SMA Webinar - Selective Mutism: Tips for Handling the Holidays
2024-12-03 20:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York)
Free – Live Webinar with Q & A!

Speaker: Becca Laptook, PhD & Rachel Merson, PsyD

This webinar is for families, parents & treating professionals. Everyone is welcome!

To register, click below:

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_fkFc5cvpTsyjSH0GHctP7g

While the holiday season is often full of energy and excitement, for many families it can also be a time of increased stress, particularly for caregivers supporting a child with selective mutism. The many social obligations along with expectations for interacting with unfamiliar friends and family members and changes in routine can be overwhelming and anxiety provoking. In this webinar, Dr. Becca Laptook and Dr. Rachel Merson will share strategies for parents and caregivers for managing the highs and lows of the holidays and for simultaneously helping their children practice being brave while still enjoying the special moments of the season. The webinar will include tips for talking to friends and relatives about SM, setting realistic expectations and achievable goals, and preparing children for success.

Speakers:

Becca Laptook, PhD is a licensed clinical child psychologist who specializes in the treatment of childhood anxiety. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the State University of NY at Stony Brook and completed her clinical internship at NY Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical School and subsequent child postdoctoral fellowship at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System. Dr. Laptook is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior as well as the Department of Pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She works at Rhode Island Hospital where she is a psychologist at the Hasbro Children’s Partial Hospital Program, a day-treatment program for kids ages 6-18 coping with both psychiatric and medical illnesses. Dr. Laptook specializes in working with children and families and has a particular interest and expertise in early childhood, childhood anxiety, Selective Mutism, child temperament, parent-child interactions, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

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.

Child CARDhttps://sites.bu.edu/childcardresearch

Targeted Practice Ages 3 to 6 in New York, NY
2024-12-05 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-12 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-19 16:00 - 17:00, 2024-12-26 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-01-02 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-01-09 16:00 - 17:00, 2025-01-16 16:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Every Thursday from 4-5 pm

In person at the Child Mind Institute in NYC (50th and 3rd)

Kayla Samuels, kayla.samuels@alnardo-martinezchildmind-org

We offer weekly “Targeted Practice” groups for children with selective mutism as part of our comprehensive treatment. These groups are designed to target children’s brave talking goals around peer-to-peer engagement, speaking in front of a group, and behavioral group participation. Groups run for an hour each week and are crafted to build continuity and help the child build their brave talking practice in an environment outside of a one-on-one clinical session. There is a trained adult for every 1-2 children in the group.

Targeted Practice Ages 6 to 12 in New York, NY
2024-12-05 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-12-12 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-12-19 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-12-26 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-01-02 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-01-09 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-01-16 17:00 - 18:00 (America/Chicago)

Guided Virtual Get-Togethers for Ages 10-18
2024-12-09 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-12-16 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-12-23 18:00 - 19:00, 2024-12-30 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-01-06 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-01-13 18:00 - 19:00, 2025-01-20 18:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York)
Dakota Hornak, dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org

Our 1-hour Guided Virtual Get-Togethers are a place for tweens and teens with social anxiety or Selective Mutism to build social comfort, learn and practice evidence-based strategies, and meet peers who share in your teen’s experience. With facilitation from a trained clinician, attendees participate in planned games and activities that promote social engagement and initiation while in a fun, comfortable, and controlled environment. Join us virtually every Monday at 6 PM EST! Sessions are open to ages 10-18. Participants do not have to be patients of the SMart Center. Registration is $50 per session, per attendee. Participants can choose to be on camera and/or use the chat feature – whatever is most comfortable. Parent participation is optional.

Beginner Selective Mutism Parent Skills Group
2024-12-12 12:00 - 13:00, 2025-01-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York)
Call 212. 658. 0110 ext. 124 or email smgroup@kurtzpsychology.com

Selective Mutism Winter Group Intensive
2024-12-13 08:00 - 17:00, 2025-01-03 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
When?

2 sessions are offered in December and 1 session in January. Email us at info@therapyandwellness.com for more details.

Who is it for?

• Children ages 4 – 10 years old with a diagnosis of selective mutism or who are unable to speak in social situations outside of their home.

Where?

Berkeley, CA

Our Winter Group Intensive is a 3-weekend program designed to give children practice talking in a school environment with new peers and adults. Throughout the weekends (Saturday and Sunday), children receive support to communicate and participate in activities they would encounter on a typical school day. Our program is led by Christy Tadros, who has several years of experience running similar programs. She was trained as a counselor in the Brave Buddies Program at the Child Mind Institute, and worked with Dr. Steven Kurtz for several years, co-leading the Mighty Mouth Kids Program in NYC.

