ep-025

EPISODE 25
Beyond Social Skills: Michelle Garcia Winner and the Social Thinking Methodology

Play the Episode…

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1) Michelle discusses her early training in behaviorally-oriented approaches and how that provided the motivation to develop the Social Thinking methodology. What limitations did she experience in those approaches and she felt were needed to be addressed for those students with social communication challenges? As a teacher, therapist or autistic person, have you experienced similar limitations?

2) According to Michelle, how does a Social Thinking perspective and methodology differ from current Social Skills training approaches? Be specific and provide examples from your own experiences.

3) Michelle’s current focus is with adults who may be very accomplished in some areas, but still are may have challenges to having a good quality of life. What are some of these challenges and how does the Social Thinking methodology attempt to understand and support adults? Do you have any experiences that are relevant to Michelle’s concerns?

Featuring

Version 2

MICHELLE GARCIA WINNER

Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP, is the founder of the Social Thinking Methodology and globally recognized as a thought leader, author, speaker, and social-cognitive therapist. She was honored to receive a Congressional Special Recognition Award in 2008, and a Lectureship Award (2019) from the Society of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatricians. She specializes in the creation of concepts and strategies to promote the development of executive functions and related social and emotional competencies. www.socialthinking.com

Show Notes

The Social Thinking Methodology, developed by Michelle Garcia Winner and her colleagues has helped to change the landscape of approaches to enhance socioemotional abilities for persons with more advanced language who also have significant challenges in social understanding. We discuss Michelle’s deep clinical experience and motivation to develop and continually evolve an approach that supports social competence in a respectful, relationship-based and developmentally informed manner.

www.socialthinking.com has over 100 free articles, over 20 free webinars as well as information about our products. Specific products to mention: We Thinkers! Volume 1 & 2 for 4-7 year olds; You Are A Social Detective (7-10 yr olds), 2nd edition; Social Thinking and Me (9-12 yr olds) Socially Curious, Curiously Social (14-to young adults); Good Intentions Aren’t Good Enough (book for adults in the work world).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.