School holidays can feel like a mixed bag for families. For many children, the break from routine brings uncertainty, the pressure of unstructured social time, and the quiet ache of not quite knowing how to connect with other kids.
If your child struggles to make friends, finds group situations overwhelming, or is still working out how to navigate the social world at school, you are not alone, and neither are they.
At Internal Sunshine, our School Holiday Social Connect Program is a psychologist-led social skills group for children aged 5 to 10 who need structured, caring support to build real friendships and feel more confident at school.
Social connection is a skill, and like all skills, some children need more structured support to develop it. This program is especially suited to children who are:
Many autistic children want to connect with peers deeply but find the unwritten rules of social interaction difficult to decode. Our program meets them where they are, without expecting them to simply fit in.
Children with ADHD often have big, wonderful energy but can struggle with turn-taking, reading social cues, and managing frustration. We work with that energy, not against it.
Some children find it hard to start conversations, join a group already in play, or express what they need in the moment. These are teachable skills, and this is the right place to practise them.
When feelings are big and hard to manage, friendships suffer. Our program builds the emotional vocabulary and self-regulation strategies children need to stay regulated around peers.
Whether your child tells you directly or you can see it in their face after school, social isolation is painful. This program gives children real opportunities to connect with peers who truly get it.
Our program runs across select school holiday periods at our Melbourne clinics in Malvern East and Beaconsfield. Groups are kept small so every child is seen, supported, and genuinely included.
At Internal Sunshine, we do not ask children to mask or pretend to be someone they are not. Our program is neuro-affirming at its core, grounded in the belief that every child’s brain is valid and connection should never require a child to abandon who they are in order to belong.
We draw on evidence-based frameworks including Social Thinking, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), play-based and experiential learning, and strengths-based practice.
Our Malvern East clinic at 1141 Dandenong Road is our primary location for school holiday social skills groups in Melbourne’s inner southeast. We are easily accessible from Caulfield, Glen Iris, Oakleigh, Carnegie, Murrumbeena, Bentleigh, and Armadale.
Our Malvern East team works with children aged 5 to 10 who are autistic, have ADHD, or are experiencing social communication and friendship difficulties. Sessions are small, psychologist-led, and structured around each child’s individual needs within the group.
Our Beaconsfield clinic at 20 Woods Street is our dedicated location for school holiday social skills groups in Melbourne’s outer southeast. We serve families from Berwick, Officer, Pakenham, Narre Warren, Clyde, Cranbourne, Hallam, Hampton Park, and across the Cardinia and Casey regions.
For many families in the outer southeast, finding a psychologist-led social skills group close to home has not been easy. Our Beaconsfield clinic exists to change that, bringing the same evidence-based, neuro-affirming care to families further afield.
No. We welcome any child aged 5 to 10 who finds social connection challenging. If you are unsure, call us and we will talk it through.
A small, structured group session where children practise real-life social situations alongside peers who face similar challenges. Children learn through activities, games, and guided practice that build communication, emotional regulation, and friendship skills.
Individual therapy focuses on one child with a psychologist. A social skills group adds the peer element, where the real practice happens. Children learn to navigate social situations with actual peers in real time, which individual therapy cannot fully replicate.
Yes. Our program is specifically designed with autistic children in mind. We never ask children to mask or change who they are. We work with each child’s strengths and support them to connect with peers in a way that feels natural and safe.
Yes. Our psychologists are experienced in working with ADHD and structure sessions in a way that works with your child’s energy rather than against it.
Absolutely. Many children in our program have co-occurring autism and ADHD and our psychologists are experienced in supporting both profiles.
Very common. We ease children in gradually and our psychologists are skilled at helping anxious children settle in at their own pace. We never force participation.
Every child is different. Some show noticeable changes after just a few sessions, others benefit from ongoing participation across multiple school holiday periods. We will give you honest feedback after intake about what is realistic to expect.
Fill out the form below, and we will contact you as soon as possible to schedule your appointment. We offer flexible and after-hours appointments for assessments and counseling, with immediate slots available for both in-person and Telehealth sessions.
Looking forward to supporting your journey to wellness.
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