Our Mission: Social Skills Support in Newport Beach, CA
At Friendship Builders, our mission is to help children and teens in Newport Beach, CA, build the communication skills and confidence they need to form meaningful friendships. We provide a safe, welcoming environment where young people can practice social skills, manage social anxiety, and feel more comfortable connecting with peers.
Our pediatric speech-language pathologists use evidence-based pragmatic language therapy to help children and teens navigate everyday social situations. In small, supportive groups, participants learn practical strategies for joining conversations, recognizing social cues, responding to rejection, and handling other common social challenges.
We also offer parents guidance and strategies to support their child’s social communication development beyond the group. Our goal is to help every child or teen grow in confidence and build lasting friendships at school, at home, and in the community.
Self-Awareness Before Self-Regulation
About the Owner
Molly B. Stuckey is a Licensed and Board-Certified Speech and Language Pathologist
Molly Stuckey, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a board-certified, licensed speech-language pathologist in Newport Beach, California, with more than 25 years of clinical experience. As the founder of Coastal Speech Therapy Inc. and Friendship Builders LLC, Molly specializes in pediatric speech therapy, social communication disorders, and peer interaction skills.
In response to the growing challenges of childhood social anxiety, social-emotional regression, and developmental delays, Molly established Friendship Builders in 2021. Through evidence-based social communication therapy and small-group programs, she provides children and teens with the tools they need to overcome social challenges, build self-confidence, and form lasting peer connections in a safe, nurturing setting.
Molly brings specialized training and experience in pediatric speech and language therapy, social communication, and child development. Her professional training includes UCLA PEERS® for adolescents, DIR/Floortime (Greenspan), fluency disorders, orofacial myofunctional therapy, and Orton-Gillingham and Lindamood-Bell approaches for dyslexia and apraxia-related needs.
Molly has been a featured guest on The Stowell Center podcast and has published research on stuttering in an American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) publication. In 2025, she was recognized as an honoree in Marquis Who’s Who.
Molly Stuckey, M.A., CCC-SLP, created Flexi Lexi to help children develop cognitive flexibility, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills. Through engaging visuals and practical strategies, children learn to adapt to change, navigate social challenges, and explore new ways of thinking. These essential skills are at the heart of Molly’s approach at Friendship Builders, a private speech and language therapy practice in Newport Beach, California, offering social skills groups for school-aged children and teens.
By incorporating cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and social communication strategies into meaningful, child-centered activities, Friendship Builders helps children build confidence, strengthen friendships, and develop the skills needed to navigate everyday social situations.
