Webinar How to Bounce Back After a “Mistake” When Working with Children with Selective Mutism
August 13, 2026 @ 8:00 pm – 9:00 pm EDT
Live Webinar with Q & A!
Free registration!
Speaker:Adelia Sabintsev, Psy.D.
While this webinar is primarily geared toward families, parents and caregivers; treating professionals will also find value. All are welcome!
For more information and to register, click here:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_PvP8u9mhT7iALSnx5vZdDg
When supporting children with Selective Mutism, many parents, educators, and professionals feel pressure to “do it right.” Concerns about asking too much, moving too quickly, or making a mistake can sometimes lead adults to hesitate or avoid creating communication opportunities altogether.
This webinar will focus on one of the most important and often overlooked skills in Selective Mutism treatment: learning how to recover when interactions don’t go as planned. Participants will review the communication ladder and learn how to identify a child’s current level, choose achievable next steps, adjust expectations in the moment, and modify communication demands when a task is too difficult.
Through practical examples, we will discuss common challenges, including what to do when a child shuts down, a question is too difficult, a verbal interaction stalls, or an exposure becomes overwhelming. Participants will learn strategies for reducing demands, while continuing to support communication and confidence.
A key takeaway from this presentation is that supporting children with Selective Mutism does not require perfection. In fact, mistakes and challenging moments are an expected part of the intervention process. Learning how to recognize when an interaction is not working and confidently adjust course is an essential skill for both parents and professionals. By responding flexibly to these moments, adults can create more opportunities for communication, confidence, and growth.
Speaker:
Adelia Sabintsev, Psy.D.
Dr. Adelia Sabintsev is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director of Doctor Adelia, LLC, a private practice based in Baltimore, Maryland. She has over 15 years of experience providing evidence-based treatment to children and families struggling with anxiety disorders, including Selective Mutism, Separation Anxiety, Social Anxiety, and Specific Phobias.
Dr. Sabintsev is extensively trained in evidence-based treatments, including Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). She is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM). She completed advanced training and consultation with Dr. Steven Kurtz, the developer of PCIT-SM, an empirically supported treatment for Selective Mutism. Currently, there are fewer than 100 certified PCIT-SM clinicians worldwide.
Dr. Sabintsev provides treatment through individual therapy, parent coaching, intensive interventions, and skills-based group programs. In 2023, she launched CUB (Confident, Unique, Brave) Kids Groups, which teach children and parents evidence-based strategies to build confidence, increase verbal engagement, and reduce anxiety through structured practice in fun, supportive environments.
In addition to her private practice work, Dr. Sabintsev serves on the lead clinical team at Confident Kids Camp in Rockville, Maryland, an intensive summer treatment program for children with Selective Mutism. For the past six years, she has also worked as a teacher in a younger classroom at the camp, where she has supervised and trained dozens of graduate students and professionals in PCIT-SM strategies.
This webinar is brought to you by the Selective Mutism Association and was made possible by a generous grant from the Gordon and Marilyn Macklin Foundation, Inc.
