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Social Emotional Learning in Cleveland
At Therapy and Wellness Connection (TWC), our mission has always been to nurture growth, build resilience, and empower individuals to reach their fullest potential. We are excited to announce the newest addition to our services: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) in a full day program format. Our Cleveland SEL program is designed to support students through district placements and alternative education settings, right at our second location in Brecksville.
What is Social Emotional Learning?
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is the process of acquiring and applying the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve goals, show empathy for others, maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL is more than a one-time lesson; it’s a framework for lifelong well-being.
By focusing on five key areas of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making, our Northeast Ohio Social Emotional Learning program helps students recognize their feelings, express themselves in healthy ways, and build stronger connections with peers and family members. These foundational skills support academic success, emotional resilience, and positive mental health throughout adolescence and adulthood.
Why Social Emotional Learning is Important
Today’s children and teens face a world that can feel overwhelming. Social pressures, technology, and the lingering effects of the pandemic have all contributed to rising levels of anxiety, depression, and behavioral challenges. The APA identified that teens specifically are in need of more social and emotional support than they regularly receive. Research shows that SEL is one of the most effective ways to address these issues. Students participating in SEL programs in Cleveland demonstrate improved emotional regulation, stronger relationships, better problem-solving abilities, and even higher academic achievement.
At TWC, we see firsthand how emotional well-being is tied to every other area of growth. Whether a child is working on speech and language goals, motor development, or behavioral challenges, their ability to understand and manage emotions directly impacts progress. By integrating social emotional support for alternative education students, we address the whole child – mind, body, and heart.
How TWC’s Social Emotional Learning Works
Our Cleveland SEL services are designed to meet students where they are. Through engaging small group instruction, individualized activities, and collaborative parent involvement, we create a safe, supportive space for students to practice emotional skills in real time. Sessions may include role-playing, mindfulness exercises, storytelling, and cooperative games that teach empathy, self-regulation, and effective communication.
What to expect from enrollment in our SEL program:
- An educational curriculum that meets Ohio’s state standards
- Implementation of your child’s IEP
- Small group instruction with a 3:1 student-to-staff ratio
- A dedicated BCBA to address your child’s unique behavioral needs
- Use of evidence-based interventions and assessments, such as ACT, PEAK and AIM
- Push-in therapy services (OT, PT, and speech)
- Enrichment of your child’s social emotional well-being
- A supportive, collaborative team that’s with you every step of the way
Because TWC already provides a wide range of therapeutic and developmental services, adding SEL creates a natural synergy. Speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, BCBAs, and educators work together to weave SEL principles into daily interactions, making every session an opportunity for emotional growth.
Partnering with Families and Schools Across Greater Cleveland
Social emotional skills flourish when children experience consistent support across home, school, and therapy settings. That’s why our SEL programs include parent education and collaboration with teachers and caregivers. We provide practical strategies families can use to reinforce skills at home, ensuring that progress continues beyond the classroom and into everyday life.
Join Us in Supporting the Whole Child
The offering of our Social Emotional Learning program to Cleveland and surrounding areas reflects our commitment to helping students thrive through an alternative district placement. Our goal is to be the bridge to your child’s success by enriching these essential skills to permit a seamless transition back to the public school. By equipping students with emotional intelligence and resilience, we lay the foundation for stronger relationships, greater self-confidence, and brighter futures.
If you’d like to learn more about our Cleveland Social Emotional Learning program or wish to schedule a consultation, contact TWC today. Together, we can help your child grow not only in skills, but in heart and mind.
Therapy & Wellness Connection – your connection to a life without limitations – provides Social Emotional Learning to children from Akron, Cleveland, Brecksville-Broadview Heights and surrounding communities. We also offer summer camp, day programs, education services, vocational counseling and more. Call us at (330) 748-4807 or send us an email.
Additional Resources:
What is Social Emotional Learning – Child Mind Institute
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