills intervention in ways that prioritized conformity over connection. That’s worth remembering and a place to start making change from.

But “stop focusing on social skills” isn’t the best approach.

Neurodiversity-affirming support doesn’t mean our students shouldn’t get the support they need around these skills. It just means that we change how we work towards these goals.

Instead of teaching social skills so a student can “fit in” or “pass” as neurotypical, we’re teaching them so they have more options, more language, and more agency in the social situations they actually navigate every day.

There’s a meaningful difference between telling a student “this is how you’re supposed to act so people like you and you fit in” and saying “here’s how this tends to work socially; what do you want to do with that?”

One removes choice. The other expands it.

If you’re an SLP or educator trying to figure out what neurodiversity-affirming social communication support actually looks like in practice, the Social Skills Blueprint® Handbook for Providers supports exactly that.

Comment SSBHANDBOOK below and I’ll send it straight to your DMs!

04/20/2026

Social skills support CAN be neurodiversity-affirming. Here's how to understand the debate, reframe your approach, and feel confident in the work you do. Learn more here:

There’s a moment many SLPs know well. You’re working with a student on a social skills activity, and somewhere in the back of your mind a quiet question surfaces: Am I actually helping this child, or am I just teaching them to mask? If you’ve sat with that question, you’re not alone. It’s ...

12/19/2025

📣 LAST CALL: CONNECT WINTER 2026 ENROLLMENT CLOSES TODAY (12/19)!

If you’ve been thinking, “We really need support with friendships and conversation,” this is your sign. Help your child start the new year with more confidence by securing their spot today.

CONNECT begins January 5th, and the final interview time slots are happening today.

Schedule your interview here: https://pyzzaspeechtherapy.clientsecure.me/request/service

12/18/2025

You’re watching the same heartbreaking pattern play out: awkward moments, missed cues, hurt feelings, and you’re thinking, “How do I actually help?” All you want to do is support your child and give them the tools they’re missing.

That is exactly what we do inside the CONNECT Program at Pyzza Speech Therapy.

CONNECT is my 8 week, in person social skills group for kids and teens where I teach the skills that actually make conversation and friendship feel easier. Your child will learn real tools, get guided practice, and be supported by a licensed SLP and social communication specialist who is UCLA PEERS® certified (that’s me!). In other words, your child is learning from someone specifically trained in communication and social communication.

Here’s what your child gets to learn and practice in CONNECT:
✔️ Starting, joining, maintaining, and ending conversations
✔️ Handling teasing, gossip, and disagreements
✔️ Making plans and having get togethers
✔️ Phone calls, texting, and social media basics

And parents, you won’t be left in the dark. You’ll know what we are working on, every step of the way.

The next round begins January 5th.

Enrollment closes Friday 12/19. If you’ve been considering it, now is the time to apply.

Apply here: https://www.pyzzaspeechtherapy.com/connect-program-learn-more

Wondering if this program is the right fit for your child? Message me and I’ll help you decide!

12/17/2025

Here’s what a lot of parents don’t realize: many “social skills groups” are not always led by someone trained in communication.

And friendship and conversation success relies heavily on communication skills (reading the room, turn-taking, asking/answering questions, repairing misunderstandings, joining in, etc.).

That’s why Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs) are uniquely qualified to lead true social communication groups. We’re specifically trained in:

- Social communication + pragmatic language
- Conversation skills + reciprocal interaction
- Perspective-taking + social problem-solving
- Supporting neurodivergent communication styles (without promoting masking or shame-based expectations)

And for my CONNECT Program, I bring an additional layer of expertise as a social communication specialist and UCLA PEERS®-certified provider, using a clear, evidence-informed framework with real guided practice.
If you’ve been wondering whether a social skills group will actually help your child, this is your sign to look closely at who’s leading it and what’s being taught.

Because you’d never hire an unlicensed professional for your child’s health or learning needs, so it’s worth asking the same question about social communication. 💛

If you’re ready to get your child or teen the social skills support they’ve been needing, CONNECT enrollment closes this Friday, 12/19, and spots are limited.

If you want to join us for January, sign up to get more information here: https://www.pyzzaspeechtherapy.com/connect-program-learn-more

Questions? Send me a message! I’m happy to help you decide if it’s a good fit for your family.

12/17/2025

If your child struggles with conversations, social skills, or friendship development, waiting it out won’t help them or you.

Here’s a gentle nudge to join my CONNECT social skills group program for kids and teens starting in January 2026.

This isn’t your average “social skills group”.

We actually learn the various skills that are needed to improve conversations and therefore relationships.

When you join us in January, you’ll get 8 weeks of in-person sessions led by a certified SLP/social communication specialist who is also UCLA PEERS-certified. This means that your child will learn social communication skills from a communication specialist.

