SMA Board of Directors

Jami Furr, Ph.D.

Dr. Jami Furr is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Senior Psychologist in the Mental Health Interventions and Technology Program, and Developer of the Selective Mutism Program at Florida International University Center for Children and Families. She is the President of the Selective Mutism Association and has served on their Board of Directors for the last 3 years. She has expertise in cognitive behavioral treatments of childhood selective mutism and anxiety, and preschool mental health, and serves as a trainer and consultant on the largest PCORI-funded project on anxiety in youth. She fostered the first randomized controlled trial on an intensive group behavioral treatment for youth with selective mutism, recently published in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Her selective mutism program has been featured in the media, including The New York Times. She was an inaugural Associate Editor for Evidence Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health for 3 years. Prior to joining FIU, she served as Clinical Director of the Child Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders of Boston University, where she began their Selective Mutism Program. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Temple University, completed her clinical internship in the Child Track at the NYU-Bellevue Clinical Psychology Internship Program and NYU Child Study Center, and finished her training in a NIH-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship at the NYU Child Study Center.

http://ccf.fiu.edu
http://mint.fiu.edu

Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP

Rachel Busman, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in children and adolescents. She is the Senior Director of the Child & Adolescent Anxiety & Related Disorders Program at Cognitive Behavioral Consultants (CBC), where she runs Voices Rising, an intensive group based program for children with SM. Prior to joining CBC, she ran Brave Buddies, an internationally recognized SM program at the Child Mind Institute. She has extensive experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to children, teenagers, and young adults struggling with psychiatric disorders, school difficulties, and behavioral problems. Dr. Busman is certified in Parent Child Interaction Therapy for SM (PCIT-SM) and is an interagency trainer. She is the past president of the SMA and continues to actively serve on the board.

Dr. Busman worked for 8 years in both the inpatient psychiatric and outpatient community mental health settings. She was a professor of psychiatry at New York Medical College, and continues to be an active supervisor to trainees.

She is thrilled to be on the board of SMA, as she is truly dedicated to disseminating accurate and up to date information about the assessment and treatment of SM, and reducing stigma
Cognitive Behavioral Consultants.

Pamela Martis Zambriski

Pamela resides in Redondo Beach, California with her husband. Pamela began her career in accounting serving as a controller for a medium sized public company specializing in financial services. After raising two children Pamela joined the Cancer Support Community Redondo Beach’s accounting and development departments where she oversees the day-to-day accounting and assists with centers fundraising efforts.

Pamela enjoys volunteering and looks forward to continuing to further the efforts of The Selective Mutism Association.

Emily Doll, M.A., M.S., CCC-SLP

Emily Doll is a licensed speech-language pathologist who currently works in an elementary school in Eastern PA. Her caseload includes students in grades K-5 with a variety of social, emotional, cognitive, and academic needs, including students with selective mutism. Emily also participates as a counselor at the Child Mind Institute’s Brave Buddies programs for children with selective mutism. Prior to working as a speech pathologist, Emily taught preschool for 10 years and worked one-on-one with a student with selective mutism in this setting. Emily received her M.A. in Applied Developmental Psychology with a focus on Language Acquisition from George Mason University and her M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from East Stroudsburg University. She continues to conduct and collaborate in research within the speech pathology field through East Stroudsburg University, where she also serves as a guest lecturer for graduate and undergraduate classes. Her professional interests are in helping children with anxiety and communication needs find the tools to communicate effectively and efficiently with those around them.

Treating Professional Profile

Lisa Kovac, PhD, BCBA

Lisa Kovac is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and certified school psychologist in Orlando, FL specializing in the treatment of children with selective mutism. Her treatment approach focuses intervention in the natural setting such as home, community and school to promote speech generalization. Each treatment plan is specifically individualized to address a child’s unique needs and incorporates parent training and school collaboration to develop confidence and generalize communication.

Lisa got involved with the selective mutism population after one of her children was diagnosed with selective mutism in 2007. Frustrated with the lack of resources, knowledge and awareness of selective mutism in the local area, Lisa began researching the disorder and provided successful treatment to her child. Since then, she has become passionate about helping other families and children cope with selective mutism. Through her involvement in the Selective Mutism Association, she hopes to promote early diagnosis and subsequent early evidence-based intervention. She has been an SMA Florida State Coordinator since 2009, and currently serves on the SMA Board of Directors.

