What is Social Thinking?

There are 3 distinct yet overlapping definitions:

We have a lot of information to share. Here are three ways to understand how we use the words "social thinking":

The Term
The Business
The Methodology

Watch the video or browse below to learn more!

The Term

“Social thinking” or thinking socially refers to a process we all go through in our minds as we try to make sense of our own and others’ thoughts, feelings, and intentions in context, whether we are co-existing, actively interacting, or figuring out what is happening from a distance (e.g., media, literature, etc.). Our ability to think socially is part of social emotional learning that begins at birth and evolves across our lifetimes. Social thinking, in this context, is also referred to as social cognition and has a deep and rich base of support in developmental research.

The Business

Think Social Publishing, Inc. is the name of our business, casually referred to as Social Thinking (capitalized S and T). Our business has the purpose of creating, publishing, and distributing information about our broad-based Social Thinking Methodology. We also teach interventionists through face-to-face trainings and online platforms.

The Methodology

Evidence-based strategies for:

Interventionists Social Learners

The Social Thinking Methodology is a developmental, language-based, and thinking-based (metacognitive) methodology that uses visual frameworks, unique vocabulary, strategies, and activities to foster social competencies. The methodology has assessment and support components for both interventionists and social learners. The methodology is designed for individuals with solid to strong language and cognitive abilities, both neurotypically developing and Neurodivergent.

Interventionists “Interventionists” refers to professionals (all types), family members, and caregivers who strive to understand the social learners with whom they work (and live) in order to teach how the social world works and ultimately how to work (navigate to regulate) in the social world.

Social Learners Social learners are individuals ranging from age 4 through adulthood who are learning about how the social world works while also learning how to work (navigate to regulate) in the social world (in themselves and others).

Teaching social competencies—more than social skills

The foundation of our work provides interventionists (teachers, speech language pathologists, therapists, clinicians, parents) and social emotional learners with frameworks, tools, skills and a shared language to improve social competencies—more than just social skills.

Our goal is to help people learn explicitly how to engage in social information processing; how to attend, interpret, problem solve and respond in any situation—the thinking and doing skills that will aid them in becoming increasingly successful in the social world throughout their lives.

At some point we all struggle in social situations. Engaging in a social emotional thinking/feeling based process can be difficult at times for everyone in the social world. Our role as interventionists is to help motivate social emotional learners to "do the work" and explore how we all share social expectations, thoughts, feelings, make mistakes and try again as we learn to navigate our way toward our social goals. The practical nature of our teaching and the concrete way we explain social concepts helps engage people in social emotional learning not only about themselves but about others.

Evidence Based Practices for Interventionists

Evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies for interventionists

The social world is an enormous and complex place. You, the interventionist, must first gain your own understanding of how the social world works before teaching social emotional learners about it. The Social Thinking Methodology relies on both evidence-based and evidence-informed information to teach social learners about the how the social world works. We also believe in the importance of taking time to understand the social learner from their unique perspective. We consider how the individual learns best, what they value, and their social goals. It is only after spending time understanding the social world and the social learner that we begin to tackle strategies for teaching how to work (navigate to regulate) in the social world. The Social Thinking Methodology has specific components to teach about these aspects through free articles, products, conferences, livestreams, on-demand courses, and free webinars.

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Evidence Based Practices for Social Learners

Evidence-based and evidence-informed strategies for social emotional learners

Social emotional learners are individuals ranging from ages four through adulthood who are learning about how the social world works while also learning how to work (navigate to regulate) in the social world (within themselves and among others). We are all social emotional learners. Over the course of our lives, we cycle through different phases of gathering knowledge about how the social world works and then use that information to work (navigate to regulate) in the social world. The Social Thinking Methodology relies on both evidence-based and evidence-informed information to teach social learners about the how the social world works and strategies for navigating and regulating in it. Being a social emotional learner is a lifelong process.

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This has been a game changer for helping general education teachers. We have been using the Social Thinking Methodology with our students, they are making friends, are more successful academically, and generally happier in all they do. Thank you! - Jennifer, Special Education Teacher

What People Are Saying About Social Thinking

Parents & Families

Testimonial Thank you doesn’t seem enough for all that your teachings have done for me and my family! They have been a lifeline for me to re-connect with my 9-year-old. Everything you publish is 100% applicable. Keep up the amazing work!

Parent of 9 year old

Elementary School

Testimonial Social Thinking has completely changed the environment of who we are as a whole. Thank you for providing us with such rich social and emotional resources. The impact that your resources make are life changing and early intervention is key. Your curriculum is truly amazing! I bought into Social Thinking about 9 years ago and will use this as long as I am in education.

Natalie, Resource Teacher

Schools

Testimonial I appreciate how the Social Thinking Methodology links social intent/thinking and the common core or school based standards. This connection, and the understanding that exists, is so crucial to every member of a student's school community.

Peggy, 3rd Grade Teacher

Mental Health & Clinicians

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

Greg, School Psychologist

Speech Language Pathologists

Testimonial 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.

Amy, SLP

Parents & Families

Testimonial Social Thinking’s program has given me the much needed tools to communicate in a meaningful way with my 9-year-old son. Thank you. The stress level in our house has decreased along with the meltdowns. He is able to come out of the meltdowns much more readily.

Tammy, Mom of 9 year-old boy

Adult Clients

Testimonial I am a professional, high-functioning 37 year old woman diagnosed as being on the spectrum two years ago. The Social Thinking Methodology is by far the most helpful resource I have encountered. It would not be an exaggeration to say that it changed my life. Your concrete examples are extremely helpful.

Autistic Adult

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