Selective Mutism Training Institute for Caregivers 2024 Online
June 22 @ 9:00 am – June 23 @ 3:30 pm EDT
The Selective Mutism Training Institute for Caregivers (SMTI-Caregivers) is an online 2 day training designed for caregivers of children ages 3 – 17 diagnosed with selective mutism. This workshop is skills-based with the goal of increasing caregiver competence in applying treatment strategies with their child who has SM.
Cost: $250.00 – $450.00
The Selective Mutism Training Institute for Caregivers (SMTI-Caregivers) is an in-depth 2-day training course for caregivers of children/youth (ages 3 – 17) diagnosed with selective mutism (SM). The workshop is intensive and skills-based with the goal of increasing caregiver competence in utilizing empirically-supported treatment strategies for SM. We maintain a low instructor-to-participant ratio to ensure adequate time for modeling and video role-play of the skills. Registration will be capped at 30 participants.
This is a unique opportunity for caregivers of children with selective mutism to learn cutting-edge, innovative techniques to effectively address SM. Small group, video consultation with the course instructors following the 2-day training is included in the cost. This will allow participants to further apply the skills in their own unique way. Please note this consultation does not provide individualized treatment.
This course is taught by leading experts, researchers, and authors in the field of Selective Mutism:
Brittany Bice-Urbach, Ph.D.
Dr. Bice-Urbach is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and has been working as a clinical psychologist at the Child Development Center, a developmental clinic through Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, in the School Performance Program. She completed her graduate training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School Psychology Program, her internship at Illinois State University’s Psychological Services Center, and her Post-Doctoral fellowship at Connections Day School, a therapeutic day school in Illinois. Dr. Bice-Urbach has a specialty in best practices in providing telebehavioral health services. She was involved with a team of providers in developing training materials for the recent and rapid transition to telebehavioral health at Children’s Wisconsin in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has contributed a book chapter regarding practical considerations in providing teleconsultation services. Dr. Bice-Urbach also has a clinical specialty in treating children and adolescents with anxiety disorders through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a primary focus on treating children with Selective Mutism. At the Child Development Center, she has been offering assessment, individual therapy, and family/school consultation and training to support children with Selective Mutism. She has participated in the Selective Mutism Training Institute and given several national presentations at the National Association for School Psychologists Annual Convention on the topic of addressing symptoms of Selective Mutism in a school setting. She also has prioritized trainings for medical facilities and pediatricians on detecting symptoms of Selective Mutism and supporting children and their families through the journey in finding appropriate resources. Dr. Bice-Urbach is excited to be joining the board of SMA and collaborating to continue to increase awareness and access to evidence-based resources on SM for children, families, and treating professionals.
Jami Furr, Ph.D.
Dr. Jami Furr is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Senior Psychologist in the Mental Health Interventions and Technology Program, and Developer of the Selective Mutism Program at Florida International University Center for Children and Families. She is the President of the Selective Mutism Association and has served on their Board of Directors for the last 3 years. She has expertise in cognitive behavioral treatments of childhood selective mutism and anxiety, and preschool mental health, and serves as a trainer and consultant on the largest PCORI-funded project on anxiety in youth. She fostered the first randomized controlled trial on an intensive group behavioral treatment for youth with selective mutism, recently published in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Her selective mutism program has been featured in the media, including The New York Times. She was an inaugural Associate Editor for Evidence Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health for 3 years. Prior to joining FIU, she served as Clinical Director of the Child Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders of Boston University, where she began their Selective Mutism Program. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University, completed her clinical internship in the Child Track at the NYU-Bellevue Clinical Psychology Internship Program and NYU Child Study Center, and finished her training in a NIH-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship at the NYU Child Study Center.
Rachel A. Merson, Psy.D.
Rachel Merson, Psy.D. is the Clinical Director of the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program at the Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (Child CARD). Dr. Merson has extensive experience providing evidence-based treatment to children and adolescents with a range of anxiety disorders and co-occurring emotional and behavioral concerns. As Director of Child CARD’s Selective Mutism Program, she oversees Brave Bunch, Child CARD’s intensive group treatment program for young children with SM. In addition, Dr. Merson is actively involved in providing supervision and training to Child CARD graduate students and trainees. She frequently conducts workshops with schools and community agencies on selective mutism and other topics related to child anxiety. Dr. Merson completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia where she majored in Psychology and graduated with High Distinction. She went on to earn her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University. Dr. Merson completed a one-year, APA-approved internship at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts..
Program Objectives – Participants will be able to
- Describe ways in which SM develops and appropriate timing for medical consultation
- State empirically-supported behavioral and cognitive treatment strategies, including PCIT-SM (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism) techniques for SM in school, home, and public (social) settings
- List 3 strategies to effectively engage school personnel and educational staff when implementing relevant treatment strategies specific to youth with SM
- List various forms of caregiver self-care when supporting children with SM
Participants who will benefit from this training include all caregivers of children with selective mutism.
Other participants will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are encouraged to email info@selectivemutism.org with their particulars to discuss if this training is appropriate.
Prior Experience: The SMTI course is primarily intended for those with beginner and intermediate knowledge of SM.
Couple Information: For those interested in registering at the couple rate, please consider the following information. The couple rate is designed for spouses/partners who are caregivers of a child with SM who live in the same houeshold. When registering as a couple, each person must have access to a device and both people who are registered should be in separate rooms during the training to prevent feedback/technological interference. It is necessary to register both members of a couple to allow for appropriate ratios for practice.
Only those with paid registrations will be able to participate in the practice sessions which are a significant portion of the training. If family members would like to listen in the background to the teaching part of the training and NOT participate in the practice sessions, they do not need to register. Only one entrance into the training will be allowed per individual registered. Two entrances to the training will be allowed per couple registration.
*Please note that this training is offered in English. If you need any special accommodations, please email Dr. Lisa Kovac at info@selectivemutism.org prior to registering.
