Anyone Ever Used North Shore Pediatric Therapy?

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I don't have any experience with that group, but following our adoption our social worker recommended Theraplay. There is a lot of good information on their website at www.theraplay.org. They are based in Wilmette so there are several therapists in the Chicago area.

I don't live near you and of course haven't utilized that practice. That being said, one of my sons *did* attend a social skills class for a bit, lead by a licensed person. It was useful in some respects - i.e., to SPELL OUT what is socially acceptable, and how to cope with certain situations, but I found that my son was too advanced for it otherwise. Some of the children had fairly severe issues, and my son is on the milder end of it (we were lucky).

I found myself wishing there was some sort of "tweener" group for kids that are on the far end of the "normal" continuum socially, but who struggle a bit in groups that are more socially savvy (you know the kids who seem like diplomats in kindergarten?).

I also think little boys that age are sensitive to chemicals, dyes, and sugars and already struggle with impulse control. Put them with other little boys and there are bound to be aggression issues.

I DO have experience at NSPT! My child went there first for speech and then as he was successful with his speech goal, I transitioned him into a counselor there due to difficulty with a boy at school and getting along with his sibling. We did consider a group but felt that for him that individual and sibling therapy was better. We did have some success with the counseling and as I mentioned, we "graduated" from speech.
We went to the downtown office and loved Marnie for counseling! I know that each employee is carefully selected. As I sat in the waiting room, I noticed the positive energy that each person who worked there had.
I would recommend!
And I think groups can be very beneficial to younger children.