Thriving Minds is a pediatric psychology clinic offering expert consultation, diagnosis, and psychological treatment of Selective Mutism and other anxiety disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy is used to treat the child both in the office and then in natural settings. Therapy consists of development of a fear hierarchy, which ranks steps of communication by level of distress. Then, the child is encouraged to take systematic steps through the hierarchy through modeling, stimulus fading, and use of coping strategies. In order to provide a inclusive treatment program, our therapists regularly consult with the school and assists both parents and school personnel in setting up weekly exposures (opportunities to practice being “brave” by facing fears in a methodical way outside of the clinical setting).

In addition to behavioral treatment as usual, the clinicians at Thriving Minds offer in-clinic, in-school, and summer camp (Confident Kids Camp) intensives for children with Selective Mutism. These intensive doses of behavioral treatment are helpful in reducing anxiety and increasing confidence and speech more quickly. Preliminary research data suggest that greater gains are made in one week of intensive treatment than in 12 weeks of weekly treatment.

Thriving Minds
10524 East Grand River, Ste. 100
Brighton MI 48116

Thriving Minds
350 North Main Street, Ste. 220
Chelsea MI 48118

www.thrivingmindsbehavioralheath.com
www.selectivemutismtreatment.com

Aimee Kotrba, information@drkotrba.com
Lisa Wheeler, lwheeler@thrivingmindsbehavioralhealth.com
Katelyn Reed, kreed@thrivingmindsbehavioralhealth.com

Aimee Kotrba, Ph.D.

Aimee Kotrba, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist and director of Thriving Minds. Dr. Kotrba specializes in the behavioral treatment of children with Selective Mutism and other anxiety disorders. In addition to directing Thriving Minds, Dr. Kotrba regularly shares her expertise about Selective Mutism by offering local, national, and international workshops for professionals, parents, and schools. Dr. Kotrba has been treating kids and teenagers with Selective Mutism for more than ten years, using behavioral therapy methods including shaping and stimulus fading, consultation with schools, community-based interventions, and parent training. She is the author of Selective Mutism: An Assessment and Intervention Guide for Therapists, Educators, and Parents. She is a past board member and president of the Selective Mutism Association.

Katelyn Reed, M.S.

Katelyn Reed, M.S. is a limited license psychologist at Thriving Minds Behavioral Health in Brighton, Michigan. Katelyn completed her M.S. degree in Clinical Behavioral Psychology at Eastern Michigan University, where she focused on behavioral and cognitive-behavioral interventions for children and adolescents. She is particularly passionate about treating children with Selective Mutism and does so in individual weekly treatment as well as intensive-style interventions (i.e., the child/family receives 15-25 hours of treatment in one week). Katelyn is the Assistant Director of Confident Kids Camp, a treatment camp for children with SM.

Katelyn has worked extensively with children and adolescents with SM in the clinic, community, school, and home settings. Katelyn is a member of Selective Mutism Association and has contributed to the Selective Mutism Association 2016 conference. Locally, she frequently collaborates with schools, preschools, and parent support groups in order to help families and professionals better identify and address Selective Mutism.

Lisa Wheeler, M.A.

Lisa Wheeler, M.A. is a Limited Licensed Psychologist who completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Madonna University. She began working with children with Selective Mutism (SM) in 2013 as a counselor in Confident Kids Camp (CKC), an intensive week-long treatment program for children with SM. She was a CKC counselor for 2 years and then a CKC classroom teacher the following 2 years.
Lisa’s passion for working with SM was sparked while working at CKC, and in 2015 she joined Thriving Mind Behavioral Health as a psychotherapist where she received further training in the expert assessment and treatment of SM. In the spring of 2016, Lisa completed advanced training and consultation through the Selective Mutism Group’s Selective Mutism Proficiency Program. Currently, at Thriving Minds Behavioral Health, Lisa works with children with SM in individual therapy, co-facilitates a Selective Mutism peer practice and parent support group, and provides school and clinic intensive interventions. Additionally, Lisa provides coaching on behavioral interventions to parents and consults with schools on using behavioral interventions for SM in the school setting.