858-914-7310,
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FRIENDSHOPS, LLC
Fun Workshops,
With Friends,
Learning Life Skills
Located in PACIFIC BEACH!
WE TAKE GROUP WALKS TO THE PEACE OF NATURE IN…
ABOUT
Melinda N. Schlegel, BA, Owner Friendshops, LLC, Social-Emotional/
Developmental Mentor
In my work with wonderful Autistic people, what has become more evident to me than anything is that Autistic people want to have connections and meaningful relationships with others and that, when afforded those opportunities, they thrive!
This is my unique opportunity to lend my BA from Boston College, my 20+ years of professional experience in the field of development, and my insights from over 15,000 hours of developmental therapy provided to Autistic people, to the creation of my program, Friendshops, where our goal is to have fun workshops, with friends, building life skills, at our office in Pacific Beach, while on outings to stores and restaurants in our safe, vibrant community and while immersing ourselves in the peace of nature at Crown Point Park, Kate Sessions Park, and Pacific Beach!!
Friendshops strives to help autistic young adults and adults discover a better quality of life through new opportunities, experiences, and friendships. We provide real life workshops with real life experiences with friends where our students are seen and valued for who they are, while gaining comfort and confidence in new experiences! Friendshops workshops are social learning groups whose biggest priority is to truly enjoy life experiences together and not to repetitively try to change into some false ideal of what is “normal”! Happiness, connection, and well being are the ideals that matter here at Friendshops!!
SERVICES…
Friendshops’ Workshop Sessions
in Private or in a Group
Individual Mentoring Sessions
I have over 20 years of professional expertise in development and over 10 years professional experience working with Autistic people. I can offer mentoring and sessions in our standard group sessions, but am also available to individually tailor social/emotional/developmental mentoring and life coaching for your loved one’s unique needs! Contact Melinda and we can discuss the many ways we can help foster learning and life skills for a better quality of life!
Friendshops Workshops
Friendshops…Fun Workshops, With Friends, Learning Life Skills!
Friendshops are social learning groups for autistic young adults and adults that are pairings and/or group sessions with mentoring support to establish meaningful peer and mentor connections and learn life skills, at our office in Pacific Beach and while immersed in the peace of nature at Kate Sessions Park, Crown Point Park, and PACIFIC BEACH. We go to restaurants and shops, go grocery shopping, plan, make and share recipes, participate in mindfulness/meditation, and recreational activities. Our Friendshops workshops are meant to build friendships, life skills and confidence that will enrich their quality of lives and insulate our students from the experiences of isolation and depression. Our workshops are geared for young adults and adults at this time, but we are always open to discussing all of your loved one’s needs. Our workshop activities are kept fun and enjoyable and are never rigid or inflexible! OUR GOAL IS TO HAVE FUN LIFE EXPERIENCES WITH FRIENDS!!
TESTIMONIALS
Jennifer R.
“We are forever grateful to Melinda and all that she taught our daughter! Melinda was a great friend and teacher to our daughter Rae. She was able to teach her so much in a really different lens. Therefore, my daughter was open, flexible, and was able to explore more of her surroundings, especially when it came down to trying new foods that Melinda so graciously and lovingly made with her. Our family is forever grateful for all the dedication and support that Melinda showed to our daughter. We have wonderful memories!”
Laura J.
“I am an autistic individual who recently went into the clinical support field. One of my first connections in this field was Melinda. The genuine admiration, love, and patience I have witnessed her share for her students over the course of our time working together is unendingly inspiring. Melinda creates an open and safe space to build genuine connection with any inviduals with whom she works. She introduces abundant opportunities to grow life skills and navigate emotions. Melinda meets each individual at their level and push them to try new things while never minimizing, punishing or trying to take away their neurodivergent traits. Her abundant empathy, deep desire and willingness to meet people with understanding, and her strong personality all work in tandem to allow her to be an incredibly unique and beneficial pillar of support within this field. I can say with certainty that choosing her as a resource will provide you and your child with safety, love, and genuine acceptance while still also encouraging growth and newness. Over and over again I have seen her connect with and encourage her students such that they felt safe pushing themselves in ways they never had before. At the end of the day, Melinda always relishes and shares in the sutdents' excitement for all little victories!”
Jennifer L.
“Melinda is an amazing example of patience, thoughtfulness, and calm direction. My daughter likes to keep busy. Combining outdoor, physical activities with everyday life practice helps to her to calm her mind and gain confidence. Melinda is passionate about her students capabilities and abilities to build new skills. She understands that everyone is unique and has individual strengths as well as weaknesses. I truly appreciate her openness and collaboration about concerns we would like to work on as well as shining a positive light on new accomplishments!
Thank you Melinda! You are a beautiful person!”
VIDEOS
Autism, feelings and friendships…
Why Friendshops wants to be your safe place to be yourself, build friendships, learn life skills and find peace!
