Socialthinking

Learn About the Concept of Social Thinking, and Our Company's Mission

Social thinking (small “s” and “t”) is the process of interpreting the deeper meaning behind what others do in the world, and (if the situation calls for it) prompts us with how to communicate to achieve our social goals. The mission of Social Thinking®, the company (capital “S” and “T”), is to help people develop their social competencies to better connect with others and live happier, more meaningful lives. Click to learn more!

Apply: Clinical Training

This excellent observation-based program is in high demand - it has sold out every year since it began in 2003! The intensive three-day training lets you explore the Social Thinking Methodology in depth with our clinicians, and includes observing an assessment and treatment sessions.

Social Comp. Model

Discover the difference between teaching social skills and social competencies with the Social Competency Model – and help your teaching go deeper.

Honoring Autism Awareness Month

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) inspired the creation of the Social Thinking Methodology over 20 years ago. In honor of Autism Awareness Month, Michelle Garcia Winner, the founder of Social Thinking, wrote this article to thank all those who have taught her so much. Enjoy!

How to Use Core Social Thinking Materials

New webinar! Teaching core books

In this free recorded webinar, Michelle Garcia Winner, the founder of Social Thinking, reviews the four “core” books in the Social Thinking Methodology. She also provides the latest teachings in the Social Thinking Methodology that extend beyond the pages of the books. Watch now!

Michelle Garcia Winner and the Expected Ways for Managing Boredom

We all get bored, and it’s expected that students will be bored at times in class. But the difference between the teacher giving a student a smile and detention is based on how that student manages his or her boredom. Teach your students to use these “expected” behaviors when bored for less distraction and better learning by all!

Evidence-Based?

Evidence-Based Practice is a term that is now commonplace amongst educators, therapeutic professionals, and parents. But what does it mean and how does it relate to the Social Thinking® methodology?

Social Quests

Social Fortune or Social Fate: A Social Thinking Graphic Novel Map for Social Quest Seekers will inspire tweens and teens to explore how their social problem solving and decision making impact others, influence how others treat them, and ultimately - determine how they feel about themselves. This book provides direct instruction and guidance to our students and their teachers by explaining visually, with words, and with strategy codes how to decipher social situations and related social emotional responses.

Social Thinking and Me

Social Thinking and Me is taking the world by storm! Introduce and reinforce core Social Thinking Vocabulary and concepts to individuals ages 9-13 using this two-book set. Designed for both parents and professionals to use with the child so that everyone is on the same page and the learning is carried over into all environments.

Dr. Pamela Crooke Explains Social Thinking's Methodology

Dr. Pamela Crooke talks about Social Thinking's methodology and connects the curriculum and strategies to a deeper evidence base in an easy to understand way. The Social Thinking methodology embraces what the literature tells us about working directly with individuals who have social learning challenges (i.e. ASD, ADHD, Twice Exceptional, etc.) and promotes the use of visual supports, modeling, naturalistic teaching, and self-management.

Social Thinking's Most Important Strategy

Our Most Important Strategy

The most fundamental strategy that we teach at Social Thinking is Thinking with Your Eyes. Many with social learning challenges don’t innately understand that people’s thoughts often revolve around where they are looking…which is the first step to perspective taking. In this heartwarming story, see how Michelle Garcia Winner teaches this abstract idea through concrete activities.

You are a Social Detective!

Turn kids into Social Detectives who use their “social tool-box” to figure out why certain behaviors are “expected” or “un-expected” throughout the school day. Then follow clues to figure out the thoughts, feelings, and plans of others!

Is Your Team Teaching Social Thinking Correctly?

Just like any good program there is a “right” and “wrong” way to teach the Social Thinking Methodology. Learn the questions to ask to discover if your team is teaching Social Thinking effectively.

Anxiety and Social Competencies

Social anxiety is a setback to social learning and growth. It can drive us into the Spiral of Social Failure where we “prove” to ourselves that we “can’t do it” - causing more anxiety. But the good news is the brain can be trained out of it! Learn to conquer anxiety with the Spiral of Social Success.

Superflex Games to Use at Home

Learn three games you can do at home to help your child become more familiar with Superflex Thinkables and Unthinkables and apply the concepts to their lives. Dr. Pamela Crooke demonstrates the games using our Superflex Superdecks & Double Deck Bundle, available for purchase in the Products tab. Thanks!

Adults and Being Social

The key to connecting with people – be it a friend, a date, or a coworker – is how you make them feel. People likely won’t show interest in the information you share if you don’t show interest in them! We translate the social world to help adults succeed in friendships, careers, marriages, etc.

