The Child Mind Institute
The Child Mind Institute is an independent nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Our teams work every day to deliver the highest standards of care, advance the science of the developing brain and empower parents, professionals and policymakers to support children when and where they need it most. The Child Mind Institute is recognized for its robust Selective Mutism Service Program. Families travel from around the world to partake in our innovative program that helps children with SM overcome their symptoms using state of the art evidence-based behavioral interventions.
The SM program offers a wide range of evaluation, intervention and consultation options for children of all ages. Our treatment highlights include comprehensive diagnostic evaluations, including a live behavioral observation to best understand your child’s ease of talking with and without a stranger present. Our treatment is largely behavioral in nature, includes parents and helps children and parents learn skills with “Brave Talking.” There is a heavy emphasis on generalization, as it is crucial that children begin to speak to more people, in more places and in more activities. In addition to the direct clinical work, we provide consultation and trainings for schools and personnel in school on an ongoing basis.
We offer intensive treatment for those traveling long distances, who have older children or who want more frequent treatment. We have the ability to see your child/daily several hours a day for 1-2 weeks, permitting a patient to be seen for several hours a day, several days a week, depending on need.
Brave BuddiesSM a group intensive behavioral therapy program to help children with SM ages 3 to 8. Using an classroom setting, the program offers children a safe environment to practice “brave talking” with positive feedback. Brave Buddies provides a 1:1 ratio, is offered several times a year (in both one day and multi day formats), offers many opportunities for peer to peer
interactions and has a daily parent training component.
Our Treatment Providers
Dr. Rachel Busman, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist and director of the Selective Mutism Service at the Child Mind Institute
Dr. Janine Domingues, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Center
Lindsay Brand, PhD, associate psychologist in the Anxiety Disorders Center and the Mood Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute
Dr. Amanda Mintzer, PsyD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist in the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Center
Jillian DiPietro, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the ADHD and Behavior Disorders Center and the Selective Mutism Service
Michelle Kaplan, LCSW, Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Center and Selective Mutism Service
Elianna Platt, MA, LMSW, Licensed Social Worker in the Selective Mutism Service
