Peer Sessions
What Are Peer Sessions?
Peer sessions are when we introduce two or more children in the same room during sessions, with each child individually supported by their own therapist.
Children may spend the entire session together in the room or come together for a shorter time during their individual sessions.
Why do children need individual therapist support during peer sessions?
Many children find it difficult to regulate themselves, so the therapist is there to support their co-regulation while naming what they and the other child are doing to support their comprehension of what is happening in the moment.
Sometimes, the therapists will simply focus on helping the children stay in the room with each other. They may engage in parallel play or solitary play while briefly looking at the other child and not engaging with them.
Over time, and with practice in individual sessions, the children will start to approach each other, and then therapists will support each of them in engaging with the other child.
The therapists are trained to support children in becoming more independent and confident in interacting, playing with, and communicating with other children without relying on their parents. This skill will be needed in childcare, kindergarten, and school.
Peer sessions support:
- Independence from parents
- Confidence in interactions with other children
- Collaboration, turn-taking and negotiation during play
- Compassion and understanding of others
- Extending functional vocabulary and communication with peers

Benefits
Because children often interact and behave differently with other children than they do with adults, peer sessions introduce variety to a child’s interactions and enable them to learn different skills while accessing therapeutic services.
Peer communication is a foundational skill that prepares your child for involvement at childcare, kindergarten, school and within their community.
We also support families with sibling sessions as needed so family members can learn how to communicate and play together.
Please contact us for more information.