The Social Thinking Clinical Training Program (in-person) is designed to provide an opportunity to observe and discuss the implementation and use of the Social Thinking Methodology as it applies from assessment to support. Attendees will be part of a small group of professionals from around the globe who will bring their unique experiences to the training. Attendees observe clients from preschool through adulthood, with most falling within the school-age years. Structured observations will include clinical groups that represent both literal learners (Emerging Social Communicators) and nuanced learners (Nuanced Social Communicators). We often have at least one preschool group (varying play levels) and some adult sessions, but this is dependent on the current client demand, and observing an early learning group is not guaranteed.

Important: This year the Clinical Training Program is only offered at our California locations, Santa Clara, and San Jose. The two clinics are only one mile apart from each other, but we recommend ordering a Lyft or Uber for moving between the two clinics on day 1.

Other Key Information

1. We will provide a list of nearby hotels and restaurants and encourage all participants to make their plans early for the best rates.


2. Collaboration is encouraged among the trainees. This helps foster team building and deeper discussions about Social Thinking.


3. Attending this training does NOT, in any way, certify the attendee as a Social Thinking therapist or trainer. Instead, attendees will receive a Certificate of Attendance at the end of Day 3 citing their attendance and participation if the attendee is present for all hours of the program.


4. The behavior required during Clinical Training Program hours: Please do not schedule work telephone calls or other activities (e.g., writing IEP reports, etc.) during training hours. Missing or being distracted during any hours of the Clinical Training Program means we have the right to
   
   1. Not list an attendee in our online Directory of Clinical Trainees
   2. Adjust the hours on the Certificate of Attendance to reflect the actual time an attendee was actively participating
   3. Discontinue an attendee’s participation in the Clinical Training Program without providing any refund.


5. The Clinical Training Program is run by Social Thinking Santa Clara. However, Social Thinking Intellectual Property is owned by Think Social Publishing, Inc. These two corporations are both owned and operated by Michelle Garcia Winner with Dr. Pamela Crooke as Chief Operations Officer. Attendees pay Social Thinking Santa Clara for participation in the program but are expected to follow the Intellectual Property Terms of Use and guidelines found on the Social Thinking website at www.socialthinking.com/Intellectual-Property. The website www.socialthinking.com represents both companies.


6. Directory of Clinical Trainees: Attendees who receive the Certificate of Attendance will have the option to have their names posted on Social Thinking’s online Directory of Clinical Trainees. The purpose of this directory is to provide the public with access to people who have completed a higher level of Social Thinking training. Attendees can list their school district and/or private practice affiliations along with their contact information to
   
   1. Let the public know the attendee has a deeper clinical training experience in using the Social Thinking Methodology
   2. Let the public know who may be available to provide clinical services in their local area that include the use of the Social Thinking Methodology.


7. Attendee names are maintained on our Social Thinking website for up to Seven years if the attendee meets the following standards:
   
   1. Agree to abide by Social Thinking’s Intellectual Property Guidelines
   2. Keep up to date with the Social Thinking Methodology as it evolves
   3. Respond to our staff when they ask yearly for affirmation that the contact information in the directory is accurate
   4. Provide any other information we request

Attendee names will be removed from the Directory of Clinical Trainees if the attendee fails to respond to updates requested from our office, contact information is found to be no longer valid, they are found to violate terms and conditions in using Social Thinking Intellectual Property, or five years have passed since they attended our Clinical Training Program.

Day 1:

9:00 am: Think Social Publishing (TSP)/Social Thinking Clinic (STC) – Santa Clara, CA
Participants start the 3-day program by meeting with Michelle Garcia Winner and/or Pamela Crooke at the main Social Thinking office (Santa Clara). TSP is the headquarters for conferences, marketing, accounting, customer service, and product development. This location has a small book/product warehouse, as well as our on-demand film studio. This office is also home to a small clinic where Michelle and Pam run individual sessions and therapy groups. Michelle and Pam will discuss the latest thinking, new products, and an overview of the training program.

10:00 am: Social Thinking Stevens Creek (STSC) – San Jose, CA
Travel to the licensed San Jose clinic (approximately 1 mile away). Owner Allison King will lead the remainder of the training alongside two Social Thinking clinical experts and authors, Ryan Hendrix, and Kari Palmer. You’ll learn about the dynamic assessment process and how the information you collect can be used to guide therapy, teaching, or coaching sessions. A specific schedule will be provided. The day will end at approximately 7:00 pm. Multiple breaks, including lunch, will occur throughout the day.

