What is SSLD?


SSLD stands for Strategies and Skills Learning and Development. It is a learning system for people to develop strategies and skills for managing personal and interpersonal issues in their lives. SSLD is:

  1. goal-directed: The program is firmly focused on assisting people to achieve their goals in life
  2. action-oriented: In SSLD, we assist people to develop strategies and skills that will change their environment, their action and behavior in a way that is tailored towards achieving their goals and aspirations.
  3. focused on experiential learning: Participants in SSLD programs learn through hands-on learning activities. Instead of assuming that conceptual learning will be automatically translated into action, it aims at ensuring effective transfer of classroom learning to real life.


SSLD has been applied extensively in different areas of professional practice in Canada and internationally. Programs have been developed for mental health intervention, interpersonal relationship development, management training in both corporate and non-profit sectors, public relations, parenting and child development, and specific areas of health care.

Click here to view the list of programs that SSLD applied to.

SSLD learning programs usually involve intensive use of simulation, demonstration, role-play, brainstorming, experimenting with new strategies and skills, take-home exercise, practice in the real world, report and review. Video-recording and review is often used to facilitate learning and fine-tuning of skills. Programs usually take place in a small group format, but customized individual learning programs can be designed as well.


The SSLD Model was developed by Dr. A. Ka Tat Tsang. It is based on earlier work in social skills training (SST) (e.g., Argyle, Lieberman). The SSLD system distinguishes itself from the SST models with its emphasis on (1) multiple contingency thinking; (2) learner focus instead of trainer focus; and (3) innovation and collaborative development of new strategies and skills. [Please refer to Basic Principles for more detail]