Unspoken Words: A Selective Mutism Podcast by Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum

Dr. E sits down with SMart Center Lead Clinician Jennifer Brittingham to discuss ways to navigate the testing and assessment process, what to do when your child has difficulty engaging with peers, how to build comfort with teachers, and more.   Topics:  (1:54) How to navigate the testing process  (17:51) What if my child has difficulty engaging with peers?  (30:01) How to build comfort with teachers    (39:18) Strategies for children to become more responsive in the classroom   (42:54) Does your child have difficulty starting and completing tasks?  (50:28) How to accommodate picky eating   (57:46) How to navigate changes and transitions  (1:01:35) Final thoughts/recommendations heading into the school year  -  Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode.  Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum  Explore our SMart Center success stories!  Get started at the SMart Center  Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here.  Recommended Listening:   Ep5: Back to School   Ep9: Importance of School-based accommodations and interventions  EP15: Differences between 504 and IEP plans, getting the school on board with treatment, building social skills & more  Webinar: What is Selective Mutism?  Recommended Reading:   Handout: Social Engagement is the KEY and FUEL to Communcation  Summer Vacation & Back-to-School Guide (download eBook)  Easing School Jitters for the Selectively Mute Child (download eBook)  This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting  For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org 

Dr. E is joined once again by SMart Center Lead Clinician Jennifer Brittingham to discuss the differences between 504 and IEP plans, ways to get your child’s school staff on board with treatment, how to make progress without a formal 504 or IEP plan, and more. This episode is the perfect primer for the new school year ahead.   Topics:  (2:46) The difference between IEPs and 504s  (11:03) You can make progress without a formal 504 or IEP  (17:29) 504 vs IEP: When’s a good time for each.     (31:26) Ways to get the school on board with treatment   (35:49) School isn't all about academics. It's about building social skills, too.  -  Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode.  Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum  Explore our SMart Center success stories!  Get started at the SMart Center  Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here.  Additional Back to School Resources: PODCAST EPISODE: Ep5: Back to School PODCAST EPISODE: Ep9: Importance of School-based accommodations and interventions BOOK: Summer Vacation & Back-to-School Guide (download eBook) BOOK:Easing School Jitters for the Selectively Mute Child (download eBook) This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting  For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org

[NOTE: this episode originally aired September 2022] Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum welcomes Jennifer Brittingham LPC, a SMart Center lead clinician and school consultant to the podcast to discuss all things back to school! From preparing your child/teen and their teachers, to the comfort-building strategies that help with progression of communication, to how to educate the school, to determining IEP & 504 plans, this episode is jam-packed! (2:50) - How to prepare your child for school (12:51) - What if my child has anxiety or a panic attack during school? (17:01) - What if the teacher calls on me? (21:30) - How do you recommend we build comfort and help with progression of communication? (35:09) - How do you recommend educating the school? (43:26) - How do you determine what type of plan you recommend (i.e., 504, IEP)? (49:40) - Bathroom and eating issues (1:01:48) - Taking the Bus ⁠Ask Dr. E⁠ any questions you may have from the episode. ⁠Learn more⁠ about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Explore our ⁠SMart Center success stories⁠! ⁠Get started⁠ at the SMart Center Relevant resources: ⁠About My Child⁠ | ⁠The Selective Mutism Summer Vacation and Back to School Guide⁠ | ⁠Social Communication Bridge®⁠ | ⁠Preparing for the Upcoming School Year⁠ - Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast was made possible thanks to ⁠⁠New Edition Consulting⁠⁠ For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org

In the second installment of our Ask Dr E podcast series, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum answers five questions relating to teenagers with Selective Mutism.  Questions:  (1:12) How do we apply CBT when our teenager visits the doctor? (8:05) Is there any hope for my almost 16 year old son?  (14:35) How can I support getting my teenager to talk in their regular voice at school?  (20:19) Any suggestions on ways to build friendships in and out of the classroom?  (25:52) Should I be concerned about my son's emotional regulation?  -  Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode.  Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum  Explore our SMart Center success stories!  Get started at the SMart Center  Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here.  This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting  For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠ 

This episode features a great discussion between Dr. E and Jennifer Brittingham – the SMart Center’s Lead Clinician and School Consultant - on what parents can do to prepare their children for the summer months ahead. These next few months will provide individuals with SM with some unique opportunities. There will be untraditional socialization situations with peers, visits with extended family, and may even include a summer vacation to a new, unfamiliar place. Dr E and Jen break all these scenarios down and more in this episode.  Timestamps:  (2:05) Importance of socializing throughout the summer  (7:13) What to look for when choosing a summer camp  (13:25) Pre-camp tips to get child ready for day 1 of camp  (17:41) How to create opportunities for social communication   (26:17) Do’s and don’t’s when trying to create comfort during the summer   (30:57) Putting it all together  (33:36) Don't underestimate utilizing family, friends, and relatives  - Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode.  Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum  Explore our SMart Center success stories!  Get started at the SMart Center  Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here.  Relevant resources: Webinar: Summer Strategies 101  Webinar: Summer Strategies 102 Book: Summer Vacation & Back-to-School Guide (download eBook) - This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting  For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠ 