This clinic was the original Social Thinking clinic opened by Michelle over 20 years ago. It is the only California-licensed clinic and all therapists at STSC receive ongoing training from Pam and Michelle regularly, including monthly grand rounds. This clinic has a large client base and you will have the opportunity to see several therapists across a range of ages during your training. To learn more about Allison King and her team, please visit https://www.socialthinkingsanjose.com/theteam.

Days 2 and 3:

10:00 am: Social Thinking Stevens Creek (STSC) – San Jose, CA
You will get the opportunity to observe live therapy/coaching sessions and will meet with the lead trainers to discuss your observations. Sessions end at approximately 7 pm. Multiple breaks, including lunch, will occur throughout the day.

Important: Trainees are expected to stay for the entire day for all three days of training. Please consider this timeline when scheduling your return flights and factor in the time you need to travel to the airport and wait for your flight.

1. Explain the Social Competency Model and how it relates to the fidelity of teaching all Social Thinking concepts.
2. Describe the six levels of the Social Thinking–Social Communication Summary (ST–SCS).
3. Describe two different Informal Dynamic Assessment tasks and define how these are different from standardized assessments for functional treatment plan development.
4. Describe two ways in which lessons that teach Social Thinking Vocabulary vary among interventionists.
5. Utilize the ST–SCS and clinical observation to determine a client's social learning characteristics.
6. Describe how cognition, perspective taking, language skills, and sensory skills relate to developing a functional treatment plan.

Important: This training is considered intermediate/advanced. Participants are expected to have a core base of knowledge about the methodology before applying. To be eligible to participate in the Clinical Training Program, applicants must:

• Applicants must have attended at least two full-day Social Thinking conference courses taught by a member of our Social Thinking Training and Speakers’ Collaborative, or an event featuring a TSP speaker, or applicants must have watched at least 12 hours of On Demand Courses provided by TSP.
  
  • Optional but recommended: Watch the two-part On Demand series Navigating Across School, Home, and Screen Landscapes using the ILAUGH Model


• Applicants must have at least one year of experience implementing components of the Social Thinking Methodology in a school or clinical setting. More experience is preferred.
  
  • Note: This training is a good fit for parent-professionals who serve the dual role of implementing Social Thinking components as a clinician outside the home, as well as providing support for their own child/children. This training is not designed for parents who do not provide services for other students/clients outside of supporting or teaching their own child.
  
  


• Read and use two or more of the core books published by Think Social Publishing, Inc., including but not limited to:
  
  • You Are a Social Detective! and Teaching Curriculum & Support Guide (new 2022)
  • Social Situation Mapping (new 2023)
  • Social Thinking and Me
  • We Thinkers! Volumes 1 and 2 (storybooks and curriculum)
  • Socially Curious and Curiously Social (updated 2021)


• Stay up to date about evolving aspects of the Social Thinking Methodology by reading free articles and watching free webinars. All applicants should already be subscribed to our newsletter which will alert you to the new content posted on our website.


• Some attendees (not all) will receive continuing education hours. Please see the list of eligible professions at the end of this application.
  
  • We are aware that licensed BCBAs and other behaviorists are discouraged from using any part of the Social Thinking Methodology. Before applying for this training, BCBAs should carefully consider whether this social cognitive training is beneficial to their professional goals, given that no CEs are available.
  
  
  • All participants will receive a certificate of completion.

Important: Applicants are selected based on the number of students/clients they serve in the community and their experience using the Social Thinking Methodology. Professionals or parent professionals working with very small caseloads are less likely to be selected.

How to apply

The Clinical Training Program is conducted monthly throughout the school year (September through July). There are only 7 spots available for each training session. Individuals who were on the waiting list from the previous year will be given the first chance to attend the current year’s training. Applications will be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. While there is no “formal” deadline to apply, we encourage you to apply early if you’re eager to participate and want to secure your chosen date of attendance. A complete application is the ONLY way to secure a space. We do not hold spaces without a submitted application and deposit.

1. To apply by mail: Mail the completed application with the $350.00 (USD) deposit by check payable to the “Social Thinking Center.” If selected, your deposit will be applied to your tuition. If you are not selected, we will return your check uncashed.


2. To apply by email: Email the completed application to clinicinfo@socialthinking.com and pay the $350.00 (USD) deposit by credit card via phone. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover. Deposit payment must be made within three days of emailing the application. If you are selected to attend, your deposit will be applied to your tuition. If you are not selected, we will return your credit card deposit.


3. Applicants must answer the personal paragraph questions below with a short explanation of why they should be considered for this training program.


4. Multiple applicants applying to attend the same session as a small group must send their applications together. Group applicants must email all applications in one email. Deposits are required for each person in the group. There is no group discount.


5. Applicants are selected based on the number of students/clients they serve in the community and their experience with the methodology.


