Events

Registration is closed. We are at capacity.

Cosponsored by American University

May 5 and May 6
4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016

More Information
and
Register Closed

The Selective Mutism Training Institute (SMTI) is an in-depth 2-day training course for professionals working with children diagnosed with selective mutism (SM). The workshop is intensive, interactive and skills-based with the goal of increasing competence in providing empirically-supported treatment of SM to professionals with beginner and intermediate exposure and skills in assessing and treating SM. We maintain a high instructor to participant ratio to ensure adequate time for skills practice and coaching.

This is a unique opportunity for mental health and speech-language professionals and graduate-level trainees to learn cutting-edge, innovative techniques to effectively treat children with SM. Small group, video consultation with the course instructors following the 2-day onsite training is included in the cost, allowing participants to further apply the skills in their own unique clinical settings.

This course is taught by leading experts, researchers, and authors in the field of SM:

Jami Furr, Ph.D. Director, Selective Mutism Program, Center for Children and Families, Florida International University
Evelyn Klein, Ph.D.,CCC-SLP, BRS-CL, LaSalle University
Steven Kurtz, Ph.D., ABPP, President, Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC
Cesar Ruiz, SLP-D, CCC-SLP, BRS-S, LaSalle University

The workshop starts with providing a framework for understanding the etiology of SM, highlighting the role of nature, nurture, temperament, and developmental differences in the onset and maintenance of SM, social anxiety, and other common comorbidities. Strategies for behavioral, developmental, and language assessment will be reviewed, including how to conduct observations of children with SM. Evidence-based interventions will be covered in depth, including behavioral strategies such as stimulus fading, shaping, positive reinforcement, and parent education/coaching. State-of-the-science interventions, such as intensive treatments, group-based interventions, and school consultation will also be taught. Speech and language conceptualization, assessment, and interventions will also be reviewed.

Participant requirements: Participants must be either independently licensed or certified, or matriculating in a supervised graduate program in clinical psychology, school psychology, counseling, social work, applied behavior analysis, or speech-language pathology. Other participants will be considered on a case-by-case basis and are encouraged to email info@selectivemutism.org with their particulars to discuss if this training is appropriate.

Prior experience: The SMTI course is primarily intended for those with beginner and intermediate exposure to work with SM.

Continuing Education Credits

We are approved to offer 10.75 APA CEUs and 1.1 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate level, Professional Area). Please see the information below regarding APA and ASHA CE information. Certificates of course completion will be provided to all participants who complete the onsite course and consultation calls.

Information for APA CE

Accreditation: Rhode Island Hospital is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rhode Island Hospital maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Educational Objectives:

1. Provide effective behavioral treatment for children with selective mutism
2. Conduct evaluations of selective mutism to assist with differential diagnosis and information treatment planning.
3. Work effectively and in collaboration with school professionals and caregivers to intervene in all settings to which speaking is expected of youth.

Level: Intermediate

Information for ASHA
Selective Mutism Training Institute
A Professional Training Workshop for Selective Mutism

This learning event does not focus exclusively on any specific product or service.

Selective Mutism Training Institute is committed to providing equal opportunity in accordance with all applicable laws. If you are in need of a disability-related accommodation, please contact Lisa Kovac at info@selectivemutism.org. We will review your request and respond in a timely manner. Please note that we will require a minimum of 2 weeks to attempt to provide a reasonable accommodation for your request. To earn CEUs, you will need to participate in the course by attending the two-day training in its entirety and complete the exam. ASHA CEU’s are provided through a cooperative agreement with DCSHA (District of Columbia Speech-Language-Hearing Association).

This course is offered for 1.1 ASHA CEUs (Intermediate Level, Professional Area).

Learning Outcomes

• After this course, participants will be able to describe etiologies related to selective mutism and appropriate timing for medication consultation.
• After this course, participants will be able to describe effective assessment measures and procedures in the evaluation of children with selective mutism.
• After this course, participants will be able to identify connections between laryngeal tension, speech production, and language competence in the EXPRESS (EXPanding Receptive and Expressive Skills through Stories) and vocal control treatments of selective mutism.
• After this course, participants will be able to list levels of communication from nonvocal to spontaneous vocalization in treating children with selective mutism.
• After this course, participants will be able to state empirically-supported behavioral and cognitive treatment including self-modeling, and PCIT-SM (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism) techniques for selective mutism in school, home, and public (social) settings.
• After this course, participants will be able to list three strategies to effectively engage school personnel and education system to promote awareness and implementation of treatment strategies specific to youth with special needs and selective mutism.

