Find a Treating Professional
How To Try To Find A Treating Professional Who Can Work With A Child With Selective Mutism
The following professionals have joined our SMA community. They represent various specialties that work with children with Selective Mutism. SMA commends these professionals for taking an interest in treating or working with children with SM. The listings on this page can provide a source of referral information for parents seeking a treating professional for their child. SMA cannot, however, specifically endorse treating providers and reminds parents to carefully qualify any professional before beginning treatment. Suggestions for qualifying a treating professional are found on our Find a Treating Professional page.
To see more information about the treating professionals listed (by State) below, click on one of the individual’s names. Treating professionals licensed in multiple states will be listed under each state in which they have indicated that they are fully licensed to practice.
Please note that during the COVID pandemic, some states are allowing temporary privileges for out-of-state professionals to practice in other states. As of April 2021, these permissions are rapidly changing due to the vaccine program. You can check with individual practitioners about temporary privileges that they may have to practice in your area.
SMA relies on the attestation of its Treating Professionals to maintain the accuracy of this information.
* This treating professional is licensed in this state, however their physical practice resides in another state. Please contact the treating professional directly for information on their telehealth, virtual treatment or travel availability.
Argentina
Buenos Aires |
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| Fabiana Baracchini | Buenos Aries, BA |
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro |
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| Natasha Ganem (MD) | Ipanema, RJ |
| Francilene Torraca (Psychologist) | Tijuca, RJ |
Sao Paulo |
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| Rodrigo Rejtman Guimaraes (MD) | Sorocaba, SP |
| Elisa Maria Neiva de Lima Vieira (Psychologist) | Sorocaba, SP |
Canada
Alberta |
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| Andrea Bliss (PhD) | Calgary, AB |
| Terryl Makuk (BEd, MSc) | Calgary, AB |
British Columbia |
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| Anna Simpson (PhD) | North Vancouver, BC |
Ontario |
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| Marie-France Renaud (MA) | Cornwall, ON |
| Jemma Helfman (PsyD, C.Psych) | Toronto, ON |
Germany
| Sabine Laerum (SLP, MA, BS, PCIT) |
Israel
| Rivky Winer (PCI) |
Portugal
| Maria João Silva | Lisbon |
Switzerland
| Sabine Laerum (SLP, MA, BS, PCIT) | Zollikon, Canton Zurich |
United States of America
Alabama |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Arizona |
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| Alicia Goodman (PhD, NCSP) | Phoenix, AZ |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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California |
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| Yolanda Agredano (MD) | Los Gatos, CA |
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Belmont Psychological Services – Kathryn Manetta (PhD) – Lisa Phillips (PhD) – Michelle Beakey (PsyD) – Katherine Prill (PsyD) – Jaime Dunham (LMFT) |
Long Beach, CA |
| Audrey E. Boggs (PsyD) | Agoura Hills and Ventura, CA |
| Danielle Cornacchio (PhD) | Los Angeles, CA |
| Jenny Dunn (BCaBA) | Roseville, CA |
| Catherine Eckel (PhD) | Los Gatos, CA |
| Cara Frankel (PhD) | Oakland, CA |
| Lisa Gioia (MS, LMFT) | Pleasanton, CA |
| Leah M. Hall (MA, CCC-SLP) | Orange County, CA |
| Esther B. Hess (PhD) | Los Angeles, CA |
| Lynn Lunceford (PsyD) | San Diego, CA |
| Gabrielle Perelmuter (MOT, OTR/L) | Corte Madera, CA |
| Lisa Phillips (PhD) | Costa Mesa and Laguna Niguel, CA |
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Pinnacle Counseling and Testing Center – Carissa Douglas (PsyD) – Clarissa (Clare) Gosney (PsyD) |
Murrieta, San Diego (Mission Valley), and Encinitas, CA |
| Erica Rozmid (PhD) | Los Angeles, CA |
| Shireen Sonefeldt (PsyD) | Hermosa Beach, CA |
| Revathi Srinivasan (PhD PSY) | Fremont, CA |
| Anna Swan (PhD) | San Francisco, CA |
| Christy Tadros (MA, EdM) | San Francisco, CA |
| Judy Welch (PsyD) | Thousand Oaks, CA |
Colorado |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Connecticut |
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Shoreline Wellness Center, LLC – Cara Powers (LPC) |
West Haven, CT |
| Rachel Busman (PsyD, ABPP)* | New York, NY |
Delaware |
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Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC – Steven Kurtz (PhD)* |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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District of Columbia (DC) |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Florida |
