Social Cognition Skill Building through Mentor-Supported Talent Development

FALL 2023– SPRING 2024

Talent Development Connection’s (TDC) Collaborative Creativity Lab (CCL) returns this fall with opportunities for social cognition skill building through mentor-supported talent development. 

CCL SESSIONS ARE HELD ON SATURDAYS, 11 - 12:30 PM

• Long Island groups begin in Sea Cliff on Saturday, September 30th.
• New York City groups begin in Manhattan on Saturday, October 14th. Sessions in both locations will begin at 11 am and end at 12:30 pm. 

CCL WELCOMES KATE YOURKE

This year, NYC’s Make: STEAM founder Kate Yourke brings innovative and exciting projects to CCL. Kate has been designing hands-on learning experiences in diverse educational settings for over 30 years. Project-based experiences are informed by collaboration with educators, mental health professionals, and occupational, physical, and speech/language therapists to incorporate student interest and identity, support learning, develop personal insight, empower through skill-building, and inspire meaningful engagement.

TEAM

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

CCL leverages student strength and interests to develop self-regulation, including the ability to “sit with,” and appropriately verbalize uncomfortable emotions in the complexity of a group setting.

Engaging STEAM activities inspire talents and creativity while encouraging self-awareness, self-acceptance, and perspective-taking through collaborative problem-solving and supported teamwork. Social challenges will be addressed by our team of licensed social workers and interns.

Mixed age elementary and middle school groups provide participants with opportunities to support their older and younger peers, developing their identity as Mentors deepening group work and reinforcing their relationship building.

SUPPORT

Sessions will be collaboratively supervised, informed, and supported by Kate and licensed social workers including Melissa Sornik, LCSW, Jacob Greebel, LCSW and Ellen Fields, LMSW. TDC and CCL are designed to support neurodiversity with teen and adult mentors to scaffold executive functioning and allow therapeutic individual and group interventions as needed with minimal group disruption.

The strengths, challenges and goals of each participant’s group experience will be identified and tracked. Check-in appointments with parents of program participants are offered on an “as needed” or "request" basis.

REGISTRATION, SCHEDULES AND FEES

Registration will be monthly with monthly fee due at the start of each month. Click the button below for session dates and fees, and to complete a registration form.

INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION

Visit the website (button above) for all information including program locations. TDC and CCL are programs of the clinical practice of Melissa Sornik, LCSW PLLC.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

See you soon!

Melissa