Challenges of raising a child with Selective Mutism and Anxiety:
Mutism is just one of the many symptoms of Selective Mutism. Children with SM often endure social, emotional, and academic consequences as a result of lack of verbalization and as children age these challenges progress and become more pronounced. With effective treatment, most, if not all children overcome their mutism. However, challenges along the way can be difficult and frustrating for parents and children. This presentation will help parents COPE with the many challenges of raising an anxious SM child and at the same time, help parents help their children COPE with these same challenges.
Length: 1- 2 hours

Preparation for the upcoming school year using key treatment strategies of Selective
Mutism: Summer is here, but the new school year is just around the corner for most children.
Starting school can be scary for all children, but for the SM child, it can be downright terrifying.
This workshop will help parents with various tactics to help prepare the anxious SM child for the
upcoming school year. It is never too early to start, and many of the summer tactics recommended
will help your child build the coping skills necessary to overcome their speaking anxiety.
Length: 1 hour

Special Education and the SM child- IEP/504 plan development:
Selectively Mute children may need special accommodations within the school environment due to their 'inability to speak' within the classroom. In order to qualify for an IEP, SM children have to meet the criteria for Special Education. This workshop will focus on How to determine if a SM child needs a 504 plan or qualifies for Special Education services and needs an IEP plan-- Special considerations on HOW TO develop a 504 and IEP plan for the SM child will be discussed in detail.   Length: 1-3 hours

Siblings of Selectively Mute Children:
Common questions that parents of SM children often ask center around concerns of having more than one child with SM, what to do when siblings seem to be 'mimicking' the SM child. Than how to handle the older sibling who does ALL the talking for the SM child. This lecture will focus on commonly asked questions about 'siblings' of SM children. Emphasis will be on Q&A from the audience.  Length: 1 hour

Bilingual and Selectively Mute:One of the precipitant factors for the development of mutism is speaking more than one language. This lecture will address why certain bilingual children develop mutism and others due not. Characteristics of SM bilingual children will be discussed and time will be spent on strategies that parents and teachers can to help bilingual children overcome Selective Mutism.  Length: 1 hour

Medication: why/when/how-to use:
Studies indicate that the best form of treatment is a combination of behavioral therapy and medication. This lecture will address such questions as when to CONSIDER the use of medication? What type of medication to use? How to minimize side effects and for how long should a child remain on medication? This presentation will consist of a lecture plus a Q&A session.  Length: 1-2 hours

The Child with Selective Mutism in the Real World: School is usually the location where SM children have the most difficult time; however, SM children often have great difficulty in other social situations, such public places, visiting with relatives, communicating with adults and meeting new people. Parents need advice on how to help their child in these various situations. Therefore, this presentation will focus on ways to help the SM child in the 'real world.'    Length: 1-2 hours

Selective Mutism and other co-existing conditions: i.e., separation anxiety, depression,  OCD, ADHD, Sensory integration:   A proportion of Selectively Mute Individuals also suffer from additional childhood disorders. This lecture will focus on the most common co-existing conditions that SM individuals have as well as how these conditions affect the treatment process. Time will be spent on specific ways parents and clinician can gear treatment strategies & tactics to accommodate the needs of SM children/adults with multiple disorders.  Length: 1-2  hours

Behavioral characteristics of children with Selective Mutism:
The SMG~CAN has analyzed hundreds upon hundreds of detailed questionnaires that parents of SM children have filled out. Our results indicate that there are similar characteristics among these children that are more than just mere coincidence, but are a conglomeration of personality, physical and physiological characteristics that are woven together in a 'syndrome-like' manner. This lecture will discuss the many characteristics that SM children portray at home and in social situations.  Length: 1- 1 1/2 hours

Anxiety and Mutism, What is the Connection? The Majority of Selectively Mute children are socially anxious. In other words, anxiety is created when confronted with social situations, such as being in school. Because of the fear and anxiety created within the child, there are various bodily reactions that can be explained by 'anxiety' mechanisms that occur in the brain and the rest of the body. One of the results is muscle tension. This is evident by SM children being 'stiff,' almost frozen-looking at times, expressionless (blank 'look' and not smiling) and MUTISM. Although not proven, theories arise that mutism is the reaction to possible vocal cord paralysis due to muscle tension in the vocal cords! This lecture will focus on this theory and other 'anxiety symptoms that SM individuals portray. Length: 30 minutes -1 hour