Our Clinical Training Program is designed to provide an opportunity to observe and discuss the implementation and use of the Social Thinking Methodology across assessment and treatment. Attendees will be part of a small group of professionals from around the globe who will bring their unique experiences and understanding of Social Thinking and other treatment programs to the training. Attendees will observe clients from preschool age through adulthood, with most falling within the school-age years. The clinical treatment groups represent both concrete learners (Emerging Social Communicators) and nuanced learners (Nuance-Challenged Social Communicators). We often have at least one preschool group and some adult sessions, but this is dependent on the current client demand and observing an early learning group is not guaranteed.

The Clinical Training Program is offered at two clinic locations in the U.S. to make travel easier on both domestic and international trainees: on the west coast at Social Thinking Santa Clara, CA, with Michelle Garcia Winner and Pamela Crooke, and on the east coast at Social Thinking Boston near Boston, MA, with Nancy Clements. The content is the same at both locations. Who should attend? Professionals with at least 12 hours of Social Thinking (ST) conference and/or eLearning training who have implemented components of the Social Thinking Methodology for at least one year. See the Eligibility tab for more details.

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 an official 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. 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: a) not list an attendee in our online Directory of Clinical Trainees, b) adjust the hours on the Certificate of Attendance to reflect the actual time an attendee was actively participating, and c) 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 a chief advisor. 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 https://www.socialthinking.com/Intellectual-Property. The website www.socialthinking.com represents both companies.

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 with regard to using the Social Thinking Methodology, and 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. Attendees’ names are maintained on our Social Thinking website for up to five years if the attendee meets the following standards:

• Agree to abide by Social Thinking’s Intellectual Property guidelines
• Keep up to date with the Social Thinking Methodology as it evolves
• Respond to our staff when they ask yearly for affirmation that the contact information in the directory is accurate
• Respond to any other information we request

Attendees’ 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 be in violation of terms and conditions in using Social Thinking Intellectual Property, or five years have passed since they attended our Clinical Training Program.

Day 1: Attendees will begin with an orientation about logistics followed by an overview of the ST Informal Dynamic Assessment and related observation tools. Next, participants will watch a live (or, when necessary, video) assessment. If a report is part of the assessment, attendees will receive a copy of the report with identifying information redacted. Schedule: Santa Clara, CA: 8:00am to 6:00pm. Boston, MA: 8:30am to 7:00pm.

Day 2: The day will begin with a follow-up intensive discussion about findings of the assessment and how to do treatment planning based on what was learned from it. Information about the latest Social Thinking concepts and frameworks, clinical and educational treatment strategies, related research, and intervention tools will round out the morning. The afternoon will focus on observing live clinical sessions. Schedule: Santa Clara, CA: 8:30am to 6:30pm. Boston, MA: 9:00am to 7:30pm.

Day 3: The final day starts with a review of additional treatment materials and a discussion about treatment related to teaching individuals about anxiety management. Q and A about previously observed clinical sessions is also included. The afternoon is reserved for observing additional clinical sessions. Schedule: Santa Clara, CA: 10:00am to 6:45pm. Boston, MA: 10:00am to 6:00pm.

Important: Trainees are expected to stay for the entire Day 3 training. Please take this timeline into consideration 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 Profile (ST–SCP).
3. Explain the components of the Cascade of Social Attention and the implication for treatment.
4. Describe two different Informal Dynamic Assessment tasks and define how these are different from standardized assessments for functional treatment plan development.
5. Describe two ways in which lessons that teach Social Thinking Vocabulary vary among interventionists.
6. Utilize the ST–SCP and clinical observation to determine a client's level of social mind.
7. Describe how cognition, perspective taking, language skills, and sensory skills relate to developing a functional treatment plan.

