Group Therapy Programs in Dubai
Small-Group Programs for Communication, Play, Connection & School Readiness
Some skills can only grow with other children in the room. Taking turns in real play, joining a group at nursery, making a first friend — these happen with peers, not across a therapy table.
At Starwalkers — a pediatric therapy clinic in Dubai Healthcare City — our small-group programs are led by our therapists and built on connection, shared interests, and authentic communication. Groups are deliberately small and carefully matched, so every child is set up to succeed.
We do not run groups to train children to act less like themselves. We run groups so children can experience what it feels like to be understood, included, and genuinely enjoyed by others.
Who Can Benefit?
Group programs may benefit children who:
Our Group Programs
Groups run in blocks throughout the year. Placement always follows an individual assessment, so every group is carefully matched by stage, style, and interests — not just age.
Early Play & Communication Group
For toddlers and young children building first social play — joint attention, imitation, early turn-taking, and shared enjoyment, with parents alongside.
School-Readiness Group
A playful bridge to the classroom: group routines, transitions, asking for help, waiting, and regulating in a busier environment — before school day one.
Social Connection Group
For school-aged children who want friendships that feel easier. Built around shared interests, cooperative play, flexible problem-solving, and self-advocacy — never masking.
Peer Group for Gestalt Language Processors
A group where scripts are understood as language. Children who process language in gestalts connect with peers who communicate the same way, supported by NLA-trained therapists.
Parent Circle
For the parents. Guided sessions on neurodiversity-affirming parenting, regulation, communication strategies, and honest conversation with families walking the same road.
Groups Without Masking
Many “social skills” programs teach children to perform neurotypical behaviour — hold eye contact, use the right script, sit still. Children can learn the performance, but research consistently links it to masking, anxiety, and exhaustion.
Our groups work from a different premise: connection grows from being understood, not from performing. We build genuine shared enjoyment, honour every communication style — spoken, scripted, signed, or AAC — and teach self-advocacy alongside social understanding, in both directions.
The goal is friendship that feels good — not behaviour that looks good.
How Placement Works
1. Individual assessment
- We meet your child and learn their communication style, interests, and regulation profile
- If your child is already with us, their therapist recommends the right group and timing
2. Careful matching
- Children are grouped by developmental stage, communication style, and interests
- Groups are kept small so every child is seen, heard, and supported
3. Block of sessions + review
- Groups run in structured blocks with clear goals for each child
- You receive feedback throughout and an honest review at the end of every block
Evidence-Informed, Neurodiversity-Affirming Approaches We Use
Every group is designed around its members — their stages, interests, and goals. Our therapists may draw from:
Every approach is adapted to the child — not the other way around.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are group therapy programs?
Small, therapist-led groups where children build communication, play, regulation, and school-readiness skills with matched peers. Groups run in blocks and complement — rather than replace — individual therapy.
Is this social skills training?
Not in the traditional sense. Classic social skills training often teaches children to imitate neurotypical behaviour — forced eye contact, scripted greetings — which research links to masking and exhaustion. Our groups are neurodiversity-affirming: we build authentic connection, shared enjoyment, and self-advocacy, not performance.
How big are the groups?
Deliberately small — typically three to six children depending on the program and ages — so every child gets genuine therapist attention and no one gets lost in the crowd.
How do you decide which group my child joins?
Placement always follows an individual assessment. We match children by developmental stage, communication style, regulation needs, and interests — not just age — because a well-matched group is what makes group therapy work.
Can groups replace individual therapy?
They serve different purposes. Individual therapy builds skills; groups are where those skills meet real peers. Many children do both, and some transition to groups as individual goals are met. We will recommend honestly what your child needs.
My child is non-speaking and uses AAC. Can they join a group?
Yes. AAC users are welcome in our groups, and peers learning alongside AAC is good for every child in the room. We make sure your child’s communication system is modelled and honoured throughout.
My child is autistic and prefers playing alone. Would a group help?
Possibly — if it is the right group. Many autistic children want connection but find typical social settings overwhelming. A small, well-matched, affirming group with shared interests is a very different experience from a playground. An assessment will tell us if the timing is right.
What does a school-readiness group work on?
The real foundations of classroom life: following group routines, transitioning between activities, asking for help, managing waiting and turn-taking, and regulating in a busier environment — practised playfully, at each child’s pace.
Are parents involved in group programs?
Yes. You receive feedback after sessions and strategies to carry group goals into playdates, nursery, and family life. For younger groups, parent participation may be part of the model.
When do groups run?
Groups run in blocks throughout the year, and the current line-up depends on enrolment and matching. Call or WhatsApp us at +971 56 448 1678 for the current schedule.
Where is your clinic located?
We are in Dubai Healthcare City: 214-C, 2nd floor, Block B, Al Razi Medical Complex (Building 64).
How much do group programs cost in Dubai?
Fees depend on the program and block length. Call or WhatsApp us at +971 56 448 1678 and we will walk you through current groups and pricing.
Ready to Begin?
Connection is a skill children build by experiencing it — in a group where they are welcome exactly as they are.
Ask us about current groups, or book an assessment so we can match your child to the right one.
Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM