RED DOOR offers social skills training for neuro-diverse teenagers and young adults.
Social Saturdays is a specifically designed class to develop age related social skills and mental health practices for neurodivergent teens and young adults.
Logistics: The classes run on Saturdays from 10-11:30 am with the office of RED DOOR in Central.
The classes are organised and run by qualified counsellor, psychologist and special needs educator Angela Watkins (MA Education and M.Counselling). Angela has over 30 years working with individuals with complex social skills needs such as those with learning differences including autism.
The Social Saturday’s secret weapon – typical teen supermodels.
The class also includes neurotypical teens acting in the roles of social skill modeling co-teachers.
Because of the mix of students, participant and experience how many different teens encounter teen challenges. The ratio of students to teachers is 2:1 at most, and often 1:1.
Class topics and focus.
Angela is a counsellor and psychologist with over 30 years of experience working with individuals with differing neurological profiles. The Social Saturdays class brings these years of experience together with a range of research based approaches to social skills (eg RDA, PEERS) with a modern twist. We talk about current events and popular themes so that the class is always relevant to the current world environment.
The classes are designed to build essential social skills each week such as such as conversational skills, emotional literacy, memory skills, demonstrating interest in others, recognizing strengths and weaknesses, taking turns, patience and tolerance of others, dealing with anxiety, and social etiquette.
Each session also covers one special topic as you can see in our list of upcoming class topics below. We use a range of techniques including reflection exercises, CBT exercises, art therapy, role play and game playing to ensure classes are fun and have variety. Topics include independence, romance, introducing oneself, setting goals and changing habits, anxiety management, financial literarcy, appreciating parents, test anxiety, and many more.
Each month one session will have a games day when we devise special games, always with a social skills tilt, to bring extra fun into learning social skills
Upcoming classes special topics:
Regular Social Saturday Session – 30 May 2026 : Appreciating Parents
The teenage years often involve young people pushing back against their parents as they seek independence. In this session, we will explore the common disagreements students have with their parents and work on redefining these situations to foster more appreciation for parental efforts. We will also discuss negotiation techniques that can be more acceptable and effective when addressing sensitive topics with parents.
Regular Social Saturday Session – 6 June 2026: Celebrating Ancestors
Exploring our ancestors helps enhance our social skills by allowing us to reflect on the traits we aspire to adopt or avoid from our relatives. By recalling family members who have come before us, we can better understand our identity, recognize past and present expectations, and envision the person we want to become
Regular Social Saturday Session – 13 June 2026: Trooping the Colour
This session coincides with the UK’s King’s Birthday celebration, featuring the Trooping of the Colour parade. We will examine traditions from various cultures to discover what is culturally interesting about different societies. Additionally, we will discuss the meaning of leadership in our lives, families, and communities.
Regular Social Saturday Session – 20 June 2026: Challenges Workshop
We will conclude our ongoing challenge, where students collected photos from key Hong Kong sights, while also celebrating this year’s winner. Participants will engage in fun activities, including tongue twisters, balance challenges, physical tasks, and riddles, promoting teamwork and resilience.
Regular Social Saturday Session – 27 June 2026: Summer Disco
Annually, we host a disco for our students, transforming the space with decorative lights to celebrate dance and camaraderie. This enjoyable event allows students to express themselves and dance to popular tunes, fostering social interaction and self-confidence.
Summer Social Saturday Session – 18 July 2026: Independence Skills
By reviewing checklists of independence skills, students will assess their progress and identify areas for growth with support. We will explore skills that enable teens to become valued contributors to their families while navigating the desire for autonomy and the freedom to make choices.
Summer Social Saturday Session – 25 July 2026: Friend-Making Skills 101
Making friends can be challenging for everyone. This session will focus on exploring and practicing essential skills for forming and maintaining positive friendships over time.
Summer Social Saturday Session – 1 August 2026: Anxiety Busters
Listening to others’ experiences of anxiety can be highly valuable. Students will share techniques they use in the moment to ease anxiety, including relaxation strategies, distraction methods, and mindful mantras to help manage anxiety when it arises.
Summer Social Saturday – 8 August 2026: Elevating Your Elevator Introduction
A strong self-introduction, whether online or in person, sets the stage for positive interactions. Students will learn and practice the key components, language, and optimal length for an effective self-introduction.
To find out how to attend this class contact Angela Watkins on 93785428 or email angelaw@reddoor.hk.
To find out more about social skills and why they are important see our blog on this issue.
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