“60 Thought-Provoking Questions to Enhance Social Skills in Therapy Sessions”

Social Skills Training (SST) is a method used to help individuals improve their social interactions and relationships. This approach is particularly beneficial for children but can also aid those facing anxiety disorders, autism, and developmental challenges. Read further to explore 60 social skills inquiries you can pose to your clients during therapy.

SST aims to enhance a client’s ability to communicate thoughts and feelings, initiate discussions, interact in social contexts, and manage emotions during engagements. Studies have shown that SST positively influences children’s social-emotional growth in early education environments.

Children on the autism spectrum can gain significantly from SST, as it enables them to engage with peers, foster friendships, and build problem-solving abilities. This can be achieved through one-on-one teaching and practical exposure. Research is being conducted to assess the advantages of utilizing technology to offer SST, yielding encouraging findings.

SST is particularly advantageous for individuals who experience anxiety in social interactions. This method goes beyond general advice for improving relationships, as it addresses the impact of mental health issues on social contexts. Therapy sessions can incorporate modeling, role-play, and telegraphing techniques.

Furthermore, social skills training can complement other therapeutic methods that address issues leading to social challenges. Commonly paired therapies include Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), and Interpersonal Therapy (IPT).

Explore our collection of social skills worksheets.

Preparing for Initial Social Skills Therapy Session with a New Client

When gearing up to meet a new client, it’s beneficial to examine any documentation you have. Depending on your workplace, this might entail referral forms, medical records, previous treatment notes, or intake assessments. This review can give you valuable insights into the difficulties your client is facing.

You can use social skills questions with people of all ages, from children to adults. Tailor your activities to be suitable for the specific age and developmental stage of your clientele. Organizing resources ahead of time can also be helpful, including worksheets focused on social skills training, such as those offered by TherapyByPro. TherapyByPro provides a premium selection of materials for mental health professionals, including various worksheets for social skills development:

There are multiple ways to integrate social skills training into your sessions. Keep in mind that the social skills questions for children will differ from those used for older teens and adults. Techniques you might utilize in your SST sessions include behavioral rehearsal, role-playing, constructive feedback, specific guidance, homework tasks, and positive reinforcement.

What Social Skills Inquiries Should I Use in Sessions?

Before we explore social skills questions for your therapeutic work, consider the age and development of your client. Questions for middle school students will differ from those directed at older or younger individuals.

Feel free to adapt the following questions to suit your client’s needs:

1.     What signs indicate that someone is engaged in what you’re saying?
2.     How could you initiate a conversation with someone new?
3.     What actions show that you’re actively listening to someone?
4.     How would you respond if someone interrupts you while you’re talking?
5.     What cues do you watch for to determine when it’s appropriate to speak in a conversation?
6.     Can you explain what personal space means to you?
7.     Why is maintaining personal space significant?
8.     How can you recognize when someone feels uncomfortable in a social setting?
9.     What might you do if you don’t grasp a joke or someone’s sarcastic comments?
10. Why is it important to inquire about the interests of others?
11. What topics do you believe are unsuitable for discussion with new acquaintances?
12. How would you react if someone gives you a compliment?
13. What emotions do you experience when receiving a compliment during a conversation?
14. How would you convey your feelings during a chat?
15. What are your thoughts about your ability to maintain eye contact?
16. What clues can indicate that someone wants to be friends with you?
17. What can you do if you begin to feel overwhelmed or overstimulated during a conversation?
18. What strategies can help you manage anxiety or apprehension before a social event?
19. How do you address awkward pauses in conversation?
20. Can you share an experience where you felt at ease introducing yourself to someone new?
21. How might positive affirmations assist you before entering a social situation?
22. In what ways can deep breathing techniques alleviate anxiety in social scenarios?
23. What methods can boost your confidence in making new friends?
24. What factors contribute to your comfort in voicing your opinions in a group?
25. What actions could you take if you embarrass yourself in a social setting?
26. What safe conversation starters can you rely on?
27. In what ways do you believe role-playing can enhance your confidence in social environments?
28. What is a manageable social objective you can set for yourself?
29. To you, what does it mean to be assertive?
30. How does assertiveness manifest itself?
31. Why are personal boundaries significant?
32. Can you think of a relationship where you maintain healthy boundaries?

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33. Are there any relationships where you think you could set better boundaries?
34. What are your feelings about establishing new boundaries in your relationships?
35. Can you recall a moment when you were able to end a conversation without any awkwardness?
36. What are some ways to get involved in a group activity?
37. How might you practice asking for assistance?
38. Why do you believe it’s important to use “please” and “thank you” in conversations?
39. How would you go about introducing yourself to someone new?
40. What emotions do you struggle to understand?
41. Are there any emotions expressed by others that make you feel uncomfortable?
42. What strategies do you use to remain attentive during a conversation?
43. How do you generally deal with criticism in a discussion?
44. What steps can you take if you feel like isolating yourself in social situations?
45. How can you manage feelings of self-consciousness in a group?
46. In what ways can you work on being more empathetic in conversations?
47. What techniques can you use for practicing active listening in discussions?
48. How can you foster trust in your relationships?
49. Why do you think trust is vital in relationships?
50. Can you share about someone you feel you can trust?
51. What behaviors make someone seem trustworthy to you?
52. How can you demonstrate that you are a trustworthy person?
53. What’s an appropriate way to communicate “no”?
54. What can you do if you find yourself feeling anxious in a conversation or scenario?
55. If you feel unsafe in a discussion or situation, what should your response be?
56. Can you describe a recent social interaction that you felt was successful?
57. Tell me about a recent social event that you think could have gone better.
58. In that situation, what would you have done differently?
59. What lessons have you gleaned from past difficulties in social scenarios?
60. What positive changes might you observe as you improve your social skills?

Concluding Thoughts on Inquiring about Social Skills During Sessions

We appreciate you taking the time to explore social skill questions aimed at high school students, adolescents, and adults. Training in social skills can be a beneficial strategy for those who find social interactions to be challenging or uncomfortable. These difficulties can impact a client’s friendships, family dynamics, academic performance, job effectiveness, social circles, and overall mental health.

Reviewing social skills can help increase your client’s confidence in social interactions. Such training can enhance your clients’ interpersonal relationships. If you’re interested in learning more about social skills training and how to integrate it into your professional practice, consider seeking out continuing education options and other relevant training opportunities in your area of expertise.

TherapyByPro is an online directory for mental health services designed to connect mental health professionals with clients seeking help. If you are a mental health practitioner, we invite you to join our community and showcase your practice here. We offer assessments, practice forms, and worksheets that practitioners can utilize to enhance their workflow. You can view all of our mental health forms, worksheets, and assessments right here.

Explore all of our worksheets focused on social skills

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