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About Elisa Shipon-Blum DO

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum (“Dr. E”) is the founder of the SMart Center and creator of the evidence-based S-CAT® treatment for Selective Mutism. She leads CommuniCamp™, directs the Selective Mutism Research Institute, and is the founder & Director Enetiris of the Selective Mutism Association (SMA). A global expert, Dr. E also hosts the Unspoken Words podcast.

When Focus, Feelings, and Words Collide: How ADHD Impacts Communication in Children with Selective Mutism

2026-09-04T10:29:05-04:00September 4th, 2026|

By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum & Jenna Blum, Psy.D. Interested in scheduling ADHD testing? Learn more now! For children and teens with [...]

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Why Giving Your Child a Job During Social Gatherings Can Transform Communication

2026-09-01T13:35:16-04:00September 1st, 2026|

How Purposeful Roles Promote Social Communication Progression By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum  Family gatherings, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and neighborhood events can [...]

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Small Steps, Big Growth: Home-Based Socialization Opportunities for Children with Selective Mutism This Summer & Into the School Year

2026-08-18T10:04:23-04:00August 18th, 2026|

By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum  Why Home-Based Socialization Opportunities Matter Children with Selective Mutism benefit most from individualized, lowpressure opportunities that: Build [...]

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The Fever Analogy: Why Understanding the “Why” Behind Selective Mutism Matters

2026-08-03T12:16:37-04:00August 3rd, 2026|

By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum  Imagine walking into a doctor’s office and seeing four patients sitting in the waiting room. Each one [...]

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Stage 3 on the Social Communication Bridge®: One Stage…Many Levels of Communication

2026-07-29T10:16:01-04:00July 22nd, 2026|

By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum  When people hear that Stage 3 of the Social Communication Bridge® is the Verbal Communication stage, they [...]

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Understanding Whispering in Children with Selective Mutism

2026-07-14T09:23:11-04:00July 13th, 2026|

By Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Selective Mutism (SM) is a complex anxiety disorder where individuals, often children/teens, are unable to speak in specific [...]

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Silent Goals: Setting the Stage Without Saying a Word – How Adults Can ‘Set Up the World’ to Support Communication Readiness in Children with Selective Mutism

2026-07-07T09:03:33-04:00July 7th, 2026|

By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum  For children with Selective Mutism (SM), social communication doesn’t begin with words; it begins with the environment. [...]

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🎆 Supporting Children and Teens with Selective Mutism on the Fourth of July & Other Large Gatherings 🎆

2026-07-01T11:27:42-04:00July 1st, 2026|

By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum The Fourth of July is often filled with fun, family, and fireworks. But for many children and teens [...]

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EP79: How to Choose the Right Treatment Program for Your Child w/ Dr. Jenna

2026-07-01T11:56:33-04:00July 1st, 2026|

Episode 79 features a discussion between Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and Dr. Jenna Blum on the power of intensive group treatment for Selective Mutism, and why a few focused days can do what weekly therapy alone often cannot for children, teens, and adults.

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Look, Listen, and Learn: What Children and Teens with Selective Mutism Are Telling Us Without Words

2026-07-06T14:59:53-04:00June 15th, 2026|

By Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum  For children and teens with Selective Mutism (SM), communication isn’t just about talking—it’s about feeling emotionally [...]

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