Selective Mutism HELP

In this episode you'll hear about the strategies used to help a child begin using their voice within the school. The most important part of a fade-in is to be patient, flexible, and incorporates the child's interests.  Resources on how to get more information and support from Selective Mutism H.E.L.P.: SM Help Community of Support Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/785133572938172   Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SelectiveMutismHELP/   Email: smhelp2020@gmail.com   Website: www.smhelp.org

In this episode you'll hear strategies used to transfer speech from myself to a same-aged peer and how to generalize speech to a different environment.  Here is the link to the book discussed in this episode https://amzn.to/42prxQT Here is the link for more information to the upcoming conference - make sure to use the code SMIC2025 to save 10% on registration www.smhelp.org/smic2025  

This is Part 1 of a three part series on Fading In. In this episode I share information on a fade-in I did at a child's home during our first session. Here are some links discussed in the episode Selective Mutism International Conference information www.smhelp.org/smic2025 Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/SelectiveMutismHELP/   Selective Mutism Community of Support Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/785133572938172

After not releasing episodes for a couple years, I'm excited to announce I'll be back on the microphone! My goal is to share some of the strategies and interventions I use with my clients to help support them on their journey. I invite you to join the SM Community of Support Facebook Group to keep up to date with all that Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. has going on, plus have a safe place to ask questions and gain insight from fellow group members.  Here is the link to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/785133572938172   For more information about Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. and the services available, visit www.smhelp.org

In this episode, you'll hear our story on how chiropractic care helped our daughter with SM create a better communication system between her brain and body. You'll learn about a technique called Neuro Emotional Technique that helped unlock some memories that were causing physiological changes to our daughter.

Does your SM Child have explosive tendencies? Do they seem to have a meltdown over the tiniest thing? Listen to this episode to learn what you can do to help them through it.   Click HERE to purchase "The Explosive Child" by Dr. Ross Greene   For more information about Selective Mutism, visit www.smhelp.org 

In this episode, you will learn how a behavior analyst could help someone affected by Selective Mutism.   To learn about Family Coaching, visit www.smhelp.org/family-coaching 

In this episode, you'll learn how to support an SM child as they are on an extended holiday break from school.  You'll learn the importance of keeping a routine, how to avoid communication regression, and tips on how to hopefully avoid school refusal.   Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. will begin offering Behavioral Services starting January 1st, 2022. For more information, visit www.smhelp.org.   To view the Facebook Video showing the board we used to keep a routine, click HERE.

Occupational Therapy is one of those types of therapies you've probably heard about, but may not fully understand how it could help someone with Selective Mutism. In this episode, I'll talk about how I came to understand what OT can do and how it helped our daughter take steps towards overcoming her Selective Mutism.   Links from this episode: Zones of Regulation: www.zonesofregulation.com Sense-ational Spaces: https://www.senseationalspaces.com Spring 2021 Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. Online Summit Lifetime Access: https://www.smhelp.org/store/p12/Spring_2021_Online_Summit_-_Individual_Days.html; save 15% on Lifetime Access to any individual day of the Spring 2021 Summit by using coupon code podcast12 Parent Coaching: www.smhelp.org/parent-coaching

In this episode, learn ways to ease an SM child's anxiety during the holiday season to give them the best opportunity to communicate with relatives.    For questions about Selective Mutism, reach out via email to smhelp2020@gmail.com For information about P.R.I.D.E. Skills click HERE For more information about preparing a child with SM for the holidays, visit the SMart Center's website by clicking HERE  

Play dates can be an effective way for a child with Selective Mutism to start talking to friends and classmates. But, there are certain strategies that parents need to be aware of to make the most out of a playdate.    For more information about Selective Mutism, visit www.smhelp.org   Parent Coaching is now being offered by Selective Mutism H.E.L.P.! If you are interested in one on one support, please email smhelp2020@gmail.com.   *This episode made me very emotional thinking about these memories. This caused me to misspeak at one point. I should have said "open ended" question instead of "open choice" question while playing the game Candy Land.

