PEERS® Bootcamp | Dating & Relationships
Dating Comes With a Lot of Rules Nobody Actually Explains
How do you know if someone might be interested? How do you show interest without putting pressure on them? What happens if the interest isn’t mutual? Where do boundaries, consent and communication fit? Dating and relationships involve a lot of expectations that people are often simply expected to understand.
Less “you’ll just know.” More information about what respectful dating can actually look like.
When the Advice Is Too Vague
“You’ll Just Know” Isn’t Much of an Explanation
A lot of dating advice relies on intuition. Read the room. Pick up the signals. Know when someone is interested. Know when to make a move. Know how often to message. Know when something feels wrong. But what if you would rather someone simply explain what those situations can involve?
The PEERS® Dating & Relationships Bootcamp makes some of these expectations more explicit. Across two interactive days, participants explore common dating situations through clear information, discussion, examples and supported practice, so they can understand these expectations, discuss them and consider which information is useful for their own relationship goals.
Explicit information creates choice. It should never remove it.
Program Suitability
Could This Bootcamp Be a Good Fit?
This Bootcamp May Suit a Young Adult Who:
Is personally interested in dating or romantic relationships
Would like explicit information about dating expectations
Wants to better understand consent and boundaries
Would like practical communication strategies
Finds some aspects of dating confusing or unclear
Wants information about healthy relationship behaviour
Would like opportunities to explore common dating situations in a structured small-group setting
Participation Involves Being Able To:
Fall within the advertised age range
Have an interest in learning about dating and relationships
Participate voluntarily
Be able to engage safely and respectfully in group discussion
Respect the privacy, identities and boundaries of other participants
There is no required relationship goal — some young adults want a romantic relationship, some are curious but unsure, and some are not interested in dating at all. The young adult’s own interest matters: this bootcamp supports a dating goal, it does not create one. No participant should be enrolled solely because another person believes they “should” be dating.
What We Explore
Making Dating Less Mysterious
Interest & Asking Someone Out
Identifying personal relationship goals
Meeting potential partners
Showing interest respectfully
Considering whether interest appears mutual
Asking someone on a date
Dates & Communication
Planning a date
Conversation during dates
Electronic communication
Communication between dates
Navigating disagreements
Boundaries, Consent & Rejection
Personal boundaries
Recognising another person's boundaries
Communicating boundaries
Consent
Responding when interest is not mutual
Handling rejection
Declining romantic interest respectfully
Healthy & Safe Relationships
Recognising healthy relationship behaviour
Recognising unhealthy or concerning behaviour
Autonomy
Mutual respect
Online dating
Digital safety where developmentally appropriate
A Respectful Space
Learning About Dating Shouldn’t Require Sharing Your Private Life
The workshop uses scenarios, examples and discussion where appropriate. Participants are expected to respect the privacy and boundaries of other group members.
There also isn’t one “correct” way to date or have a relationship. Dating advice should not require neurodivergent people to disguise who they are -- explicit information can make situations easier to understand without requiring participants to perform a particular personality, communication style or relationship identity. Different participants may have different communication styles, sexual orientations, gender identities, relationship preferences, levels of dating experience and relationship goals.
The workshop can be personal without requiring people to reveal private details about themselves. It provides information — the participant decides what fits their life.
Learning by Doing
Knowing the Principle and Using It Are Different Things
Understand
Make the expectation or principle explicit.
Watch
See examples and demonstrations.
Practise
Explore scenarios or try communication strategies.
Reflect
Consider what fits the participant's own boundaries, preferences and goals.
Bootcamp or Full Program?
Looking for a Focused Workshop or Broader PEERS® Support?
This Bootcamp
2 intensive days, focused dating and relationship content, a shorter workshop format.
Full PEERS® Programs
Structured learning over multiple weeks, a broader curriculum, repeated practice, program-specific social-coach components where applicable.
This bootcamp does not replace the complete PEERS® program. Age ranges and availability vary between intakes, so contact our team to ask about current or planned availability and whether the workshop may be relevant to your goals. Explore PEERS® Programs
Want to Learn More About the PEERS® Dating & Relationships Bootcamp?
Tell us a little about what you are looking for and what you would like to understand about the workshop. Our team can answer questions about suitability, age ranges and current or planned availability.