OVER 6,000 INDIVIDUALS TREATED WORLDWIDE

Selective Mutism, Anxiety, & Related Disorders Treatment Center (SMart Center) specializes in treating children, teens, and adults with Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum’s evidence-based treatment, Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT®). Implemented only at the SMart Center.

Selective Mutism (SM) is a complex anxiety disorder characterized by a child, teen, or adult’s inability to speak and/or communicate effectively in certain social situations due to overwhelming feelings of anxiety.

Elisa Shipon-Blum, DO – referred to as Dr. E by her beloved patients – is the President and Director of the SMart Center – with over 30 years of experience in the medical field.

From her years researching Selective Mutism, Dr. E developed the evidenced-based Social Communication Anxiety Treatment (S-CAT)®.  S-CAT® is the concept that SM is more than just the mutism – it focuses on the WHOLE person.

Dr. E has been featured on 20/20, CNN, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, TIME MagazinePeople Magazine, New York TimesChicago Tribune, Boston Globe, San Diego Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, the Palm Beach Post, and more.

Dr. E started her Unspoken Words Podcast as a way to share her 30+ years of experience & knowledge working with children, teens and adults with Selective Mutism.

HOW THE SMART CENTER CAN HELP

RECENT SHINING STARS

To explore all of our success stories, click here. Interested in hearing about a family’s treatment experience with us? Ask us for a reference!

Dr. E,
Just wanted to give you a quick update on Dani. She is doing great. She has overcome SM. She is able to talk in all settings now, including giving book reports to her class. She is in 4th grade now… can you believe it? We came to you when she was 4 years old! She started the year with no signs of SM. She still can seem a little reserved at times but she is able to respond when spoken to even at those times! Thanks for all you do!

Our school team cannot say enough about your S-CAT® Program for Selective Mutism. Our staff attended a recent workshop that you provided and we were able to develop, with your help, a plan for our two students with Selective Mutism. We have seen remarkable progress in just a few weeks. Thank you so much!

Dr. E, Jen, and the SMart Center Support staff,

I wanted to share some wonderful news regarding Lila. On the first day of school, I received a phone call from her teacher.  All the education to the school staff and Lila’s treatment paid off!  Lila was able to speak to her teacher and friends today! I want to thank you for all of your time, knowledge, support and devotion to your profession. I truly believe we could not have come this far without your influence. It has been quite a ride. Please know that I will be happy to assist you in any way that I can regarding your mission.

Jen,

We are so thrilled we hired you to help us develop a school plan for one of our students. We have a much better understanding on how to use strategies. The advice you provided our speech pathologist, teachers and psychologist were spot on since our student was able to respond verbally to our questions and initiate with a buddy in class within a few days! We feel we have a better understanding of Harris’ needs. Thank you for your expertise. We are so excited for the progress we have already seen!