You can also combine the counseling and physical activity. At this age, play therapy often makes more sense anyway, so perhaps part of the session (or some of the sessions in their entirety) could be a physical activity, like shooting hoops on the playground (games like HORSE can be used for turn-taking), or kicking a ball around. It's also easier to talk when you have something to do, and don't have to maintain total eye contact. If these physical activities involve inviting a peer model/prospective friend, it allows the counselor to work with him on friendship skills in a live setting, which is a whole lot more meaningful and transferable than just talking about how to make friends. I'd start with a dyad, and then maybe work up to very small facilitated friendship groups. Most kids love attending these groups as models.