Socially Curious and Curiously Social

The social guidebook that tackles everything teens and young adults need to know to navigate the social world, including: dating, texting, lies, every day relationships, and more.

10 Social Truths

People care what YOU think about them and they want to be socially validated by you. How you treat them will determine how people treat you – and ultimately – how you feel about yourself. Here are 10 must-know tips to succeed in the social game.

Adults Directing Their Treatment

Usually parents guide their children’s social treatment across the team, but as children grow into adults - the client is expected to take the lead in their own social learning. This often proves difficult for folks and the effectiveness of treatment can plummet. Use these tools to build goals for yourself and become the director of your treatment team.

Social Thinking at Work

Many people have great social intentions (ex. to be kind and relate to others) but their actions seem to be misunderstood. Why? Because good intentions aren’t good enough. Discover strategies to help improve your social thinking at work so that people can see the “you” you intend to be.

Free Articles & Resources

Browse All Articles

Getting Started with Social Thinking Treatment Materials

Social Thinking Methodology: Evidence-Based or Empirically Supported?

The Social Thinking-Social Communication Profile™ - Levels of the Social Mind

The Recipe for Improving Social Skills Begins with Social Thinking

Research to Frameworks to Practice: Social Thinking’s Layers of Evidence

10 DOs and DON'Ts for Teaching Superflex

Updates on Social Thinking’s Cascade of Social Attention: A Conceptual Framework to Explore a Systems Approach to Social-Communication

DOs and DON'Ts for Working with Students in Social Thinking Groups

5 Teaching Ideas Connected to Pixar's Movie Inside Out

Information Informer or Social Relater?

Adults and Being Social: We're all a Work in Progress!

DOs and DON'Ts for Working with Students in Social Thinking® Groups

Updates on Social Thinking’s Cascade of Social Attention: A Conceptual Framework to Explore a Systems Approach to Social-Communication

Why do we use the Expected-Unexpected Social Thinking Vocabulary?

Social Thinking Products

Books, Games, Posters and Music

Our products provide practical frameworks, strategies, activities, and vocabulary to help people ages 4 years through adulthood improve their social thinking and related social skills - and in time - build stronger relationships.

Explore the catalog

We Take Purchase Orders!

Social Thinking Conferences

At our conferences we share our latest frameworks, lessons, and strategies for teaching social thinking and related social skills to people ages 4 years old through adulthood. We offer 15+ full-day courses, each offering unique concepts and strategies regarding a particular theme or age group. All information presented can be used immediately in the classroom, home, community, and workplace!

Conferences Sponsored By Social Thinking

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Sponsored by Social Thinking
Sponsored by Other Organizations

Conferences sponsored by Social Thinking (i.e. those you can register for on our website) offer continuing education, complimentary lunch and dessert, and our products available for purchase. The aforementioned cannot be guaranteed at conferences sponsored by other organizations.

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Latest Research

About

The Social Thinking methodology is built upon a rich foundation of evidence spanning many disciplines and across research-based concepts. Click here to read our Evidence to Frameworks to Practice article.

Published Research

Check out our latest peer-reviewed journal articles, theses, dissertations, and related research.

Rubrics & Tools to Measure

Help build our bank of tools for observing and measuring progress by submitting your checklists or ideas. Use our step-by-step guide to create rubrics to take data and measure outcomes related to social thinking treatment.

Practice-Based Research

Educational personnel are routinely required to use the best possible evidence to guide teaching. Join our community of professionals who are committed to gathering evidence for specific components of the Social Thinking methodology.

Pamela Crooke

PhD, CCC-SLP, Chief Strategy Officer

What People are Saying

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Nadine, SLP

I love how realistic the approach is, and doable!!Based on real clinical experience, adaptable to individual needs/strengths. Great that all the vocabulary is simple, easy to understand, and not full of professional 'shop talk'.

Lea Robinson, Parent

I have a 13 yr old son with autism and 11 year old with some behaviors and ADHD. I can't possibly write down how much I have learned from the Social Thinking conference. It should be against the law not to attend a Michelle Garcia Winner conference.

Crystal Hansen, School Psychologist

Social Thinking is the philosophy that I ascribe to professionally. It serves as my guide through assessment and intervention.

Katie Roe, SLP

This was the best conference I have been to in my 9 years. I cannot wait to get back to school and start using all of the materials/ strategies. I cannot wait to come back next year.

Louise Sanguine, OT

I turned the Social Fate or Social Fortune book into a role-play group. It's working amazing and we are processing topics that I never would have brought up when out of "character”. Thanks for all you do you make my job so much easier. :)

Sara Perrault-Hopper, SLP

OMG you are my hero :) and I use just about everything you publish!