First, we encourage you to link to any article or page on this website! Like all websites, our content is copyright protected, so this is the best way to share the information. We hope that linking to content on www.socialthinking.com will be helpful to you, your friends, families and colleagues.

We’ve had many people ask us to explain the parameters of using the term “Social Thinking” as well as the related lessons. Others have notified us that they thought people were misusing the term Social Thinking of the work itself.  It’s good to know we have a loyal community!

The evolution of the work related to Social Thinking continues, but as the term and the related treatments have become more popular we realized we needed to better define how to share it with the community.

As a result, we have created some guidelines that protect the Social Thinking name, ensure that our work is being used consistently with its purpose, and make sure that the origins of our work can be traced back to us.  The following information is provided to define what we encourage and discourage in order to meet those goals.

Use of the Name “Social Thinking”:

Our first step to protect the Social Thinking name was to register it as a trademark, which we indicate by placing the symbol “®”after the Social Thinking® name.  Whenever using the “Social Thinking” name, you must include the registered trademark ® symbol following your first reference to our name. (If your computer cannot generate the precise symbol, using “(R)” will suffice).  Later references to the Social Thinking name in the same document do not require the registered trademark symbol.

The term “Social Thinking” may not be used as all or part of a name of business, organization, professional group, website domain, email address or any other entity without the express written consent of Think Social Publishing Inc. (“TSP”).

The “Social Thinking” name may not be used by an individual in the context of purporting to have a specific certification, specialization or as descriptor of a professional credential.  For example, using the terms “Social Thinking trained,” “Social Thinking certified” or “a Social Thinking therapist” is not permitted, unless the person has a contract with us as a trainer.  However, it is permissible for individuals to use generic terms such as “social cognitive specialist” to describe their area of expertise or specialization.

The “Social Thinking” name may not be used in conjunction with or to promote paid workshops that are not hosted or sponsored by TSP, unless there is a written agreement where a TSP staff member is participant in the workshop...  For example, using the terms “Join the Social Thinking Los Angeles 2 Day Workshop” or “Social Thinking Comes to Chicago” is not permitted unless under the circumstances described above.

Use of the name “Superflex” and the Team of Unthinkables:

We have registered the term “Superflex®” as a trademark and it is subject to the same guidelines as described above for the term Social Thinking.  Additionally, the Superflex and the Team of Unthinkables images are copyrighted and they must be accompanied by a © symbol. These images are also subject to the same guidelines as the trademark terms.  You can create the copyright or trademark symbol on your computer by inputting “ctrl”+ “alt” + “c” or “r” or for trademark.  (If your computer cannot generate the precise symbol, using (c) will suffice.)     That being said, we support the use of these terms and images, but in a manner that correctly identifies that they are subject to certain requirements that are described below. (For those who have the more recent edition of superflex you will find the © symbol has already been posted with the images.)

Use of Social Thinking Materials and Attribution:

As mentioned above, in addition to our trademarks, many of the Social Thinking materials and teaching tools are covered by copyright protection as well.  While we encourage parents, teachers, and therapists to use the Social Thinking® methodology and training materials in their homes, classrooms, and private practices, as a general matter, the use of Social Thinking® methodology and training materials in a commercial or for-profit setting is not permitted without prior written approval from TSP.  For example, it is permissible to use Social Thinking materials or refer to its concepts in other written materials in the context of a free in-service workshop.  However, it is not permitted to use Social Thinking methodology in public or paid workshops where the majority of the content is about Social Thinking and/or its materials without the written consent of TSP.  For any questions and more information about permitted versus non-permitted uses, please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

When Social Thinking concepts and strategies are shared consistent with the policies outlined above, we require that you attribute them to Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking.  For sharing written materials (modified handouts for clinical use, in-services, etc.), this requires that the first mention of Social Thinking must include the registered trademark symbol ® and that the materials reference the website address (www.socialthinking.com).

While we are trying to establish some guidelines for you to share our work, we also encourage you to expand upon our work, in a sense, to use the lessons of Social Thinking as a base for developing your own creative treatment ideas.  If you do so, please cite that your work was based on or inspired by the work of Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking and then list our website on any materials shared or published.  If you have created a very cool idea, also consider sharing it at our national Social Thinking Providers Conference held near the end of June in California each year,

Also, while you are not permitted to use the term “Social Thinking” as part of your business name or website, we encourage you to describe and advertise the fact that you are running clinical treatment sessions or in-classroom trainings (as described above) based on the Social Thinking methodology and materials.  As you share what you are teaching with parents and other educators/counselors please reference our lessons/ materials and provide our website for them to get more information: www.socialthinking.com.

Again, thank you for your interest in Social Thinking.  We hope this letter will provide guidance in the use of the Social Thinking name and use of our materials as you share our concepts with a broader audience.  Thank you for your thoughtful efforts in seeking to do both – we appreciate it.

Best regards,

Michelle Garcia Winner and the staff at TSP