CommuniCamp

The detailed Intake evaluation performed by our licensed clinicians will determine eligibility once an application is accepted. Typically, if a child meets the diagnostic criteria for Selective Mutism or social anxiety disorder, etc., is toilet trained, understands English, can separate from a parent/caregiver and does not have developmental delays that will affect participation, he/she will most likely be accepted into the camp. In addition to determining eligibility, the intake evaluation will confirm diagnosis, determine the child’s individual needs, as well as group placement in the camp.

Please note: For families who are already patients at the SMart Center, an intake evaluation is not needed.
Contact us with questions.

Absolutely no.  Children with SM have a social communication anxiety disorder where their level of communication will change from setting to setting. Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum’s S-CAT® approach focuses on the Stages of Social Communication.  Stages vary from noncommunicative, nonverbal, transitional and verbal. AS a long as a child can interact, at least nonverbally after warm up time and are approved via our intake process, your child can participate. Your child’s level of communication will dictate group placement and strategies used.

For new families to the SMart Center, fees include:
Application fee ($75) which is reviewed by our clinical staff to determine eligibility.
Intake evaluation ($300) which is a 90 min evaluation by one of our licensed clinicians.  The detailed Intake evaluation performed by our licensed clinicians will determine eligibility once an application is accepted. Typically, if a child meets the diagnostic criteria for Selective Mutism or social anxiety disorder, etc., is toilet trained, understands English, can separate from a parent/caregiver and does not have developmental delays that will affect participation, he/she will most likely be accepted into the camp. In addition to determining eligibility, the intake evaluation will confirm diagnosis, determine the child’s individual needs, as well as group placement in the camp.
CommuniCamp: $1750 Begins the evening prior to camp for a Welcome Pizza Party.
3 days or 15 hours of CommuniCamp where children will be paired with a counselor and work directly with our licensed clinicians to learn valuable skills to foster comfort, progression of communication with a few peers and within a small group setting. Children will be paired/grouped with children who are similar in their social communication skills.  They will have be amongst others who understand.  they will feel safe, have fun, play games, do art and movement activities, make new friends while learning valuable skills to cross the Social Communication Bridge!  At the end of CommuniCamp, children will celebrate their successful completion of CommuniCamp by having a ‘make your own sundae’ ice cream party. They will feel proud as they receive their ‘Crossing the Bridge’ certificate from their lead clinician.    Also,  parents receive charted goals each day and information to take-home.  Parents will receive a support calls within a month after camp from their counselor to check in to determine how goals are going and to add much-needed support.
**Please note that families will have the opportunity to meet up after camp at local parks, restaurants and play areas. This opportunity is wonderful for both children and parents!  As parents shared at our most recent camp, “Seeing my child run, play and talk to her new friends was something that i will never forget!” And ‘I loved the connections I made with parents. It felt wonderful to share experiences with others who understand.”

YES!  Since parents are critical in the treatment process,  we pride ourselves on the level of education and support we provide parents during CommuniCamp!  1/2 the day is spent with parents. 9-1030 am and 1-2 pm each day.  Each AM, parents will have the opportunity to ask questions, learn valuable information about Selective Mutism and understand the key philosophies to a successful treatment outcome.  Every afternoon, parents will be taught step by step goals that are recommended for success when ‘away’ from camp.  Another key aspect to CommuniCamp is the amount of support parents receive at camp.  We discuss relevant topics, parents share their stories and everyone learns from one another. In addition, each day after camp, parents are provided locations where other families will meet and ‘bond’ with eachother while children do the same.   Parents from our April 2017 camp shared the following: “I was eager for my child to meet other children like him, but i never realized I too would benefit so much from meeting other parents. What a surprising benefit of CommuniCamp!”   and “This was truly the missing link that we were searching for. Thank you so much for this incredible experience.”

If you are already working with one of our professionals at the SMart Center, then you just have to register for the camp.

Both the application and the intake evaluation  are not needed.  Therefore, Fees are waived for both the application and intake because your child has already been evaluated at our center and we are aware of his/her needs!