6. We will inform you of your status in our program within 5 days of the time we received your application. We will continue to enroll applicants until all spots are full. Our website, www.socialthinking.com/clinic-services/clinical-training, will indicate when the Clinical Training Program is full.


7. Participants will receive an email acknowledgment upon receipt of the deposit and application.

NOTE: If your email address changes during the application process, please contact Vanessa immediately. All Clinical Training applications and enrollment communication will be done through email.

We offer continuing education credit for attending the Clinical Training Program for the professions listed below. All attendees will receive a Certificate of Completion and an agenda as proof of participation. The training provides 20 hours of instruction.

Contact your licensing and/or certification organization: We are approved to offer continuing education (CE) credit in many U.S. states and Canadian provinces. However, because requirements can change without notice, we recommend contacting your licensing and/or certification organization to verify program approval to be 100% confident you can earn CE credit for the program. If you work in a location not listed, we recommend contacting your certification board to determine program approval.

Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)

United States & Global ASHA Affiliates
All states: We are an approved continuing education provider through the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA); the program is offered for 2.0 ASHA CEUs. To apply for ASHA CEUs, there will be an electronic ASHA registration form available. Remember to bring your ASHA number to include on the form.

If you maintain your own CE hours, your Certificate of Attendance qualifies as your verification of attendance form.

California: Michelle Garcia Winner is an approved Continuing Professional Development Provider by the Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, and Hearing Aid Dispensers Board for State of California SLPs (PDP 54) (20 hours).

Canada: To apply for CEEs for our program, submit the Certificate of Attendance and agenda to your licensing organization. The Certificate of Attendance and agenda will be provided. Earn 2.0 CEEs for the training.

Counselors

Professions included under this category:

• Licensed Mental Health Counselors
• Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors
• Certified Professional Counselors
• Licensed Professional Counselors
• Associate Professional Counselors
• Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors

United States

Most states: The program is offered to counselors for 20 clock hours toward the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) credit except where noted below. Social Thinking has been designated by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) No. 6685. Social Thinking is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

States that typically accept CE hours for programs approved by the National Board of Certified Counselors: All U.S. states except MT, NY, NV, OK

Educators

United States
Most states: To apply for continuing education credit for our training, submit your Certificate of Attendance and agenda documents to your district or employer after the program has taken place.

Massachusetts
Social Thinking is an approved PD Provider #2017F007 with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. To use the hours for PDPs, you must attend at least 10 hours of Social Thinking workshops.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

United States
Most states: Each course is offered for the National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) credit except where noted below. Social Thinking has been designated by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP) No. 6685. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are identified. Social Thinking is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

States that typically accept CE hours for programs approved by NBCC, though they can change without notice:

• AL, AR, AZ, CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, HI, IA, ID, ME, MN, MO, NH, NJ, NM, NV, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, VA, VT, WA, WI, WY

Occupational Therapists (OTs)

Contact your licensing and/or certification organization to see if you can earn continuing education credit for our program. Many states accept CE hours for our training; however, Social Thinking is not an AOTA-approved provider.

United States
States that are likely to accept CE hours for our program when submitting paperwork after the training takes place:

• AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, GA, HI, ID, IA, KS, KY, ME, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NJ, OH, OK, OR, PA, SD, TN, UT, VA, WA, WV, WI, WY, Washington DC

States that require participants to submit the program for approval before the event to receive CE hours for attendance:

• IL, LA (for live events only), NM, ND, VT.

States that are unlikely to accept CE hours for our program:

• The states not listed in either category above require attendance at AOTA-approved programs to earn CE credit. Unfortunately, Social Thinking is not an AOTA-approved provider.

Canada
To apply for CEEs for our training, submit the Certificate of Attendance and agenda provided at the training to your licensing organization. The program is offered for 20 CEEs.

Psychologists (Clinical & School)

In the past, we were able to provide approved CE credit to clinical psychologists for attending live stream courses. This option is no longer available. If we find another way to provide CE approval for the courses, we will update this page. You may contact your licensing organization to see if they can accept CE hours from non-approved providers.

School Psychologists may not need the American Psychological Association (APA) approval of the CE hours. You may still be able to earn credit for watching our courses—please contact your licensing and/or employer organization to find out.

Social Workers

NY State Social Workers
Social Thinking, Inc., SW CPE, is recognized by New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0334. The training is offered for 20 contact hours (unless other total time is clearly stated on the course page).

Other States
In the past we were able to provide approved CE credit to clinical social workers for attending clinical training. This option is no longer available. If we find another way to provide CE approval for the courses, we will update this page. You may contact your licensing organization to see if they can accept CE hours from non-approved providers.

