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Social skills support · Kids & teens

Social skills support for kids and teens

Making friends, reading a room and standing up to peer pressure are skills, and skills can be learned. Here is how Dr. Audrey helps children, teens and their parents.

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20+ Years Clinical Experience
PhD, LPC-S, LMHC, CFLE
Licensed in TX, NJ & NY
C-DBT Certified
100% Telehealth

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20+
Years Experience
PhD
Family Studies, TWU
LPC-S
Texas · Since 2004
LPC
New Jersey
LMHC
New York · New
CFLE
Certified Family Life Educator
C-DBT
DBT Certified Clinician
Quick answer

Dr. Audrey Kteily, PhD, LPC-S helps children and teens build social skills such as reading social cues, making and keeping friends, handling peer pressure and communicating confidently. She works through online teen counseling and parent counseling in Texas, New Jersey and New York. Her former in-person summer camp is not currently offered.

About the former social skills summer camp

The practice once offered an in-person social skills summer camp in Coppell for children ages 5 to 14. That camp is not currently offered. The good news is that the same skills are still a regular part of her work, now through online teen counseling and parent counseling.

Why social skills are worth working on

Some kids seem to pick up friendship rules without trying. Others watch the same playground or lunch table and cannot work out what everyone else seems to know. They may come across as too intense, too quiet or just a beat off, and over time that can turn into loneliness, anxiety or a sense that something is wrong with them.

Social skills are not personality traits. They can be broken down, practiced and improved, and children usually make the most progress when their parents are learning alongside them.

What skills does Dr. Audrey work on?

  • Spotting social cues: facial expressions, tone of voice and body language, and what they usually mean.
  • Making and keeping friends: starting a conversation, joining a group, sharing interests and repairing a friendship after a conflict.
  • Dealing with peer pressure: recognizing it, saying no without losing face, and finding friends who do not require it.
  • Boosting self-esteem and self-confidence: noticing real strengths and building on them.
  • Communicating effectively: listening, taking turns and saying what you need clearly and kindly.

Who benefits from social skills support?

Social skills work can help children and teens who:

  • Have trouble making or keeping friends
  • Are on the autism spectrum or have sensory processing differences
  • Have ADHD and struggle with impulsivity in conversations
  • Feel socially anxious or have been bullied
  • Are moving into middle school or high school and feel unprepared

Dr. Audrey's work with autism spectrum concerns and related needs is described on the other specialties page.

How it works now: teen counseling and parent counseling

For teens

In teen counseling, Dr. Audrey works one-on-one with adolescents ages 12 to 18 on the social situations that trip them up, from group chats to the cafeteria. Sessions are by secure video, which many teens find easier than walking into an office.

For parents

Family therapist Virginia Satir observed that a parent's every word, expression and gesture tells a child something about their self-worth. Parent sessions help you notice those messages, coach social skills in everyday moments and respond calmly when things go wrong at school or with friends. This draws on Dr. Audrey's family systems training.

For younger children

For younger children, Dr. Audrey often works closely with parents, who carry the skills into daily life at home. Reach out and describe your child's situation, and she will talk with you about the right approach.

Getting started

Dr. Audrey Kteily is a Texas LPC-S, New Jersey LPC and New York LMHC with more than 20 years of experience, so your child needs to be located in one of those states during sessions. She is an out-of-network provider; rates are shared when you reach out, and a superbill is provided.

To begin, request an appointment, send the secure form on this page, or text or call (917) 905-3183.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

No. The in-person social skills summer camp is not currently offered. Dr. Audrey now helps children and teens build social skills through online teen counseling and parent counseling for families located in Texas, New Jersey and New York. Parents are part of the process.

Yes. Many social skills are about noticing cues, planning responses and practicing them, which works well over video. Teens often feel more relaxed from home. Parents learn to coach the same skills in real situations between sessions, which is where most of the progress happens.

No. Some children who struggle socially have ADHD, anxiety or autism spectrum concerns, and many have no diagnosis at all. Dr. Audrey starts by understanding where your child is getting stuck and builds the work around that. Diagnosis is not a requirement.

Yes. Children practice social skills most at home and school, so parents play a big role. Dr. Audrey helps parents understand what their child is working on and how to encourage it without turning every interaction into a lesson. Small, consistent nudges add up.

Her teen counseling focuses on ages 12 to 18, and she also works with younger children, usually with heavy parent involvement. Reach out with your child's age and situation and she will talk with you about the right approach. Sessions are online by secure video.

Client Voices

What clients say about working with Dr. Audrey

★★★★★

An amazing human being who entered my life and blessed me with the opportunity to observe "The Gift." This beautiful soul is the wonderful Dr. Audrey Kteily — known to many as Dr. K. Her wisdom, warmth, and skill genuinely change lives.

— Google Review · Verified client

Ready to begin?

Dr. Audrey is accepting new patients across Texas, New Jersey, and New York. Your first step is a quick, no-pressure request — we'll be in touch within one business day.

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