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| Shelley Avny (PhD)* | |
| Joleen Fernald (PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL) | Tampa Bay Area, FL |
| Florida International University Center for Children and Families (PhD) | Miami, FL |
| Deetza Franklin (LMHC, MEd) | North Miami Beach, FL |
| Vera Joffe (PhD, ABPP) | Coral Springs, FL |
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Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC – Katherine (Kate) Gibson (PsyD, ABPP)* – Caroline Harvey (PsyD)* |
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| Monique Mondesir (MD) | Treasure Coast, FL |
| Tara Motzenbecker (MS, NCSP, Licensed School Psychologist) | Sarasota, FL |
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SMart Center – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Georgia |
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Anxiety Specialists of Atlanta – Shannan Edwards (PhD) – Cameron Mosley (PhD) – Jessica Nasser (PhD) – Josh Spitalnick (PhD, ABPP) | Dunwoody, GA |
| Carolyn K. Broner (MS Ed, BCBA) | Duluth, GA |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Idaho |
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Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC – Caroline Harvey (PsyD)* |
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Illinois |
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Advanced Therapeutic Solutions – Carmen M. Tumialán Lynas (PhD) |
Oak Brook, IL |
| Linda Aubergine (DO) | Hinsdale, IL |
| Bryan Bugay (MEd, LCPC) | Northfield, IL |
| Karen Lynn Cassiday (PhD, ACT) | Greater Chicago Area, IL |
| Micah Ioffe (PhD) | Chicago and Wilmette, IL |
| Carly Mayer (PsyD) | |
| Dana Mckennon (PsyD) | Arlington Heights, IL |
| Danielle Zar (LPC, MEd) | Chicago, IL |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Indiana |
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| Andrea Brandon (PsyD, HSPP, ABPP) | Merrillville, IN |
| Heather Plinovich (PhD, HSPP) | Munster, IN |
| Hsiu-Ying Ransburg (MSW, LCSW, LCAC) | Carmel, IN |
Kansas |
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| Julie Moore (LMSW) | Kansas City, KS |
Maine |
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| Kristin Droste (MA, CCC-SLP) | ME |
Maryland |
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| Jaime L. Benson (PhD, NCSP) | Odenton, MD |
| Courtney Keeton (PhD) | Baltimore, MD |
| Rockville, MD | |
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Miller Psychology Group – Alison L. Miller (PsyD) – Sarah Gorman (PsyD) |
Lutherville, MD |
| Daniela Nogales (LCPC) | Rockville, MD |
| Meredith Polsky (LMSW) | Rockville, MD |
| Veronica Raggi (PhD) | Rockville, MD |
| Lindsay Scharfstein (PhD) | Rockville, MD |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC – Katherine (Kate) Gibson (PsyD, ABPP)* |
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Massachusetts |
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Boston Child Study Center – Nathan Lambright – Ryan Madigan – Kaitlyn Wilbur Smith (PsyD) |
Boston, MA |
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Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders Selective Mutism Program – Rachel Merson |
Boston, MA |
| Kristin Droste (MA, CCC-SLP) | MA |
| Karen Levine (PhD) | Lexington, MA |
| Randi Loeb (MS CCC SLP) | Lexington, MA |
| Jennifer D. Lish (PhD) | Worcester, MA |
| Edward H. Plimpton (PhD) | Amherst, MA |
| Beverly Singer (PsyD) | Hingham, MA |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Michigan |
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| Ruth M. Anan (PhD, BCBA) | Novi, MI |
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Thriving Minds – Aimee Kotrba (PhD, PLLC) – Katelyn Reed (MS, LLP) – Lisa Wheeler (MA) |
Brighton, Chelsea, MI |
Minnesota |
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| Julie Christianson (MSW, LICSW) | Plymouth, MN |
| Sarah Pavek (MA, LP) | St. Paul, MN |
Mississippi |
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| Eleanor Ezell (LMSW) | Jackson, MS |
Missouri |
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| Rebecca Growe (MSW, LCSW) | St. Louis, MO |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Nebraska |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Nevada |
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| Courtney Haight (PhD) | Henderson, NV |
| Rachele Merk (PhD) | Las Vegas, NV |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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New Hampshire |
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| Annie DiVello (MS, CCC-SLP) | Newmarket, NH |
| Kristin Droste (MA, CCC-SLP) | NH |
| Joleen Fernald (PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL)* | |
| Stephen Quinlan (LICSW) | Dover, NH |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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New Jersey |
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| Shelley Avny (PhD) | Monmouth Junction, NJ |