Some of the activities your child will get to practice:

• Working and talking with a partner

• Joining in cooperative and group play during recess

• Giving several presentations

• Self-Advocacy, for example, asking for help or to use the bathroom

• Going on a fieldtrip

• Speaking to people in the community, i.e at the library or the ice cream store

• Practice reading assessments

• Get comfortable with school celebration, such as birthday parties

• Take a visit to the dentist or school nurse

All activities involve practicing verbalizations with unfamiliar adults and peers. The primary goal is to generalize talking to as many people, places, and activities during the weekend.

How will my child do all these activities?

Each child will receive 1:1 specialized support from a counselor assigned to working with them. Counselors break down each activity into small steps and provide rehearsal practice until the child is able to meet their goal for the day, or the weekend.

What if my child is in a different stage of progress than other children?

Individual goals are developed before the intensive and adapted each day, throughout the day, to meet the needs of each attendee. The team meets each Saturday and Sunday morning and evening to plan how to help each child meet their goals.

Outside Voice Camp Ages 3 to 11 in Murieta, CA
2024-12-28 09:00 - 2024-12-30 14:00 (America/Chicago)
Sarah Parrilla, Office Manager. Phone #: (951) 599-8356. Email: sarah@pinnaclecounselingca.com

Selective Mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder characterized by an ‘inability’ to speak in various social settings. These children can speak at home and in settings where they are comfortable. However, this anxiety significantly impacts the ability of the child to participate in both social and academic activities in the school environment.

Early identification and intervention is key in the treatment of Selective Mutism. This workshop is based on scientifically supported techniques of behavior intervention led by Dr. Aimee Kotrba, Licensed Psychologist and expert in the field of Selective Mutism.

Participants Will Learn:

 Identify and evaluate for Selective Mutism in the clinic and school

 Learn what schools/parents can do to help

 Leave with a specific, evidence- based intervention plan!

 List actions for day-to-day management of anxiety

 Learn practical techniques for reducing anxiety

 Develop special education plans for children with Selective Mutism

 Identify appropriate social and academic expectations

Our live workshop will allow for active participation, questions, and group interaction!

Registration for Recording Bundles for the Selective Mutism Association Annual Conference Held on Oct 5-6, 2024
2024-12-31 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
We have extended registration for the recording bundles until January 31, 2025. The conference took place on October 5 and 6, 2024.

Limited Recording Bundle offered

More Information and Registration

Agenda (Chicago Face to Face)

Recorded Bundle Agenda for Caregivers/Professionals

Recorded Bundle Agenda for Individuals with SM

Conference Information

The Selective Mutism Association’s annual conference will be on Saturday, October 5 (full day) and October 6, 2024 (half day) this year in Chicago, IL. We hope you can join us in person to connect with our community! It will be a wonderful time of gathering to learn the latest in evidence-based information, support one another, and connect with parents and professionals. It’s been a while since we’ve had a face-to-face conference, and we are excited to see everyone! Please note: SMA is intending to rotate in-person conferences with fully virtual conferences in the coming years. The 2024 conference will offer the following registration options:

In-Person Conference (Please note: everyone is welcome to attend in person; however there is not specific live programming geared toward Individuals who currently have SM at the in-person conference)Attend full one-and-a-half day conference of live presentations for professionals and caregiversNetwork with other professionals and families at the Mix n’Mingle Connection time on Saturday eveningExplore current research on SM and interact with researchers at poster presentationsEarn up to 9 Continuing Education credits for approved sessions for both professional and caregiver tracksListen to live “Hear Our Voices” panel of individuals recovering from SM with Q&ABring questions to live panel of experts in the field of SM with Q&ALimited Conference Recording Bundle for caregivers/professionalsA limited selection of pre-determined sessions will be recorded and offered virtually directly after the conferenceEarn up to 5 continuing education credits. If you need continuing education, please check approvals.Session titles and descriptionsRecordings will be released after the conference and will be available until January 31, 2025Recording Bundle for Individuals with Selective Mutism (ages 17 and older)Sessions will be recorded and offered virtually after the conference (geared toward ages 17 and older)Please note that sessions for this track will NOT be offered in person at the conference.Registration is free for this track. Those that choose this registration option will only have access to the Individual Track presentations.Sessions titles and descriptionsRecordings will be released after the conference and will be available until January 31, 2025

Keynote Address: Expanding the Reach and Scope of Care for Children with Selective Mutism: Leveraging Novel Treatment Formats and Innovative Technologies, Jonathan S. Comer, Ph.D.

