FREE Online PEERS® Social Skills Programs for Teens & Young Adults
Building Friendships. Strengthening Social Confidence. Creating Meaningful Connections.
Two Age-Specific Programs | 16 Weeks | Live Online Sessions | 100% FREE
Making friends and maintaining meaningful relationships can be challenging at any age. For some teens and young adults, starting conversations, joining social groups, understanding social expectations, or navigating friendships can feel overwhelming.
At ASAP ABA, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to develop genuine friendships, feel socially connected, and build confidence in their relationships.
That’s why we’re offering two FREE Online PEERS® Social Skills Programs, specifically designed for adolescents and young adults who want to strengthen their friendship and social communication skills.
Both programs use the evidence-based PEERS® curriculum developed at UCLA and are facilitated by a PEERS-certified Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), with support from supervised social coaches.
No tuition. No insurance required. Just an opportunity to learn, connect, and grow.
California Residents Only
ASAP ABA’s free, live virtual PEERS programs are available to California residents. Participants must be physically located in California during all online sessions.
APPLY NOW — FREE PEERS PROGRAM
Limited enrollment. All applicants complete a screening process to determine program suitability.
What Is the PEERS® Social Skills Program?
PEERS® (Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills) is an evidence-based social skills intervention developed at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), by Dr. Elizabeth Laugeson.
PEERS provides structured instruction in practical skills for making and keeping friends, navigating conversations, managing peer conflict, and developing meaningful social relationships.
Unlike traditional social groups that primarily provide opportunities to interact, PEERS explicitly teaches social strategies through:
- Structured, easy-to-follow lessons
- Demonstrations and role-playing
- Guided social skills practice
- Interactive group activities
- Real-world socialization assignments
- Caregiver or social-coach support to encourage skill generalization
Participants learn not only what to do in social situations, but also how and when to apply these skills in everyday life.
Our goal is not to change who participants are. It is to help them develop the tools and opportunities to build the relationships they want.
Choose the PEERS Program That’s Right for You
ASAP ABA offers two separate, age-specific programs. Each group follows its own curriculum and addresses the social experiences and developmental needs of its participants.
PEERS® for Adolescents — Ages 11–17
Helping Teens Make Friends, Build Confidence, and Navigate Social Life
The adolescent years bring new social expectations, changing friendships, and increasingly complex peer interactions.
For teens who find these situations difficult, social experiences can sometimes lead to frustration, isolation, or missed opportunities for connection.
Our FREE Online PEERS for Adolescents program provides structured instruction and guided practice in the friendship skills that matter most during middle school and high school.
What Teens Will Learn
- How to start and maintain conversations
- How to find common interests with peers
- How to appropriately enter and exit group conversations
- How to make and keep friends
- How to use electronic communication and social media appropriately
- How to organize and participate in social get-togethers
- How to demonstrate good sportsmanship
- How to respond to teasing, bullying, and rejection
- How to handle disagreements and peer conflict
- How to develop and maintain positive, reciprocal friendships
Caregiver Participation Is Required
A key component of PEERS for Adolescents is the involvement of parents or caregivers.
While teens attend their social skills group, parents or caregivers participate in a separate, simultaneous online group.
Caregivers learn strategies for supporting friendship development, coaching social skills, and helping teens complete real-world socialization assignments.
This collaborative approach helps participants apply what they learn beyond the weekly sessions.
Adolescent Program Details
- Ages: 11–17
- Duration: 16 weeks
- Frequency: Once weekly
- Session Length: 90 minutes
- Format: Live online group
- Caregiver Group: Required
- Cost: FREE
- Enrollment: Application and screening required
APPLY FOR THE FREE ADOLESCENT PEERS PROGRAM
PEERS® for Young Adults — Ages 18+
Building Friendships, Social Independence, and Meaningful Adult Relationships
Transitioning into adulthood brings new opportunities and challenges.
Friendships may become harder to maintain after high school. College, employment, community activities, and adult relationships often require navigating unfamiliar social situations with greater independence.
Our FREE Online PEERS for Young Adults program helps adults develop practical strategies for building friendships, expanding their social networks, and navigating everyday social experiences.
The program emphasizes meaningful relationships, personal choice, and the development of skills participants can use in their own communities.
What Young Adults Will Learn
- How to start and maintain meaningful conversations
- How to identify common interests and potential friends
- How to find appropriate sources of friends
- How to enter and exit group conversations
- How to use texting, phone calls, and online communication
- How to organize and participate in social gatherings
- How to develop and maintain reciprocal friendships
- How to handle disagreements and misunderstandings
- How to respond to teasing, rejection, and social conflict
- How to navigate dating etiquette and romantic interests, when relevant and desired
Social-Coach Participation
The PEERS for Young Adults curriculum incorporates the support of a social coach.
A social coach may be a parent, family member, caregiver, or another appropriate supportive adult who is willing to help the participant practice and apply skills outside of group sessions.
Social coaches attend a separate, concurrent online group where they learn strategies for supporting social opportunities, friendship development, and skill generalization.
The goal is to support young adults in developing greater social independence while respecting their preferences, autonomy, and personal goals.
Young Adult Program Details
- Ages: 18 and older
- Duration: 16 weeks
- Frequency: Once weekly
- Session Length: 90 minutes
- Format: Live online group
- Social-Coach Group: Required
- Cost: FREE
- Enrollment: Application and screening required
APPLY FOR THE FREE YOUNG ADULT PEERS PROGRAM
How Our FREE Online PEERS Programs Work
Both programs follow a structured, research-supported approach to social skills development.
1. Complete the Interest Form
Interested participants or their caregivers complete our online application to express interest in the appropriate age-specific program.
