Human beings are social animals. Every interaction we have with other people relies on social skills. These skills are at play in every situation — at work and home, with friends and peers, in intimate and casual relationships. Autistic, ADHD, and other neurodiverse people may not have mastered basic social skills, which sets them up for difficulty navigating complex social dynamics and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.IRL Social Skills is a team of diverse, credentialed therapists, educators, and direct support workers who coach neurodiverse and socially struggling teens and young adults to prepare them for confident, empowered interactions in any setting. Based on UCLA's empirically-proven PEERS® curriculum, we teach the tools to initiate, cultivate, and maintain friendships as well as school, college, work, and romantic relationships. Our Masterclass courses run for 16 weeks and are broken into age specific groups:+ TEENS age 11-13+ TEENS age 14-16+ YOUNG ADULTS age 17-20+ ADULTS 21+Students meet once weekly with a group of coaches and peers to learn and practice age-appropriate social skills. Parents attend a separate coaching cohort to receive support from coaches and parent-peers, while also learning how to assist their young one at home for optimal integration of skills.We also offer monthly workshops and host a sliding-scale Parent Support Group on the first Saturday of each month."Mental illness is on the rise—particularly for Gen Z—with many reaching for medications and therapy. These treatments do have their place, but they don't satisfy the essential need for connection and belonging. Multiple studies prove that mental health improves when our social needs are met. Social connection can sometimes mean the difference between just surviving and thriving. IRL Social Skills is here to offer a proactive, community-based approach to mental health."—Mara McLoughlin, MS, CCC-SLPFounder, Advocate & Lead Facilitator