'Social Therapy' Teaches People Skills

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Living with autism can be very lonely. But thanks to a new way of thinking, people with social-cognitive deficits are learning what comes naturally to many of us. It is called "social thinking." A California therapist is behind the philosophy of teaching people on the autism spectrum how to think socially, but a licensed professional counselor is using the approach here in Germantown. She is the only one in the Mid-South doing it, and parents of autistic children say this is working.

At first glance, Vivi Sharp and Tatum Maclaren are playing like any 6 and 8-year old would... using their imaginations and thinking out-loud. But what comes so naturally to other kids, Dr. Allison Weatherly had to teach these two girls how to act in a social setting.

Vivi and Tatum were both diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. It is considered to be high-functioning autism. Although most of Dr. Weatherly's clients are extremely intelligent, they lack "people skills." In her sessions, she teaches "social therapy," based on Michelle Garcia Winner's idea of "social thinking."

"What social thinking tries to teach them is that not only will that person think you're thinking about them and paying attention, but also, you'll be able to think about them. You'll be what we call a social detective, and be able to figure out what that person is thinking about," Dr. Weatherly said.

Dr. Weatherly says, while the two girls are learning to play close to each other, the two don't make eye contact.

"They don't really get why you have to look," Dr. Weatherly said.

One way Dr. Weatherly teaches social behaviors is through the "Unthinkables." It is a list of characters that represent not-so-pleasant characteristics. The cartoon characters provide a map for these children to follow when it comes to interacting with others in the real world. Both Vivi and Tatum's moms see the difference.

"Just in terms of her being aware of other people... aware of how she reacts to things," Kathleen Sharp, Vivi's mother said.

Tatum's mother says her 8-year old has friends now.

"When we first came to do the intake interview with Dr. Allison, she told her, she was real honest, 'I don't have any friends' and she didn't," Heather Christiansen, Tatum's mother said.

"99% of the kids, who come in here, want friends; want to be accepted by people. But what happens, is because they don't have those skills, they've been rejected time and time again and they've learned, it's much easier for me to go over and be by myself than to put myself in that situation again," Dr. Weatherly said.

Dr. Weatherly says, they find acceptance when they walk in the door here. And ultimately, they'll find more friends.