Selective Mutism Association Annual Conference 2024
October 5 @ 8:00 am – October 6 @ 5:00 pm EDT
In-Person Conference, Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile
Limited Recording Bundle offered
More Information and Registration
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) |
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| Limited Conference Recording Bundle for caregivers/professionals |
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| Recording Bundle for Individuals with Selective Mutism (ages 17 and older) |
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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.
Dr. Comer is Director of the Mental Health Interventions and Novel Therapeutics (MINT) Program, and Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at Florida International University. He is Editor-Elect for the journal Behavior Therapy, Past President of the Society of Clinical Psychology (Division 12 of the American Psychological Association), and a leader in the field of clinical child and adolescent psychology. He is the author of over 200 scholarly publications, including several textbooks, such as Abnormal Psychology (11th edition) and Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology (10th edition).
Dr. Comer’s program of research examines child psychopathology and youth mental health care, placing central emphasis on the nature and family-based treatment of pediatric anxiety disorders, irritability, disruptive behavior problems, and traumatic stress. Much of Dr. Comer’s research focuses on telehealth and digital mental health strategies, as well as the broader role of technology and other non-traditional treatment formats for overcoming traditional barriers to care. This work examines novel strategies for expanding the scope, accessibility, acceptability, and responsivity of children’s mental health services. In addition, Dr. Comer studies the psychological impact of disasters, terrorism, and other public health crises on children and families. On this front, he serves as the Director of the Network for Enhancing Wellness in Disaster-Affected Youth (NEW DAY)–a SAMHSA-funded center that provides trauma-informed training and consultation to youth-serving professionals in disaster-prone and disaster-hit regions.
Date and Location
Embassy Suites Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile
511 N. Columbus Dr.
Chicago, IL
312.836.5900
SMA’s annual conference offers tracks for professionals, caregivers, and individuals with SM (ages 17 and older, recorded format only). 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.
