ABSTRACT
Social skills groups are an accepted part of hospital life, the range covered is very wide and the skills included diverse. Dealing with behaviour seems to the tip of the iceberg and the ability to relate to others at the appropriate level is the basis of social skills. Neither is knowledge of behaviour alone sufficient; it is appropriate application that makes for social skills. A group that deals with relating and interacting is basic to social skills. As important as speech in social skills is movement. Movement can be greatly affected by emotional disturbance and psychiatric illness. As speech is inhibited by tension, so is movement. Long-stay clients have a stiffness and sometimes compulsive patterns of movement. It is a good plan to talk to the group about movement in terms of unused muscles getting slack, the need to exercise heart and lungs, relaxation and relaxed movements.