Agenda

Presented By

Jami M. Furr, Ph.D., is Clinical Director of the Mental Health Interventions and Technology (MINT) Program, and Director of the Selective Mutism Program at the Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Florida International University, where she is also Clinical Assistant Professor. Dr. Furr has extensive clinical expertise and research interests in cognitive and behavioral treatments of childhood anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders, with a particular focus on preschool mental health. She supervises and provides weekly and intensive treatment programs for children with early anxiety and/or behavior problems, and directs specialty programs for youth with selective mutism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or other anxiety-related problems. She also is the clinical director of several active programs implementing Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for difficult-to-treat and difficult-to-reach populations of children. She serves on the Board of Directors of the Selective Mutism Association and is Associate Editor of the peer-reviewed journal Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health.

Evelyn R. Klein, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, BCS-CL is a Professor at La Salle University in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. She is a Fellow of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and Board Certified Specialist in Child Language. She is also recipient of La Salle’s Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award in 2011 and Faculty Distinguished Scholar Award in 2018. She received the Clinical Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Speech-Language-Hearing Association. As a licensed psychologist and speech-language pathologist, Dr. Klein is engaged in private practice and teaches, supervises, and advises students pursuing degrees in speech-language pathology. Her areas of specialization include selective mutism, autism spectrum disorders, stuttering, acquired language disorders, and counseling for communicative disorders. At La Salle, she has been instrumental in development of the CASTLE Center, providing Comprehensive Assessment with Speech Technology for Language Expansion. Dr. Klein is published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and has co-authored many texts and treatment programs in the field for children with selective mutism and other communication needs. She is on the scientific advisory board of the Selective Mutism Association and also serves as a research consultant with the Selective Mutism Research Institute.

Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP is the President and Founder of Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC and is internationally recognized for developing innovative treatments of children’s behavioral problems and anxiety disorders. Dr. Kurtz is the person who developed PCIT-SM, the official adaptation of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for children with SM. He also created both the Mighty Mouth Kids (2014) and Brave Buddies (2009) group intensive treatment models which are now entering their 10th year and are run in 11 sites in 3 countries. Dr. Kurtz’s team also created the free online course SM University, which has now been used by over 700 families and professionals. Kurtz Psychology also launched WeSpeak in 2016, the first of its kind group intensive for older children with SM. He is a widely respected clinical researcher and child psychologist, one of only 21 Certified Master Trainers in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy endorsed by PCIT International. Dr. Kurtz is a tireless advocate for children with special needs. He is Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies, is on the Scientific Advisory Board of the Selective Mutism Association, and volunteers with many national organizations as well as serving as adjunct clinical supervisor for Yeshiva University’s doctoral program.

Cesar E. Ruiz, SLP.D., CCC/SLP., BCS-S is a Professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at La Salle University. He is licensed and certified in speech-language pathology in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He holds board certification in swallowing and swallowing disorders from the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. His specializations include evaluation, treatment, and research in the areas of voice, swallowing, and selective mutism. He has incorporated voice evaluation during the assessment of children with selective mutism. He is well versed in performing instrumental evaluations including Surface Electromyography, Acoustic Analysis, Nasendoscopy and Videostroboscopy.

Presenter Disclosures

Dr. Jami Furr is paid an honorarium for this presentation by the Selective Mutism Association (SMA). Non-financial relationships include being a Board Member of the Selective Mutism Association.

Dr. Evelyn Klein is paid an honorarium for this presentation by the Selective Mutism Association. Dr. Klein is a co-author of the EXPRESS Program with all proceeds donated to charity with the Selective Mutism Research Institute where she is a research consultant. Non-financial relationships include being on the scientific advisory board of the Selective Mutism Association.

Dr. Steven Kurtz is paid an honorarium for this presentation by the Selective Mutism Association (SMA). He is also the originating author of the PCIT-SM model, Brave Buddies, Mighty Mouth, and co-author of the SM University. Non-financial relationships include being on the scientific advisory board of the Selective Mutism Association and a Board Member of the Selective Mutism Association.

Dr. Cesar Ruiz is paid an honorarium for this presentation by the Selective Mutism Association (SMA). Non-financial relationships include acting as a treasurer of the American Board of Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders. He also serves as the chair for the ad hoc committee on universal coverage for hearing aids.

More Information
and
Register Closed