Selective Mutism

Foreword

Welcome to this workshop on supporting children and young people with Selective Mutism. My name is Dr. Rachel Wade, and I am a Specialist Senior Educational Psychologist working within Educational Psychology and Specialist Support Service (EPSS). Selective Mutism has been a key focus of mine, particularly during my doctoral research. For my thesis, I explored the educational experiences of children and young people (CYP) with Selective Mutism, aiming to better understand how we can improve support for them in educational settings.

My research was driven by a passion for ensuring that every young person has a voice, particularly those who are most marginalised. By using a creative, child-centred approach, I was able to gain valuable insights into their unique needs and experiences. This work underlines my commitment to amplifying the voices of all young people and ensuring that schools provide environments where they feel safe, included, and valued.

While I won't be delving into the specifics of my research findings today, the information shared in this presentation is informed by the literature captured as part of my thesis. I hope that this contributes to developing a shared understanding of the needs of children and young people with Selective Mutism, particularly if we can truly listen to them in ways they feel most comfortable and supported.

Module 1

An introduction to SM - An overview of key concepts including what Selective Mutism is, common misconceptions, different profiles and the importance of early, tailored intervention.

Module 2

Suggestions for supporting children, their families and school- Introduces strategies for supporting children with SM such as preparation, building rapport using non-pressuring techniques like 'pep talks' and playful indirect approaches to encourage communication at the child's pace.

Module 3

Environmental accommodations in school- Outlines practical strategies for supporting children with Selective Mutism by creating a low-pressure, consistent, and understanding environment that encourages gradual communication and respects the child's coping methods.

Module 4

Targeted interventions - Outlines targeted interventions for supporting Selective Mutism, including desensitisation, shaping, and stimulus fading, with an emphasis on collaboration, being led by the child and creating a supportive environment

Resources

Web resources

Books

The Selective Mutism Resource Manual (Second Edition) Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens, (2016)
The Selective Mutism Workbook for Parents and Professionals: Small Steps, Big Changes by Maggie Johnson & Junhua Reitman, (2023)
Selective Mutism, A beginners Guide, Lucy Nathanson (2017)
Can I Tell You About Selective Mutism? Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens, 2012
The Ideal Classroom Setting for the Selectively Mute Child (Second Edition) Dr Elisa Shipon-Blum (2007)
My name is Ben and I don't talk sometimes, Lucy Nathanson, 2020
My name is Eliza and I don't talk at school, Lucy Nathanson 2018
Why doesn't Alice talk at school? Lucy Nathanson 2019
That Question, Jania Williams 2021
Can't Talk? Want to Talk! Jo Levett & Stephen Street, 2014
A letter to my teacher. Why I can't speak in school, Lucy Nathanson, 2023
Call Me Lion, Camilla Chester 2022
The Night Shimmy, Anthony Browne and Gwen Strauss, 1993