One of the field’s leading authorities on the nature and treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders, Dr. Comer leads a funded research program examining innovative and nontraditional strategies for expanding the reach, scope, and responsiveness of children’s mental healthcare. His work focuses on digital mental health, telehealth, intensive formats, and parenting approaches for treating anxiety-related problems such as behavioral avoidance, irritability,family accommodation, and selective mutism. Dr. Comer is Professor of Psychology at Florida International University where he directs the NIH-funded Mental health Interventions & Novel Therapeutics (MINT) Program and the SAMHSA-funded Network for Enhancing Wellness in Disaster-Affected Youth (NEW DAY). He’s written over 250 scholarly publications, serves as Editor-in-Chief of Behavior Therapy, is past-president of the Society of Clinical Psychology (APA Division12), and chairs the semi-annual Miami International Child and Adolescent Mental Health (MICAMH) Conference. He has also coauthored several textbooks, including Psychopathology: Science and Practice and Fundamentals of Psychopathology.

Date and Location

Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile511 N. Columbus Dr.Chicago, IL312.836.5900

SMA’s annual conference offers tracks for professionals, caregivers, and individuals with SM (ages 17 and older, recorded format only). The face to face conference will also offer a silent auction (proceeds are put towards SMA’s mission) and selective mutism display books will be available for perusal with links for purchase. We would love to see you for our Mix n’ Mingle connection time on Saturday evening after the conference sessions. See further conference information for continuing education provided, scholarships available, and hotel booking information. We encourage you to make your hotel reservations as early as possible in order to get the lowest rates and best availability.

Please see our conference event registration page for more detailed information including pricing, details about the conference, and hotel booking information.

Special Note to all Individuals with SM:

SMA recognizes that resources for older individuals who have SM are scarce and thus, for individuals with SM (ages 17 and older), SMA will continue to offer the Individuals with SM track for FREE! Session titles and descriptions will be released in June 2024. This track will only be offered in a recording format, not a face-to-face format. Recordings will be available until January 31, 2025. Continuing education will not be offered for this track. Please note, that individuals who register for this track will not have access to the professional and caregiver-friendly tracks that are offered virtually. For those registrants who would like access to the professional/caregiver-friendly virtual option, you will need to register for that bundle as well.

Email conference inquiries to Lisa Kovac at info@selectivemutism.org.

CommuniCamp™ Intensive Group Treatment and ALL DAY Parent Training and Support Program in Jenkintown, PA
2025-01-17 08:00 - 2025-01-20 17:00 (America/Chicago)
Individuals ages 3 to 17 with SM and social anxiety and their parents

LisaMarie VargasCommuniCamp@SelectiveMutismCenter.org

Our 3+ Day CommuniCamp™ is an Intensive Group Treatment and ALL DAY Parent Training & Support Program to help parents, children, and teens (ages 3-17+) overcome Selective Mutism, social anxiety, and extreme shyness.

Children/teens do not need to talk to participate. All are welcome! There is no restriction based on a child/teen’s social communication stage.

We will help your child/teen build the social communication skills necessary for school, the real world, and at home implementing the SMart Center’s 35 years of experience treating Selective Mutism using Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT®), the evidence-based treatment approach created by world-renowned Selective Mutism expert, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum. Children/teens receive 16+ hours of treatment, Parents receive 16+ hours of psychoeducation/support throughout the weekend.

Visit CommuniCamp.org to learn more!

Voices Rising 3 Day Intensive Ages 4-10 in White Plains, NY
2025-01-18 09:00 - 2025-01-20 14:00 (America/New_York)
914-385-1150, option 1

intake@cbc-psychology.com

For full information about the event, go here

https://www.cbc-psychology.com/events/voices-rising-winter-2025

Voices Rising is an intensive group treatment for children aged 4-10 with Selective Mutism (SM). Using a classroom-like structure, the group provides many opportunities to speak and engage with other peers and adults.

Speaking goals are individualized to fit the needs of the child, focusing on asking and answering questions, initiating conversations, speaking and presenting to larger groups, and engaging in peer-to-peer interactions. Each day consists of developmentally appropriate and engaging activities designed to facilitate “brave talking.” Groups are divided by age and will engage in different activities that are geared specifically for that age group. Other highlights of the program include classroom visitors, which add opportunities to practice speaking goals with new people and going out in the community.
