Find a Treating Professional

SMG can provide information, support and connect you with the right resources. But oftentimes, this is not enough and seeking professional help becomes necessary.

When choosing a treating professional, it becomes important to make sure this individual is thoroughly qualified in the area of SM or the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety disorders in children. While it can be difficult to find professionals who have these qualifications, it is not impossible to find them. Here are a few tips for searching for a treating professional in your area:

1. Ask around. You can start by asking your pediatrician, child's school, family or friends who they have had direct experience with or who they have heard is a good child therapist. You will want to find a child psychologist, psychiatrist or clinical social worker who specializes in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders.

2. Make some phone calls. If you cannot find a professional who has come personally recommended from someone you trust, you can ask your insurance company for individuals in their network of providers who list childhood anxiety disorders as a specialty. You can call psychological practices in your community that come highly recommended and ask them if they know of any professionals who specifically treat childhood anxiety disorders. Often times, calling your local children's hospital and asking them for a referral can be a beneficial resource as well.

3. Check out online resources. There are many ways to search for a potential provider online. First, you may want to review the list of SMG Professional Members who treat children with Selective Mutism and have joined the organization as a way to learn more about SM and network with other specialty providers. Websites such as FindCounseling.com offers a list of treating professionals by geographic area, as well as a list of professional associations by state who can help identify specialists in your area. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers referral resources on their website, aacap.org, allowing you to search for a child psychiatrist. The Anxiety Disorder Association of America is another good online resource to locate a provider, adaa.org as well as the American Association of Behavioral Therapists at aabt.org.

4. Narrow down the options. Once you compile this list of potential doctors, you will want to call and find out more information to help you narrow your choices. Many professionals will offer a brief phone consultation, giving you a chance to speak with them by phone to learn more about their practice, what they do, and their experience with your presenting problem. You will want to know their experience in treating Selective Mutism, how many children they have treated, how many cases were successful, and what treatment methods were used. Questions that may be helpful to you are: What are your areas of expertise? How many cases of SM have you worked with and what were the outcomes? What are your views about why SM manifests in children? What is your treatment approach to SM? What will my role be in the treatment? Will you involve my child's teacher and school? Make sure you are finding an experienced professional but also one who will be a good fit for your child. Does your child love to draw? Maybe one of the professionals on your list utilizes a lot of creative activities in his or her therapy. This may be something you'd want to factor into your decision.

5. Make the final selection. You may want to read SMG's Position Statement on treatment practices when evaluating a professional's answers. You want a treating professional who has worked with a number of SM cases before, had success, and one who will involve you, your child's teacher and school in the treatment process. Be especially cautious of professionals who view SM as 'controlling' or 'manipulative' behavior. Recommendations of the use of punishment for not speaking, or attempts to force a child to speak, are inappropriate treatment methods and will only heighten your child's anxiety. It is OK to set up an initial parent visit (and not bring your child) to see if you like the treating professional, his or her approach and personal style, and determine if this individual may be a good fit for your child. It's OK to go to an initial appointment and decide that this professional will not be a good fit and go back to your list of options. This is better than starting treatment and not having confidence in your provider, which will only prolong your child's anxiety.