This is an advanced training in the Social Thinking Methodology and not Social Thinking 101. To be eligible to participate in the Clinical Training Program, applicants must have:

1. At least one year of recent experience utilizing Social Thinking treatment frameworks, strategies, vocabulary, and concepts with clients/students of any age within the range of four years old to adulthood.
2. All professionals (mental health, educational, OT, SLP, etc.) that work directly with individuals with social learning challenges, who have met the other prerequisites, are welcome to attend. We provide continuing education hours to some of these professionals (see below).
   • Behaviorists need to further evaluate if they should enroll in our Clinical Training Program. We are now aware that licensed BCBAs and licensed behavioral assistants are not allowed to utilize the Social Thinking Methodology as part of the work they do as a licensed BCBA, according to their licensing agency. For this reason, when a licensed behaviorist or behavioral assistant applies to our Clinical Training program, they will receive a letter from us reviewing the concerns. The licensed Behaviorist will have to select if they still want to proceed in our training based on our explanation of the situation or withdraw their application at that point. Behaviorists are asked to respond with their decision.
3. Will plan to read three or more free articles related to the methodology (as posted on the website or in newsletters)
4. Have attended at least two full-day Social Thinking conference courses taught by a member of our Social Thinking Training and/or Speakers’ Collaborative or a guest speaker invited by Social Thinking, or watched at least 12 hours of Social Thinking eLearning modules.
5. Read and utilized two or more of the books published by Think Social Publishing, Inc., including but not limited to:
   • Thinking About YOU Thinking About ME
   • Inside Out: What Makes a Person with Social Cognitive Deficits Tick?
   • Social Thinking and Me
   • You Are A Social Detective combined with teaching Superflex: A Superhero Social Thinking Curriculum
   • We Thinkers! Volume 1 Social Explorers (storybooks and curriculum)
   • Socially Curious and Curiously Social
6. Applicants are selected based on the number of students/clients they serve in the community and their experience with our methodology. Professionals or parent-professionals working with a very small caseload are less likely to be selected.

About the Application Process

The Clinical Training Program is conducted monthly throughout the school year (September through June). There are only seven slots available in each training session at each of our two locations. Individuals who were on the waiting list from the previous year will be given the first chance to attend the current year’s training in either Santa Clara, CA (Silicon Valley area) or Boston area, MA.

Each January we post online the application for enrollment in the Clinical Training Program for the upcoming school year (September–June). Applications are collected until all spots are full.

Only those applications that are complete will be considered. A complete application must contain:

• An application form
• An indication of at least three preferred training dates (and their respective locations) that you would be able to attend
• A written response to the free-form questions included at the end of your application
• A $300 (USD) deposit. This deposit will be applied to the total tuition if you are selected to attend the Clinical Training Program

Deposit: If an applicant is accepted into the Clinical Training Program, the deposit is non-refundable. (See the Cancellation & Rescheduling Policies below.) If the applicant is not selected for the Clinical Training Program, a $50 administrative fee will be deducted and the remaining $250 will be refunded. A complete application is the ONLY way to secure a space. We do not hold spaces for individuals who call or email to inquire about the program.

Team Attendance

Administrators and businesses wishing to enroll a team of individuals in a training need to submit one packet containing each applicant’s completed paperwork with the individual deposit fee for each person.

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 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, fill out an ASHA registration form on the first day of training. Remember to bring your ASHA number to include on the form.

The program is offered for 2.0 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional area).

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 20 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 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.

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists

United States

Most states: Each course is offered for 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 clearly 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)

United States, all states: Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is approved by the American Psychological Association (APA) to offer continuing education credit programs. Commonwealth Educational Seminars maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologists receive 20 hours of continuing education credit upon completing this program.

If you are not affiliated with APA, inquire with your respective state board to see if you can earn CE credit by attending our program. It might help to tell them the program is approved for APA credit.

Social Workers

United States

Commonwealth Educational Seminars (CES) is entitled to award continuing education credit for Social Workers. CES maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Social Workers completing this program will receive 20 clinical hours of clinical continuing education credit.

United States – as of October 2018

States that typically accept CE hours for programs approved by Commonwealth Educational Seminars:

• AK, AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, ND, NE, NH, NM, NY, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV, WY

States that typically accept CE hours for programs approved by other organizations:

NY: Social Thinking, 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 #0334. The program is offered for 20 contact hours.

Many Social Work licensing organizations accept APA credit, which the Clinical Training Program is approved to offer. If your state is not listed above, inquire with your state board to see if you can earn CE credit by attending our program.

Questions about Continuing Education?

Elena Samsonova
Director of Conferences & Continuing Education
esamsonova@socialthinking.com
408-557-8595 ext. 325
Office hours: 8:30am – 5:00pm Pacific Time

Boston total fee: $1,400 (USD) This training is led by Nancy Clements.
Santa Clara total fee: $1,600 (USD) This training is led by Michelle Garcia Winner and/or Dr. Pamela Crooke.