Brittany Bice-Urbach

Dr. Bice-Urbach is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and has been working as a clinical psychologist at the Child Development Center, a developmental clinic through Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, in the School Performance Program. She completed her graduate training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School Psychology Program, her internship at Illinois State University’s Psychological Services Center, and her Post-Doctoral fellowship at Connections Day School, a therapeutic day school in Illinois. Dr. Bice-Urbach has a specialty in best practices in providing telebehavioral health services. She was involved with a team of providers in developing training materials for the recent and rapid transition to telebehavioral health at Children’s Wisconsin in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has contributed a book chapter regarding practical considerations in providing teleconsultation services. Dr. Bice-Urbach also has a clinical specialty in treating children and adolescents with anxiety disorders through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a primary focus on treating children with Selective Mutism. At the Child Development Center, she has been offering assessment, individual therapy, and family/school consultation and training to support children with Selective Mutism. She has participated in the Selective Mutism Training Institute and given several national presentations at the National Association for School Psychologists Annual Convention on the topic of addressing symptoms of Selective Mutism in a school setting. She also has prioritized trainings for medical facilities and pediatricians on detecting symptoms of Selective Mutism and supporting children and their families through the journey in finding appropriate resources.

Dr. Bice-Urbach is excited to be joining the board of SMA and collaborating to continue to increase awareness and access to evidence-based resources on SM for children, families, and treating professionals.

Jenny Foster

Jenny Foster resides in Arizona with her husband and two children. Her daughter was diagnosed with selective mutism at the age of four and has worked hard to overcome it. Jenny has a B.S. in Family and Consumer Sciences with a concentration in Family Services from Eastern Illinois University. She currently works as a preschool teacher and volunteers at her daughter’s schools.

Through her daughter’s journey, Jenny became very passionate about spreading awareness and sharing the message of hope to other families looking for guidance. Jenny currently administers a large Facebook support group for parents of children with selective mutism and serves as the Arizona State Coordinator for the Selective Mutism Association. She is honored to serve on the SMA Board of Directors and looks forward to increasing awareness and supporting those affected by selective mutism.

Chelsea Gamache M.S., BCBA

Chelsea Gamache is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Southern NH. She was diagnosed with Selective Mutism at age five and is passionate about sharing her experience, raising awareness and helping others who are struggling with Selective Mutism and anxiety.

Chelsea hosts Outloud the Selective Mutism Podcast which aims to spread awareness and resources to families, teachers, and professionals. Chelsea has also volunteered at Selective Mutism intensive treatment programs at Child Mind Institute and Boston Child Study Center. She is honored to be a part of SMA Board of Directors and continue educating others about Selective Mutism.

Podcast
outloudsm.com

Aileen Herrera, M.S., LMHC

Aileen Herrera is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the Director of the Selective Mutism Program for the Mental Health Interventions and Technology (MINT) Anxiety program at Florida International University. She supervises student trainees and provides weekly and intensive treatment for children and teens with anxiety and directs specialty programs for youth with selective mutism.

Aileen received a Master of Science degree in Professional Counseling Psychology at Florida International University. She completed her practicum at FIU’s Center for Children and Families where she was trained in providing individual and group treatment for children ages 2 to 7 with behavioral problems using Parent-Child Interaction Therapy. She also served as a lead behavioral counselor for two years at FIU’s Pre-K Summer Treatment Program for young children with disruptive behavior problems. She completed her clinical internship with the MINT Anxiety program where she provided individual, group, and intensive cognitive-behavioral treatment in English and Spanish to children and adolescents with anxiety, including selective mutism, and served as a lead counselor for FIU’s Brave Bunch Summer Treatment program for children ages 3-10 with selective mutism.

Aileen is grateful to be a part of the Board of Directors and looks forward to aiding the board in their mission to spread awareness about selective mutism, especially for the Spanish-speaking population.

http://mint.fiu.edu

Taylor Hicks-Hoste, LP, NCSP

Taylor Hicks is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) and a clinical child psychologist licensed in Michigan and California. She received her Ph.D. in school psychology from Michigan State University. She has previous school-based experience, working both as a school psychologist and a county-wide behavioral health consultant. This work included providing school-based academic, behavioral, and social-emotional services to students, grades preschool through twelfth grade, and collaborating with their school teams. Taylor’s clinical practice includes providing evidence-based behavioral and cognitive treatment approaches to support children, and aims to develop strong partnerships between families and schools. Her clinical interests include generalized anxiety, selective mutism, separation anxiety, and school refusal. Additionally, each summer, Taylor works at Confident Kids Camp, an intensive week-long program for children and teens with Selective Mutism.

mailto:taylor.hoste@mail.com

Denise Kinser, LCSW

Denise Kinser resides in Charlotte North Carolina with her husband and two children. She has her Masters of Social Work from UNC Chapel Hill and is a therapist in a small private practice, specializing in social anxiety and selective mutism.