2. Participate in an Initial Screening
Our team reviews each application and conducts a screening to determine whether the program is an appropriate fit for the participant’s social goals, learning needs, and availability.
3. Join a Small Online Group
Accepted participants attend live, interactive online sessions with peers in their age group.
The adolescent and young-adult programs are conducted separately.
4. Learn and Practice Social Skills
Each session includes structured instruction, demonstrations, role-playing, and opportunities to practice specific friendship and social communication strategies.
5. Complete Real-World Socialization Assignments
Participants practice skills between sessions through activities designed to support friendship development in everyday environments.
6. Receive Ongoing Support
Caregivers and social coaches receive guidance through their concurrent groups to help participants apply new skills across settings.
Who Can Participate?
Our programs may be appropriate for individuals who:
- Want to make new friends or strengthen existing friendships
- CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS ONLY
- Experience challenges with conversations or social interactions
- Have difficulty joining social groups or maintaining peer relationships
- Want to become more comfortable navigating social situations
- Are motivated to learn and practice friendship skills
- Can participate in a structured online group with appropriate support
- Have an available caregiver or social coach who can participate in the corresponding group
- Can commit to the 16-week program
Our PEERS programs may benefit individuals with autism, ADHD, social communication differences, or other friendship-related challenges.
A formal autism diagnosis is not required to apply.
Enrollment is based on an individualized screening process to determine whether the program is appropriate for the applicant.
Why Families and Young Adults Choose ASAP ABA
Evidence-Based Curriculum
Our programs use the established PEERS curriculum developed at UCLA, which has been studied as an intervention for improving friendship and social skills.
PEERS-Certified Clinical Leadership
Sessions are facilitated by a PEERS-certified BCBA with professional experience in behavior analysis, skill acquisition, and supporting meaningful behavior change.
Small, Supportive Groups
Groups are intentionally limited in size to provide opportunities for participation, guided practice, and individualized feedback.
Live Online Convenience
Participants attend sessions from home, eliminating travel time and making the program more accessible to families with busy schedules.
Caregiver and Social-Coach Involvement
Both programs incorporate structured support outside the participant group to help newly acquired skills transfer into everyday situations.
Real-World Friendship Skills
Our focus extends beyond learning social rules. Participants practice strategies that can help them build authentic, mutually enjoyable relationships.
Completely Free Participation
ASAP ABA is offering both programs at no cost to participating families and young adults.
No insurance authorization or program tuition is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are both PEERS programs really free?
Yes! ASAP ABA is offering both the adolescent and young-adult PEERS programs at no cost to participants. There are no program tuition or enrollment fees.
Is insurance required?
No. These no-cost community programs do not require insurance coverage or authorization to apply.
Does my teen or young adult need an autism diagnosis?
No. A formal autism diagnosis is not required. The programs may be appropriate for individuals with autism, ADHD, social communication differences, or other friendship-related challenges.
Participation is determined through an initial screening process.
Are the adolescent and young-adult groups combined?
No. The two programs are conducted separately.
Adolescents participate in the PEERS for Adolescents curriculum, while adults participate in the PEERS for Young Adults curriculum.
This ensures that lessons, discussions, and activities are relevant to each age group.
Are the sessions completely online?
Yes. Both programs are delivered through live, interactive online sessions.
Participants will receive instructions for accessing the virtual sessions before the program begins.
Do parents or caregivers need to attend?
For the adolescent program, parent or caregiver participation is required.
For the young-adult program, participants must identify an appropriate social coach who can attend the concurrent social-coach group and support practice between sessions.
Can a young adult participate without a parent?
Yes. A young adult’s social coach does not necessarily have to be a parent. Depending on the individual’s circumstances, another appropriate supportive adult may fulfill this role.
What if my teen or young adult is shy?
Many participants may initially feel nervous about joining a social group.
The program provides structured instruction, demonstrations, and guided practice. Our screening process helps determine whether the group is appropriate for the participant’s needs and goals.
How long does the program last?
Each program consists of 16 weekly sessions, with each session lasting approximately 90 minutes.
Consistent attendance is important because lessons build on previously taught skills.
Will participants have homework?
Yes. PEERS includes structured socialization assignments that encourage participants to practice skills in real-life situations between sessions.
Caregivers or social coaches help support these activities.
Can someone participate in PEERS while receiving ABA therapy?
Potentially, yes. Eligibility for the no-cost PEERS program is assessed separately from individualized ABA treatment. Any applicable payer requirements, conflicts of interest, and clinical considerations must be addressed before enrollment.
Is PEERS the same as individualized ABA therapy?
No. These no-cost PEERS programs are structured, group-based social skills programs and do not replace individualized ABA therapy, mental health treatment, or other clinically indicated services.
How do I apply?
Complete the online enrollment form and indicate the appropriate program. Our team will contact applicants with information about screening, scheduling, and next steps.
Meaningful Friendships Begin With Opportunities to Connect
Friendships are an important part of life at every age.
Whether you’re a parent hoping to help your teen navigate friendships or a young adult looking to expand your social circle, our free online PEERS programs provide structured opportunities to learn, practice, and grow.
At ASAP ABA, we’re committed to making evidence-based social skills education more accessible to the communities we serve.
Two age-specific programs. One shared goal: helping people build meaningful connections.
Ready to Get Started?
Enrollment is limited. Application submission does not guarantee acceptance. Program schedules and start dates are provided during the enrollment process.
Questions? We’re Here to Help.
ASAP ABA
Phone: 951-409-3426
Email: info@asapaba.com
Website: https://asapaba.com/
PEERS® is an evidence-based social skills curriculum developed at UCLA. ASAP ABA is an independent provider offering PEERS instruction and is not a UCLA-operated clinic.