| Colleen Fitzpatrick (MSW, LCSW, CH) | Haddonfield South, NJ |
| Karen Jacob (MSW/LCSW) | West Orange, NJ |
| Carly Orenstein (PsyD) | Parsippany, NJ |
| Stella Silver (PsyD) | Manalapan, NJ |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC – Katherine (Kate) Gibson (PsyD, ABPP)* |
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New York |
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| Shelley Avny (PhD)* | |
| William Benson (PsyD) | New York, NY |
| Rachel Busman (PsyD, ABPP) | White Plains, NY |
| Meg Glick (LCSW, MSEd) | New York, NY |
| Dana Jerusalmi (PhD) | New York, NY |
| Vera Joffe (PhD, ABPP) | NY |
| Catharina Kleuskens (LCSW) | Merrick, NY |
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Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC – Steven Kurtz (PhD) – Katherine (Kate) Gibson (PsyD, ABPP) – Caroline Harvey (PsyD) |
New York, NY |
| Carly Mayer (PsyD) | New York, NY |
| Marian Moldan (LCSW-R) | Miller Place and Plainview, NY |
| Judith Musaro Lichter (PhD, LCSW) | South Huntington, LI, NY |
| Elana Rimler (PsyD) | Dix Hills, NY |
| Chelsey Rosen (PsyD) | NY, NY |
| Rebecca Sinclair (PhD) | Brooklyn, NY |
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The Child Mind Institute – Janine Domingues (PhD) – Lindsey Giller (PsyD) – Lindsay Macchia (PhD) – Amanda Mintzer (PsyD) – Jillian DiPietro (LCSW) – Michelle Kaplan (LCSW) |
New York, NY |
North Carolina |
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| Denise Kinser (MSW, LCSW, PLLC) | Charlotte, NC |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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| Jordan Wade (PhD) | Raleigh, NC |
Oklahoma |
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| Paul Shawler (PhD) | Oklahoma City, OK |
| Shawna Standiford (MEd, LPC) | Oklahoma City, OK |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Pennsylvania |
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| Katherine Dahlsgaard (PhD) | Philadelphia, PA |
| Emily Doll (MA, MS, CCC-SLP) | Easton, PA |
| Evelyn R. Klein (PhD) | Philadephia, PA |
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SMart Center – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO) – William La Valle (PsyD) |
Philadelphia, PA |
| Bria Toneff (MA) | Monroeville, PA |
Rhode Island
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| Erica Rozmid (PhD)* | |
South Carolina
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| Denise Kinser (MSW, LCSW, PLLC)* | |
Tennessee |
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| Kristin Seiler Davis (MS, CCC, SLP) | Brentwood, TN |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Texas |
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| Reagan Kinnear (PhD, NCSP) | Willow Park, TX |
| Thien-An Le (PhD) | Austin, TX |
| Louise Tedford (PhD) | Austin, TX |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Utah |
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| Jared Andes (LCSW) | Salt Lake City and Sandy, UT |
| Heidi Applonie (LCSW) | Layton, UT |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Vermont |
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| Carly Mayer (PsyD) | |
Virginia |
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| Meredith Polsky (LCSW)* | Rockville, MD |
| Lindsay Scharfstein (PhD)* | Rockville, MD |
| Kristin Swanson (PsyD) | Falls Church, VA |
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Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC – Steven Kurtz (PhD)* – Katherine (Kate) Gibson (PsyD, ABPP)* |
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SMart Center – William La Valle (PsyD)* – Elisa Shipon-Blum (DO)* |
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Washington |
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| Brenda Ray (MS, CCC, SLP) | Monroe and Seattle, WA |
| Kendra Read (PhD) | Seattle, WA |
| Tracey Ward (PhD) | Seattle, WA |
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Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC – Steven Kurtz (PhD)* |
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There are few providers who may have specific expertise in SM. However, as SM is a form of childhood anxiety, it can also be helpful to look for providers who can treat childhood anxiety (i.e. using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and behavioral approaches) and who may have a familiarity with SM. Below are examples of how to do this (these recommendations are specific to the USA but can be generalized to agencies in other countries):
- Google your state’s Department of Mental Health or Department of Behavioral Health (it may be called something different in different areas). Locate where it may list either treatment options or a contact number that you can call to get a list of state/region mental health agencies. Once you have a list of agencies, call each agency and ask about whether they have providers who can treat SM/child anxiety.