In this episode you will learn tips and strategies to help a child with Selective Mutism have a fun Halloween night. You will learn how to support an SM child before Halloween, during Halloween, and when the night is over. Plus, tips for those children that may not be ready to go trick or treating, but still want to be a part of Halloween night.   Website: www.smhelp.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/SelectiveMutismHELP Email: smhelp2020@gmail.com

In this episode you will learn the importance of building rapport with a child with SM before setting the expectation to talk. You will also learn the different ways an SM child can communicate and how to get them to the point where they can comfortably speak.   Link for the “About Me” downloadable template https://www.smhelp.org/parent-resources.html (scroll to the bottom of the page)   Link to contribute to operational costs https://www.smhelp.org/awareness-merchandise.html

In this episode you'll learn how you as a parent can support your child as they get ready for starting a new school year. You'll get tips on how to motivate your child to start communicating more at school and how to support them when they get home.   For a free copy of an editable template to create an "About Me" Template, visit https://www.smhelp.org/parent-resources.html and scroll to the bottom of the page, or email smhelp2020@gmail.com and use the subject like "Template."    To learn more about the Free Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. Online Summit and to register, visit https://www.smhelp.org/free-summit.html  This Free Summit will be October 22nd-25th, 2021 and be all about information to help Teens and Adults with SM.

This episode is for teachers to learn what Selective Mutism is and how to support a student with Selective Mutism to give them the best chance of overcoming it.   For information on the Spring 2021 Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. Online Summit, click HERE and enter the code podcast5 to receive a 25% discount on single day interviews.   If you are a teacher looking for more information on how to support a student with SM click HERE to learn more.

In this episode you will learn about Rhythmic Movement Training and how it may be related to Selective Mutism. You will learn about primitive reflexes and what may happen if primitive reflexes are retained (spoiler alert - they may contribute to Selective Mutism!). Plus, learn what you can do to help a child with retained primitive reflexes.   Here are some links discussed in the podcast: "The Importance of Integrated Reflexes" article by Sonia Story "The Rhythmic Movement Method: A Revolutionary Approach to Improved Health and Well Being" book by Harald Blomberg MD Fit 2 Learn YouTube Channel - videos by Charlotte Davies Free Chart of the 22 infant reflexes and possible long-term effects if unintegrated by Brain and Sensory Foundations   Interested in being trained in Rhythmic Movement to help your child or a child you work with? Click HERE to check out an amazing course by Move Play Thrive/Brain and Sensory Foundations.   Listen to the end of the podcast to learn how to save on Lifetime Access to interviews on the topic of Rhythmic Movement Training.   Email smhelp2020@gmail.com with any questions you have about this episode or about Selective Mutism.

In this episode you'll learn which medications are typically used to treat those with Selective Mutism, various studies conducted on the effectiveness of medication for those with SM, and you'll hear about our journey with medication and how our thoughts on medication have changed over time.   For more information about Selective Mutism, visit www.smhelp.org or email smhelp2020@gmail.com   Here are the links to the studies mentioned in this podcast: https://www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(09)63935-6/pdf https://www-sciencedirect-com.portal.lib.fit.edu/science/article/abs/pii/S089085670963433X https://journals-sagepub-com.portal.lib.fit.edu/doi/10.1177/070674370805301010?url_ver=Z39.88-2003&rfr_id=ori:rid:crossref.org&rfr_dat=cr_pub%20%200pubmed https://link-springer-com.portal.lib.fit.edu/chapter/10.1007%2F978-3-7091-1501-5_17

In this episode you will learn about the different types of therapy options for treating someone with Selective Mutism and which questions to ask yourself to help decide which option is best for your situation.   Links discussed in this podcast: Spring 2021 Online Summit: https://www.smhelp.org/awareness-merchandise.html Use discount code podcast2 to save 25% off Day 1 and Day 3 of the Spring 20201 Online Summit. SM Intensive Camps: https://www.smhelp.org/sm-camps.html SENSE-ational Spaces: https://www.senseationalspaces.com Living Beyond the Silence Book by Gaye James   Next episode to be released July 15th!  

In this episode, I'll share how our daughter has been doing since overcoming her Selective Mutism and what overcoming means to me.  This will be the last podcast episode dedicated to Selective Mutism. If you are looking for support to help your child or yourself on the journey to overcoming Selective Mutism, please reach out via email SmHelp2020@gmail.com, follow me on Facebook Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. or join the private SM Community of Support.

There is so much that goes on physiologically when someone has Selective Mutism - there is a tightening the the throat, the inability to make eye contact, a frozen expression. And why is this? I believe it relates to the vagus nerve and the Polyvagal Theory. This podcast episode explores the PolyVagal Theory to help understand what may be happening when someone is unable to speak in certain situations.   To connect on this topic, email smhelp2020@gmail.com   For more information about the 2nd Annual Selective Mutism Foundation Annual conference, visit www.smhelp.org/smf-conference