One of Denise’s children was diagnosed with SM at age three and she quickly learned that local professionals had no experience or very limited knowledge of this condition. Many years later, Denise is passionate about educating others about SM, reducing stigma and making treatment accessible to families. Denise remembers the moment she first read about SM (on this very website) and is pleased for the opportunity to be a part of such an important organization.

denisekinserlcsw.com

Jonathan Kohlmeier

Jonathan Kohlmeier is from upstate New York and graduated from Babson College with a B.S. in Business Administration concentrating in Finance and Technology. He was diagnosed with selective mutism at age five and is passionate about helping the countless individuals and caregivers that face similar challenges. He has volunteered at multiple SM intensive treatment programs at both Kurtz Psychology Consulting and the Child Mind Institute.

As an Ending the Silence speaker with the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Rockland, Jonathan presents to students, teachers, and administrators about his lived mental health experiences. Additionally, he often speaks to SM support groups and schools about his memoir on selective mutism called Learning to Play the Game: My Journey Through Silence. He was featured on PBS Keeping Kids Healthy and BBC Our World. Jonathan is excited to continue his outreach work with SMA.

https://www.learningtoplaythegame.com

Steven Kurtz, Ph.D., ABPP

Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP is a Board Certified clinical child psychologist specializing in treating children with selective mutism, other anxiety disorders, and behavioral disorders. Dr. Kurtz is active as a clinician treating families, a researcher, and as a trainer of other professionals. He is also one of only 21Certified Master Trainers of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy – PCIT. Dr. Kurtz adapted PCIT and created the PCIT-SM treatment for children with SM, which has become an empirically-supported treatment for SM. Dr. Kurtz is the creator and founder of the Brave Buddies model, started at NYU in 2009. Now called Mighty Mouth Kids, this is an intensive SM group treatment for children 3-9 years old, being done in 11 sites, in 3 countries, on 2 continents. His team also developed WeSpeak, a group intensive for 10-14 year olds with SM. Dr. Kurtz runs Kurtz Psychology Consulting, is an adjunct supervisor for Yeshiva University, and former faculty at the NYU School of Medicine and the Child Mind Institute.

Dr. Kurtz is a tireless advocate for children with special needs and aside from professional publications and conference presentations his work has been featured on NBC Today Show, ABC Nightline, CBS Early Show, PBS Keeping Kids Healthy, TLN Shalom in the Home, and in the NY Times and Huffington Post. Dr. Kurtz is excited to return to the SMA Board in 2018.

Dr. Kurtz Treating Professional Page
Kurtz Psychology Website

Rebecca Laptook, Ph.D.

Dr. Laptook is a licensed clinical child psychologist who specializes in the treatment of childhood anxiety. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the State University of NY at Stony Brook and completed her clinical internship at NY Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical School and subsequent child postdoctoral fellowship at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System.

Dr. Laptook is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Human Behavior as well as the Department of Pediatrics at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She works at Rhode Island Hospital where she is a psychologist at the Hasbro Children’s Partial Hospital Program, a day-treatment program for kids ages 6-18 coping with both psychiatric and medical illnesses. Dr. Laptook specializes in working with children and families and has a particular interest and expertise in early childhood, childhood anxiety, Selective Mutism, child temperament, parent-child interactions, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Dr. Laptook is honored to be a part of the SMA Board of Directors and hopes to help foster further awareness and education about Selective Mutism.

Kristin Carey Leos

As a parent of a child with Selective Mutism, Kristin has experienced firsthand the challenges that accompany this condition; including identifying the problem, finding knowledgeable therapists and educating her child’s school, family and friends. Because of this experience, she has developed a passion for helping newly diagnosed children and their families as they begin their own journey.

Professionally, Kristin has worked in association management in the real estate industry, creating professional development opportunities and online learning in both the United States and internationally.

She has a BA in psychology from Michigan State University. While there, she volunteered as a mentor in the Adolescent Diversion Program, an advocacy program that redirects arrested youth from the juvenile justice system and provides them community-based services.

Kristin is honored to be a part of the Board of Directors and to have the opportunity to help advance the important mission of this great organization.

Rachel A. Merson, PsyD

Rachel Merson, Psy.D. is the Clinical Director of the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program at the Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (Child CARD). Dr. Merson has extensive experience providing evidence-based treatment to children and adolescents with a range of anxiety disorders and co-occurring emotional and behavioral concerns. As Director of Child CARD’s Selective Mutism Program, she oversees Brave Bunch, Child CARD’s intensive group treatment program for young children with SM. In addition, Dr. Merson is actively involved in providing supervision and training to Child CARD graduate students and trainees. She frequently conducts workshops with schools and community agencies on selective mutism and other topics related to child anxiety.

