Selective Mutism Winter Group Intensive
December 1 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
When?
2 sessions are offered in December and 1 session in January. Email us at info@therapyandwellness.com for more details.
Who is it for?
• Children ages 4 – 10 years old with a diagnosis of selective mutism or who are unable to speak in social situations outside of their home.
Where?
Berkeley, CA
Our Winter Group Intensive is a 3-weekend program designed to give children practice talking in a school environment with new peers and adults. Throughout the weekends (Saturday and Sunday), children receive support to communicate and participate in activities they would encounter on a typical school day. Our program is led by Christy Tadros, who has several years of experience running similar programs. She was trained as a counselor in the Brave Buddies Program at the Child Mind Institute, and worked with Dr. Steven Kurtz for several years, co-leading the Mighty Mouth Kids Program in NYC.
Some of the activities your child will get to practice:
• Working and talking with a partner
• Joining in cooperative and group play during recess
• Giving several presentations
• Self-Advocacy, for example, asking for help or to use the bathroom
• Going on a fieldtrip
• Speaking to people in the community, i.e at the library or the ice cream store
• Practice reading assessments
• Get comfortable with school celebration, such as birthday parties
• Take a visit to the dentist or school nurse
All activities involve practicing verbalizations with unfamiliar adults and peers. The primary goal is to generalize talking to as many people, places, and activities during the weekend.
How will my child do all these activities?
Each child will receive 1:1 specialized support from a counselor assigned to working with them. Counselors break down each activity into small steps and provide rehearsal practice until the child is able to meet their goal for the day, or the weekend.
What if my child is in a different stage of progress than other children?
Individual goals are developed before the intensive and adapted each day, throughout the day, to meet the needs of each attendee. The team meets each Saturday and Sunday morning and evening to plan how to help each child meet their goals.