Questions about Continuing Education?

David Yanez
Assistant Conference Manager & Continuing Education
dyanez@socialthinking.com
408-557-8595 ext. 315
Office hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm Pacific Time

Total $1,700 (USD) There are no discounts or scholarships available.

1. Payment 1: $350 deposit submitted with application submission.


2. Payment 2: $750 due within 30 days of acceptance unless the applicant is assigned to a training date that will start in less than 30 days. In this case, the full tuition is due immediately after acceptance.


3. Payment 3: $600 is due 10 weeks before the assigned training date.


4. Payments not made on time can result in the training space being forfeited.


5. Invoices and receipts for each payment will be managed by Social Thinking. The program tuition must be paid in full before attending the training.

Purchase Orders

We only accept purchase orders after we have received the initial $350 deposit. The remaining balance may be paid with a purchase order only if payment is scheduled at least 10 weeks before the training date. There are no exceptions for purchase orders to be paid after the scheduled training date. A delay in receiving the full amount check before the scheduled training date can result in losing the training spot.

Cancellation Policy & Rescheduling Policy:

Cancellations and rescheduling are difficult and time-consuming for our staff, considering new applicants may need to quickly book airline and schedule substitutes or childcare, even if they are aware months before the training date. For this reason, we have strict policies regarding cancellations and requests to reschedule. Please read these carefully!

Rescheduling to a different training date BEFORE being assigned:

• If you would like to change the preferred training dates you selected on your application, we are happy to assist you at no charge. Please contact Vanessa as soon as possible.

Rescheduling to a different training date AFTER being assigned to a group:

• If you need to change your assigned training date, we will do our best to find a new date, but we will charge a $150 administrative fee.


• If no slots are available for the remaining school year, you will be placed on the waitlist for next year. Please see our Waitlist Policy below for more details.

Canceling/withdrawing BEFORE being accepted into the program:

• If you cancel or withdraw your application before you’ve been accepted and assigned to training, we will refund your $350 deposit.

Canceling/withdrawing AFTER being assigned to the training date:

• If you contact us to cancel your participation after you’ve been assigned to training, you forfeit your deposit ($350).
  
  • You can elect to be placed on the waitlist or you can re-register for our Clinical Training Program the following year.
  
  
  • Our administrative staff will work with you to coordinate which possible dates you can attend next year. All monies already paid, minus $150 in administrative fees, will apply to your alternative Clinical Training session. You have two years to schedule and attend another training; after that time, you forfeit all money paid.

Exception: If the cancellation is due to a medical necessity, we will refund your payment minus a $150 administrative fee.

Clinical Training Waitlist Policy:

1. If you are eligible to participate in the Clinical Training Program but all spots are full for the school year, you will be notified via email, your deposit will be returned, you will be placed on the waitlist, and given priority placement for the following school year training or if there is a cancellation.


2. We will notify you via email (and then phone) if a training date becomes available for you to consider. We cannot hold the slot open, so please reply immediately if you wish to enroll. All slots are on a first-come, first-served basis. If you accept the training session, your tuition is due immediately or the money you have paid will be applied to your future training.


3. If you cancel or reschedule, you have two years to participate in another training. After two years, you forfeit all money paid.


4. If the cost of the Clinical Training Program increases between your placement on the waitlist and the date you attend, you are responsible for paying the most current price of the training.

Other Cancellations:

On rare occasions (like...a pandemic), we might have to cancel.

• We will notify participants 90 days or more before the first day of the training session, when possible.


• We are not responsible for any travel-related expenses (airline, hotel costs).


• If you have paid in full, we will offer a different session that fits your schedule. If you accept the new training session offered, you will be placed and will have no additional tuition expense for attending the future Clinical Training session- even if the tuition has increased since you paid for your original training session. If there is no other time that you can attend based on our schedule, you may choose to be put on our waitlist and will get priority for future training.


• You may choose to be given a full refund of all fees paid including your deposit, minus a $150 (USD) fee for administrative expenses.


• If there is a significant Act of Nature such as severe weather conditions, an earthquake, a tornado, or a pandemic, etc. that restricts your ability to travel to your Clinical Training session or requires us to cancel the event for the safety of all participants, we will work with you to reschedule your training free of charge, and the money you have paid will be applied to your future training. You will not be charged an additional fee to attend the future Clinical Training session if the cost of tuition increases from the time of your originally scheduled training session.


• The Social Thinking Center is not responsible for the cost of canceling your airline ticket, hotel room, or other pre-paid travel-related expenses. You will also be responsible for all travel-related costs resulting from the rescheduling, including airline and hotel costs. You have two years to schedule and attend another training; after that time, you forfeit all money paid.