Your child will be with peers who are developmentally and age-matched, and you will also feel supported throughout the program as well.

Enrollment closes on 12/19.

As of 12/16/25 I have 3 spots left for the 10-13yo age group meeting on Mondays, and 3 spots left for the 14-17yo age group meeting on Tuesdays.

DM for more information, or if you’re ready to be done waiting, you can schedule your free virtual interview at the link below:

https://pyzzaspeechtherapy.clientsecure.me/request/service

I’m so excited to support you both 💛

12/14/2025

Yikes. Investing in something that doesn’t feel like it was worth it doesn’t feel good, no matter what the thing was.

And this is a quote I’ve heard several times over the last few months alone from parents who've tried a past “social skills group.”

Here’s usually why they felt that way:

- It was mostly hangout time (not actual teaching)

- There wasn’t a clear plan for what skills their child was learning

- Kids weren’t coached through real-life moments (joining in, keeping a conversation going, navigating friendships)

- Parents didn’t get guidance, so it was hard to support progress at home

This is usually followed up with:
“We wish we found you sooner.” 💛

If you’re not sure yet whether CONNECT is right for your family, here’s the quick version:

CONNECT is an SLP-led, in-person social communication group program where kids are matched with age- and developmentally-appropriate peers. Kids and teens learn conversation + friendship skills step-by-step, with supported practice (not just “social time”) and parent receive guidance along the way.

If you’d like to join us for January, enrollment closes Friday 12/19.

Apply: https://pyzzaspeechtherapy.clientsecure.me/request/service (last interview spot: 12/19 @ 5pm)

12/12/2025

If your child or teen wants friends but struggles with the conversation + connection piece, you’re not alone.

These are some of the most common reasons I see kids struggle to build friendships:
✅ Not knowing how to join a conversation
✅ Talking mostly about their interests (and not including others)
✅ Difficulty reading body language/facial expressions
✅ Not knowing how to handle teasing or conflict
✅ Missing the “unspoken rules” of texting, sharing, or inviting someone to hang out

These are the skills we learn, step-by-step, in my CONNECT social skills group program for kids & teens.

We meet in-person in Ahwatukee, AZ, and the next cohorts begin January 2026

Spots are limited & enrollment closes 12/19!

Ages 10–13 (Mondays): only 2 spots left

Ages 14–17 (Tuesdays): only 3 interview spots left

If you want more details, DM me “CONNECT” and I’ll send everything over! 💌

https://www.pyzzaspeechtherapy.com/connect-program

11/07/2025

What SLPs Get Wrong About Teaching Conversation Skills (and what to do instead for meaningful, neurodiversity-affirming progress.) by Gabriela Pyzza - Learn the 3 most common mistakes SLPs make when teaching conversation skills — and how to use a neurodiversity-affirming approach that builds authentic connection and confidence in your students during your social skills speech therapy sessions.

Learn the 3 most common mistakes SLPs make when teaching conversation skills — and how to use a neurodiversity-affirming approach that builds authentic connection and confidence in your students during your social skills speech therapy sessions.

10/13/2025

Little shifts can make a big difference in how our kids connect with others.

The truth is, most neurodivergent kids, teens, and young adults don’t automatically pick up on strategies like trading information, making connected comments, or how to respond to teasing.

These are skills — and like any skill, they can be learned and practiced with the right support.

That’s exactly what we do as part of the CONNECT Program at Pyzza Speech Therapy.

Through instructional lessons, role-play, and supportive feedback, kids don’t just learn these tips in theory — they get to try them out in a safe space and see what works for them.

Over time, those small steps add up to something powerful:
💬 More confidence in conversations
🤝 Friendships that feel easier and more natural
💡 A sense of “I can do this!”

Enrollment is now open for our January groups in Ahwatukee (ages 10–13, 14–17, and 18+), and there are only 6 total spots available per age group.

Sign up at the link below and I’ll send over all the details, so you can register your child while spots are still available!

https://www.pyzzaspeechtherapy.com/connect-program

10/10/2025

Struggles with conversation skills and friendship development often go hand-in-hand with social anxiety and masking.

For many neurodivergent pre-teens, teens, and young adults, this can look like:

→ Avoiding social interactions altogether
→ Retreating to their rooms at home
→ Keeping interactions short and minimal
→ Feeling unsure if others even want to be around them

And over time? That takes a toll on their confidence, self-esteem, and mental health.

But change IS possible.

When kids are given the right tools, support, and a safe place to practice, their mental health improves because they finally feel seen, valued, and connected.

That’s exactly what happens in the CONNECT Program & I’d love to have your child join us!

Sign up at the link below and I’ll send over all the details, so you can register your child while spots are still available!

https://www.pyzzaspeechtherapy.com/connect-program