25 Mar 2025 05:00
The Social Thinking Methodology: Emotional Side of Communication with Michelle Garcia Winner
Join Michelle in this engaging episode of SLP Full Disclosure as she welcomes the Michelle Garcia Winner, a renowned speech language pathologist and the creator of the Social Thinking methodology. Together, they take a deep dive into the vital role of social competencies in effective communication and explore how Social Thinking goes beyond traditional social skills training to address emotional awareness and social observation.
Michelle Garcia Winner shares the story behind developing this groundbreaking approach and explains how it helps individuals, especially those on the autism spectrum, build meaningful social behaviors and emotional connections. The episode also examines the impact of social anxiety, the challenges introduced by COVID-19, and how speech language pathologists can apply Social Thinking strategies in practical, everyday scenarios.
With warmth and expertise, this conversation offers valuable insights and actionable advice for SLPs, educators, and anyone passionate about fostering connection through communication.
Chapters:
- 00:00 Introduction to Social Thinking and its significance
- 03:11 Michelle Garcia-Winner’s inspiring professional journey
- 06:07 Exploring the connection between social observation and anxiety
- 09:00 Unpacking the role of Social Thinking in communication
- 11:50 Understanding social anxiety and how it affects communication
- 15:11 The distinction between Social Thinking and social skills training
- 18:03 How emotions influence social communication
- 20:48 Building social competencies through the Social Thinking approach
- 24:04 COVID-19's effects on social skill development
- 26:57 Practical applications for SLPs working with diverse populations
- 30:11 Advice for professionals and next steps in Social Thinking
- 33:06 Closing thoughts and resources for further exploration
Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion packed with insights, advice, and inspiration to enhance how we approach communication. Whether you're a speech language pathologist, an educator, or a parent, this episode will equip you with tools and knowledge to better understand and support social-emotional learning.
Resources Mentioned in the Episode:Explore more about Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking methodology and access helpful resources at SocialThinking.com and connect on social:
About Michelle Garcia Winner
Michelle Garcia Winner, MA, CCC-SLP, is the founder and CEO of Think Social Publishing, Inc, (a.k.a. Social Thinking). She is a globally recognized thought leader, author, speaker, and social-cognitive therapist who is dedicated to fostering awareness and development of our social-emotional and organizational selves, whether neurodivergent and neurotypical. Across her 30+ year career she has created numerous evidence-based strategies, treatment frameworks, and curricula to help family members as well as teachers, counselors, therapists and other types of interventionists, foster the development of social and organizational competencies and problem solving in those they support.
Her methodology is most effective with children and adults who have a solid command of expressive and receptive language. Michelle and her team continually update the Social Thinking® Methodology based on the latest research and clinical insights.
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