This episode features a second installation of our live chat with parents. In this episode, we focus the discussion on children ages three to eight with Selective Mutism. This live chat is moderated once again by CommuniCamp Director and Outreach Coordinator, LisaMarie Vargas. Thank you to the parents who joined the show and for engaging in a thoughtful discussion with Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum and LisaMarie!   Topics:  (00:46) Participants introductions  (2:00) My child is progressing nicely during play dates and even at places like restaurants, however not as much at school. How can we help our child carry their progress into the classroom?  (7:51) Tips for navigating emotional regulation   (16:46) Can a child grow out of Selective Mutism?   (23:00) Help with initiating conversation   (32:28) My child won’t leave the house without his baseball hat on...  (39:54) Strategies when dealing with separation anxiety   (46:10) What are next steps when you feel like exposures aren’t working out as well as you’d hoped?  (58:00) Final thoughts  -  Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode.  Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum  Explore our SMart Center success stories!  Get started at the SMart Center  Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here.  Relevant resources:  Handouts:  About My Child | Helping the Child with Selective Mutism Acknowledge, Assess, and Understand their Anxiety | Helping Individuals with Selective Mutism Become Confident Social Communicators   Book: Unspoken Words: A Child’s View of Selective Mutism  Research Studies  This podcast was made possible thanks to New Edition Consulting  For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠ 

This is Part 2 (of 2) of Dr Elisa Shipon-Blum's discussion with Jennifer Brittingham, LPC on Stage 2 of the Social Communication Bridge®, otherwise known as the transitional stage of communication. Here at the SMart Center, we often refer to this stage as ‘The Missing Link’ to treatment.   Timestamps:  (03:49) Verbal intermediary in school setting  (13:07) ‘Selective whisperers’  (21:37) Use of sounds  (24:29) Sound activity example  (33:01) Ritual Sound Approach  (44:26) Final remarks  - For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org

Dr Elisa Shipon-Blum is joined once again by Jennifer Brittingham, LPC to break down Stage 2 of the Social Communication Bridge®, otherwise known as the transitional stage of communication. Here at the SMart Center, we often refer to this stage as ‘The Missing Link’ to treatment.   Timestamps:  (01:04) Dr. E's pop quiz (get out your pen and paper!)  (07:22) Re-familiarizing parents with the Social Communication Bridge®  (08:55) How and why Dr. E began focusing her treatment on the ‘Transitional Stage’   (14:29) Three types of transitional strategies  (15:11) Using augmented devices; should parents record their child talking without them knowing?  (22:15) Unpacking verbal intermediaries  -  Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode.  Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum  Explore our SMart Center success stories!  Get started at the SMart Center  Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here.  Relevant resources:  Handouts: Transitional Stage ‘The Missing Link’ Social Communication Bridge®  Previous Podcasts  Ep 4 – Social Communication Bridge®  Ep 5 – Back to School   This podcast was made possible thanks to New Edition Consulting For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org

A few weeks ago, Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum had the pleasure of joining Dr. Ray Christner and Paul Wagner on the Psyched to Practice podcast. Psyched to Practice is a podcast designed to explore the far reaches of mental health. Dr. E and the podcast's co-hosts covered a lot of great material on Selective Mutism and we want to bring everything discussed directly to our podcast feed. Thank you, Dr. Ray Christner and Paul Wagner, for allowing us to bring this amazing episode to our listeners!  - Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about the Psyched to Practice Podcast Learn more about Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here. This podcast was made possible thanks to New Edition Consulting For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org

If you follow us on social media or receive our monthly newsletter, you’re likely familiar with our ongoing Ask Dr. E segment. “Ask Dr E” is where our community can ask Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum any question they have on any topic relating to Selective Mutism. Since rolling out this segment in 2022, we have received some amazing questions. As a result, we are giving the segment more life by giving it its own series on our podcast feed! These Q&A-type episodes will be released once a quarter, and we can’t be more excited! In our first Ask Dr E episode, Dr. E provided insight into the following situations: (01:15) A parent of a 3rd grader with SM whose school is focused only on getting her son to speak, instead of focusing first on interacting and communicating non-verbally. (5:30) A 4th grade girl whose mom is watching her child lose her sense of confidence yet the school has not yet brought up the need for accommodations and/or interventions (9:35) What to do when a private school is not receptive to the SM diagnosis (14:15) A 3rd grade girl struggling in school and showing avoidance behaviors (20:30) Whether or not to carry on with a child’s 504 plan when they may or may not need it. - Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here. This podcast was made possible thanks to New Edition Consulting For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