Dr. Merson completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Virginia where she majored in Psychology and graduated with High Distinction. She went on to earn her Masters and Doctoral degrees in Clinical Psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers University. Dr. Merson completed a one-year, APA-approved internship at Franciscan Hospital for Children in Boston, Massachusetts.

Child CARD
http://sites.bu.edu/childcardresearch

Katelyn Reed, M.S., LLP

Katelyn is a Limited Licensed Psychologist at Thriving Minds Family Services, located in Chelsea, MI. She completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Behavioral Psychology at Eastern Michigan University where she focused on evidence-based behavioral and cognitive behavioral interventions for children and adolescents. Through her work at Thriving Minds, Katelyn specializes in treating children with Selective Mutism via traditional weekly therapy, intensive therapy (i.e., 15-20 hours of treatment in one week), and group therapy models. Through an exposure therapy model, children with Selective Mutism are encouraged to be brave in talking with new people and in new settings. Katelyn emphasizes collaborative care and frequently works in partnership with parents and schools to best assist clients and to promote growth through education on appropriate goals and interventions. Katelyn is also the Assistant Director for Confident Kids Camp, an intensive week-long treatment program for children with Selective Mutism. In addition to her work with children with Selective Mutism, Katelyn provides evidenced-based therapy for children with other anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, and disruptive behavior disorders.

Katelyn has been a professional member of the Selective Mutism Association since 2013 and joined the Board of Directors in 2017. She is passionate about spreading awareness about Selective Mutism and about effective treatment techniques and is excited to contribute to the mission of SMA through her involvement on the Board of Directors.

Treating Professional Profile

Elisa Shipon-Blum, D.O.

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum (“Dr. E”) is the President and Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety Research and Treatment Center (Smart Center) located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a Director of the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI), which is a foundation started to study her theories and treatment methodologies on Selective Mutism. Dr. E is the Founder of the Selective Mutism Association (SMA).

Dr. Shipon-Blum is board certified physician who is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology & Family Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Dr. Shipon-Blum has developed the evidenced-based therapy, Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® or (S-CAT)® from her years evaluating, treating & researching individuals with Selective Mutism.

Dr. Shipon-Blum has treated countless children from around the world, lectures throughout the country on the topic of Selective Mutism, performs school evaluations and trainings for treating professionals, educators & parents and is considered one of the world’s leading experts in the treatment and understanding of Selective Mutism. Dr. E has been a featured expert within the media. She has appeared in national television shows such as 20/20, CNN, Inside Edition, Good Morning America as well as other local/national and international TV and Radio broadcasts. She has been featured in TIME Magazine, People Magazine and has interviewed with newspapers such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, San Diego Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Palm Beach Post and other media publications throughout the world. Dr. Shipon-Blum has written numerous articles, books and produced DVD’s on Selective Mutism.

Dr. Shipon-Blum prides herself on being “down to earth.” She resides with her family in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Treating Professional Profile

Christy Tadros

Christy is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and holds a Masters degree in Counseling Psychology and Education from Teacher’s College of Columbia University.

Prior to her graduation and professional education in New York City, Ms. Tadros received her BA in Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.

Her areas of expertise include working with children with selective mutism, anxiety, ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders. She began her work with children with selective mutism, training with Dr. Steven Kurtz at his practice in New York City. She has since done several embedded school and home intensives, and she has led intensive, therapeutic programs for young children and teenagers with selective mutism.

Christy runs the selective mutism program at her clinic in the San Francisco Bay Area, called WestCoast Therapy and Wellness, where she provides individual and family based intensive therapy for children with selective mutism and runs an annual intensive program.

She has a special interest in making treatment accessible and culturally sensitive to all children, teens and families.

415-844-9343
Info@therapyandwellness.com
www.TherapyandWellness.com

Sharon Fernald

Sharon has been handling the administrative work for SMA since November 2007. Recruited by her daughter-in-law, a former officer and Board member of SMA, Sharon’s interest in this opportunity was peaked since one of her grandchildren has struggled with SM and childhood anxieties since being diagnosed at age 3.

Sharon has worked as a secretary to the Purchasing Agent of an international manufacturing company; has provided secretarial/support services in real estate offices, and was Assistant Manager of a Secretarial Service, as well as holding a variety of temporary positions. Given her love of “paper pushing” and working from her home office, Sharon finds SMA to be the perfect vehicle in satisfying both these needs, as well as lending her skills to the fight against SM.

Sharon also served on the Town of Greenland, NH Emergency Management Team and was co-founder of New Generation, a shelter home for women in crisis with an unplanned pregnancy.

Although born & bred in New Hampshire, Sharon and her husband, Ken, recently made a giant life style change by moving to Trinity, Florida to be near their son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters.