Talkabout is…
- A hierarchical approach to teaching social skills: foundation skills are taught prior to more complex skills.
- Includes an assessment and outcome measures: the Talkabout assessment includes a method of quantifying results and if you attend Alex’s training, she gives you additional systems to measure effectiveness through using targets and spreadsheets.
- Includes activities and plans of intervention: Talkabout is a scheme of work that is designed to be followed week by week, with plans for your intervention divided into 3 academic terms for anyone working in schools.
- Suitable for all ages: the different books are designed with a certain population in mind, so that you will use the resource best suited to your client group, from young children (4+) to adults.
- Suitable to put onto a school curriculum: the Talkabout resources have been written with schools in mind, so that teachers can easily put social skills into their lessons or onto their curriculum.
- Proven effectiveness: Talkabout has been proved to be an effective tool for developing self-esteem, social skills and friendship skills and Alex is happy to share evidence from schools who have measured their progress.
- A social skills textbook: Alex has recently written a textbook on social skills which combines sound theory with experience and evidence to make it an essential book for anyone wanting to further their knowledge of social skills.
A bit about the hierarchy
Talkabout was first developed in the early nineties following a clinical study into the effectiveness of social skills work which found that the success of intervention increased if nonverbal behaviours were taught prior to verbal behaviours, and assertiveness was taught last. In addition, it was found that basic self and other awareness and self-esteem should be developed first if necessary and that friendship skills should be taught after social skills. If we spend time developing the foundation skills of self-esteem and self-awareness and then concentrate on body language prior to the more complex areas of conversational skills, friendship skills and assertiveness we are more likely to see progress.