- Look up the email/phone number for your state’s psychological association. It is usually called the (STATE NAME) Psychological Association. Ask if there is a way to find out if any of their members could treat a child with SM/child anxiety.
- Identify several hospitals in your state/region. Look up if they have a psychiatric outpatient department and call the intake number to see if they have any providers who can treat SM/child anxiety. Also, when contacting hospitals, ask about other professionals who could treat SM such as speech pathologists or social workers and how to contact those departments.
- Contact your local speech/language/hearing association. Similar to above, ask if there is a way to find out if they know of providers who can treat SM.
- Identify and contact universities who have any of the following: Clinical psychology graduate programs, social work graduate programs, or speech pathology programs. Often, universities may have a clinical center for one or more of the above programs and there may be graduate students who would be qualified to treat SM with supervision.
- Identify behavior analysts in your areas. Go to www.bacb.com, click ‘find a registrant’ and enter a zip code.
- Contact your insurance company and ask for a list of covered providers in your area who can treat SM/child anxiety
Here are a few tips for searching for a treating professional in your area:
- Ask around. You can start by asking your pediatrician, child’s school, family or friends who they have had direct experience with or who they have heard is a good child therapist. You will want to find a child psychologist, psychiatrist or clinical social worker who specializes in the treatment of childhood anxiety disorders.
- Make some phone calls. If you cannot find a professional who has come personally recommended from someone you trust, you can ask your insurance company for individuals in their network of providers who list childhood anxiety disorders as a specialty. You can call psychological practices in your community that come highly recommended and ask them if they know of any professionals who specifically treat childhood anxiety disorders. Often times, calling your local children’s hospital and asking them for a referral can be a beneficial resource as well.
- Check out online resources. There are many ways to search for a potential provider online. First, you may want to review the list of SMA Professional Members who treat children with Selective Mutism and have joined the organization as a way to learn more about SM and network with other specialty providers. Websites such as FindCounseling.com offers a list of treating professionals by geographic area, as well as a list of professional associations by state who can help identify specialists in your area. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry offers referral resources on their website, aacap.org, allowing you to search for a child psychiatrist. The Anxiety Disorder Association of America is another good online resource to locate a provider, adaa.org as well as the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies at abct.org.
- Narrow down the options. Once you compile this list of potential doctors, you will want to call and find out more information to help you narrow your choices. Many professionals will offer a brief phone consultation, giving you a chance to speak with them by phone to learn more about their practice, what they do, and their experience with your presenting problem. You will want to know their experience in treating Selective Mutism, how many children they have treated, how many cases were successful, and what treatment methods were used. Questions that may be helpful to you are: What are your areas of expertise? How many cases of SM have you worked with and what were the outcomes? What are your views about why SM manifests in children? What is your treatment approach to SM? What will my role be in the treatment? Will you involve my child’s teacher and school? Make sure you are finding an experienced professional but also one who will be a good fit for your child. Does your child love to draw? Maybe one of the professionals on your list utilizes a lot of creative activities in his or her therapy. This may be something you’d want to factor into your decision.
- Make the final selection. You want a treating professional who has worked with a number of SM cases before, had success, and one who will involve you, your child’s teacher and school in the treatment process. Be especially cautious of professionals who view SM as ‘controlling’ or ‘manipulative’ behavior. Recommendations of the use of punishment for not speaking, or attempts to force a child to speak, are inappropriate treatment methods and will only heighten your child’s anxiety. It is OK to set up an initial parent visit (and not bring your child) to see if you like the treating professional, his or her approach and personal style, and determine if this individual may be a good fit for your child. It’s OK to go to an initial appointment and decide that this professional will not be a good fit and go back to your list of options. This is better than starting treatment and not having confidence in your provider, which will only prolong your child’s anxiety.