Therefore, as an established SMart Center patient, your only steps for signing up for CommuniCamp are:
1. Fill out the online application, indicating that you are an
established patient at the end of the form by using the
coupon code: SMartPatient when prompted.
2. Wait for your email confirmation. A clinician at the SMart Center  will need to review your application to confirm that your child has
been accepted into the program.
3. Once approved and fees are paid, attend the program!
Note: Fee for CommuniCamp: $1750.

As a specialty medical practice, the SMart Center does not accept medical insurance plans. Our professional services are considered out of network with all insurance providers.

We are happy to provide receipts to families for submitting to their insurance companies for possible reimbursement. We suggest you contact your insurance carrier and inquire about your out of network coverage, any deductibles that must be met, whether you need a letter of medical necessity from your child’s pediatrician, or any limitations on coverage. It is the family’s responsibility to work with their insurance provider to see if CommuniCamp is eligible for possible reimbursement based on your specific plan using the following codes:

90791 Psychiatric Diagnostic Examination without Medical Services (Intake): Diagnostic intake interview with the child and his/her parents. History, review of prior records, differential diagnosis, etc.

90849 Multiple-Family Group Psychotherapy: Group therapy for parents to be trained in behavioral techniques to implement at home and in the real world, to help maintain and generalize treatment gains. Parents are provided with feedback about their child’s behaviors and specific techniques tailored to the child.

 90853 Group Psychotherapy: Group therapy treatment per day for three consecutive days, similar to a day treatment model.

Yes. We welcome families from all over the world to take part in our S-CAT® programs. There are many affordable options, including ‘low cost’ housing for accommodations near our center in Jenkintown, PA. [Places to stay near the SMart Center]

Our CommuniCamp program is specifically designed to provide families with the time to practice evidence-based S-CAT® strategies out in the real world. Families are encouraged to explore the great city of Philadelphia, as they journey across the Bridge to social communication! [Things to do in Philadelphia]

We understand that comfort precedes communication. CommuniComfort is the approach we use at the SMart Center and modeled after concepts within the S-CAT® Program to help children build social and communication comfort in a given setting or with an individual. This process begins weeks prior to the start of camp to help the child feel comfortable with their counselor. Then, prior to camp and during camp, purposeful strategies are used to help ease anxiety which will foster comfort and communication amongst campers and counselors

The popular S-CAT® Program was developed by Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum and is an individualized and intensive program (average visits 3-7) for children/teens who suffer from Selective Mutism, Social Anxiety and extreme shyness.  The S-CAT® Program is based on understanding SM as a Social Communication Anxiety disorder.  The S-CAT® Program has been researched and published in a peer-reviewed article of a pilot study demonstrating its effectiveness was published in 2016.

At CommuniCamp, the evidence-based S-CAT® philosophies will be used in an intensive, camp-like setting, where children will have the ability to interact in small groups with their fellow CommuniCamp participants. Working with both highly-trained, graduate-level counselors led by our licensed clinicians, participants at CommuniCamp will experience a truly unique opportunity for treatment. Over the course of just 3 days (5 hours of camp per day for a total of 15 hours of treatment), CommuniCamp will incorporate S-CAT® strategies into fun, camp-like games and therapeutic activities that will help each patient develop social confidence and move across the Social Communication Bridge® during the program.  Children will have fun and make new friends, while at the same time, work on strategies needed for success within the real world and at school.  CommuniCamp will provide children (and their parents) with the tools to utilize these strategies once they leave the program as well!

CommuniCamp has limited space available, as the program emphasizes small group treatment. Payment of your deposit reserves your child’s space in the program. As a result, the SMart Center requires that deposits are paid at least 30 days prior to the start date of the program. Cancellations prior to 30 days before the start of program will receive a full refund. Cancellations with less than 30 days notice will not receive a refund.

Counselors can lead the child to the restroom (we will have scheduled bathroom breaks and communication boards present in the campers assigned room); however, counselors are not able to physically assist at the toilet.  Parents are welcome to be present in a designated wait area away from the activities of camp. A counselor can contact you to then assist your child.

Parents are encouraged to leave between sessions. We will be providing recommendations for local things to do; however, if a parent chooses to wait, there is a designated parent waiting area away from the campers.