A $300 (USD) non-refundable check is required to be submitted with your application to be considered for the program. Please make all checks payable to “Social Thinking Center.” If you’re accepted, your deposit will be applied to your tuition. If you’re not selected, a $50 administrative fee will be deducted and the remaining $250 will be refunded.

Upon notification of placement, all further payments toward the full tuition are non-refundable at the time of receipt by the Social Thinking Center. Immediately upon acceptance into the Clinical Training Program, your second tuition payment is due. The second payment is $600 (USD) for those attending the Boston training and $700 (USD) for those attending the Santa Clara training. Individuals notified of placement in the program who decide to withdraw prior to making this second payment will forfeit their entire $300 (USD) deposit.

A final tuition payment of $500 USD (Boston) and $600 USD (Santa Clara) is due 10 weeks prior to the start date. If payment is not made at that time, the spot can be forfeited along with all money paid toward the tuition.

The Social Thinking Center will send invoices for each payment and track all applicants’ payments and balances. The program tuition must be paid in full prior to attend the training.

Note: Due to high demand for this program, there are no discounted fees or scholarships available.

Purchase Orders

We only accept purchase orders if the $300 deposit is paid upfront with a check that is attached to each application. The remaining balance may be paid with a purchase order as long as Social Thinking receives the remaining balance check 12 weeks prior to the training date. There are no exceptions for purchase orders to be paid after the scheduled training date. Delay receiving the lump sum check prior to the scheduled training date can result in losing the training spot!

Waitlisted Enrollment in Clinical Training Program

If all Clinical Training spots are sold out on your preferred dates:

If you are eligible to participate in the Clinical Training Program but all spots have been filled for the current U.S. school year, you will be notified, your deposit will be returned, and you will be placed on the waitlist.

Waitlist Policy

If you’re placed on the waitlist, we will notify you when more training dates become available for you to consider. Any money you have paid so far will be applied to your future training. You have three years to schedule another training; after that time, you forfeit all money paid.

Note: If the cost of the Clinical Training Program increases between your placement on the waitlist and the date you attend, of if you change locations and the program cost is higher, you are responsible for paying the most current price of the training.

Cancellation & Rescheduling Policies

If a person reschedules or cancels their participation in a training for which they have been enrolled, it is difficult and time-consuming for our staff to fill that space from our waitlist, even months before the training. For this reason, we have strict policies regarding cancellations and requests to reschedule.

Rescheduling or changing training location:

Before being assigned to a training date: If you would like to change your preferred training dates and/or location before you’ve been assigned to a training date, we would be happy to assist you at no charge. Please contact us at the information provided below

After being assigned to a training date: If you need to change your assigned training date and/or location, we will fulfill your request but must charge a $150 administrative fee. We will do our best to find you a spot in a training that works for your schedule, but if none are available for the remaining school year, you will be placed on the waitlist. See “Waitlist Policy” for more details.

Cancelling/revoking your application

Before being assigned to a training session: If you contact us to cancel or revoke your application before you’ve been assigned to a training session, we will refund your $300 deposit less a $50 administrative fee.

After being assigned to training session: If you contact us to cancel your participation after you’ve been assigned to a training session, you forfeit any money paid toward your program attendance (deposit plus additional payments).

The only exception is if the cancellation is due to a medical necessity as evidenced by a note from your doctor. You will then be refunded in full minus a $150 administrative fee. You may elect to be placed on the waitlist for the current school year in which your session was to take place or you can request to 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 the next year. All monies already paid, minus $150 in administrative fees, will apply to your alternative Clinical Training Program session. You have three years to schedule and attend another training. After that time, you forfeit all money paid. If you do not complete your Clinical Training Program session within 3 years of your cancellation date, you forfeit your money.

Note: If the cost of the Clinical Training Program increases between your placement on the waitlist and the date you attend, or if you change locations and the program cost is higher, you are responsible for paying the most current price of the training.

In the case of an Act of Nature

If there is a significant Act of Nature such as severe weather conditions, an earthquake, tornado, 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 be responsible for all travel-related costs resulting from the rescheduling, including airline and hotel costs. You have three years to schedule and attend another training. After that time, you forfeit all money paid.

Note: If the cost of the Clinical Training Program increases between your placement on the waitlist and the date you attend, or if you change locations and the program cost is higher, you are responsible for paying the most current price of the training.