Selective Mutism

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.