CommuniCamp™
Intensive Group Treatment and ALL DAY Parent Training & Support Program
What is CommuniCamp™?
Is your child struggling with Selective Mutism, social anxiety, or extreme shyness? Discover CommuniCamp™, our intensive group treatment and all-day parent training program designed to empower children and teens (ages 3-17+) to confidently communicate!
CommuniCamp provides a supportive environment for skill-building and offers parents 16+ hours of vital psychoeducation and community support. Join us for an upcoming session and take the first step towards your child’s communication success!
All are welcome! Children/teens do not need to talk to participate. There is no restriction based on a child or teen’s social communication stage. We will help your child/teen build the social communication skills necessary for school, the real world, and at home implementing the SMart Center’s 35 years of experience treating Selective Mutism using Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT®), the evidence-based treatment approach created by world-renowned Selective Mutism expert, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum.
We carefully craft therapeutic activities, exercises, and strategies for each camper’s age and individual baseline Stage® of social communication. Through these strategies, by respecting their baseline stages of communication (Social Communication Bridge) and respecting each camper’s unique needs, our campers progress across the Bridge in a strategic way where they can see and hear themselves communicating confidently in a school setting. This then translates to their daily lives when they get home as parents, educators and others facilitate strategies to keep progress going.
Children/teens receive 16+ hours of treatment, and Parents receive 16+ hours of psychoeducation/support throughout the weekend. CommuniCamp is an excellent supplemental treatment to those already receiving, or plan to receive, individualized care.
Upcoming CommuniCamp™ Dates: 📅
Communicamp™ is for Everyone!
Whether you’re a young child just starting to speak outside the home, a teen navigating social and academic challenges, or a parent seeking guidance and support, CommuniCamp™ is designed for you. Kids build communication confidence through play and guided interaction, teens gain practical tools for real-world situations like interviews and socializing, and parents receive expert coaching to support progress at home.
It’s a whole-family approach to overcoming Selective Mutism—together.
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For Kids (Ages 3-12)
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For Teens (Ages 13-17)
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For Parents
Looking for More Information? Financial Assistance Travel and Lodging Testimonials Frequently Asked Questions
“She actually said she wants to come back… She seems calmer, and more confident! It was so nice to see we weren’t the only ones going through this. I feel like we have all the tools we need to help her succeed!”
“Amazing to see my child interacting with other children at the park, talking and totally comfortable. She loves CommuniCamp™!”
KIDS (Ages 3-12) 🧒
Based on each camper’s age, baseline Stage® of social communication and through thoughtfully prepared therapeutic activities & strategies, CommuniCamp builds the social communication skills necessary for school, the real world, and home.
CommuniCamp offers a comprehensive daily program designed to enhance social communication skills for children ages 3-12.
Each morning begins with a welcome meeting where campers review the day’s schedule and set goals with their counselors, followed by activities focusing on understanding and navigating social situations using the Social Communication Bridge® (S-CAT®) framework.
Art therapy sessions provide a therapeutic outlet for self-expression and confidence-building, while imaginative play reinforces communication strategies. We’ll implement a variety of exposure-based games to boost confidence and apply learned skills in real-world scenarios.
No moment will be spared to practice skills and build comfort including during movement breaks to promote mindfulness and relaxation and during mealtime also referred to as Lunch Bunch to encourage communication skills. Through these diverse activities, campers develop essential social skills, self-awareness, and confidence in their communication abilities!
Looking for more? Explore our full blog post to see how we help kids ages 3-12 build crucial communication skills at CommuniCamp™.
“We all have a story and things we struggle with. Mine just so happened to be getting my words out. I want to help others know that they are not alone, and they don’t need to stay stuck and feel like they are isolated from everyone else. They can do it just like I did! …It took people believing in me, like my family and Dr. E and her staff …I didn’t believe the day would come that I could say “I’m not scared to talk anymore!” But, that day has come. I overcame Selective Mutism!”
TEENS (Ages 13-17*) 👦
Our teen program helps build self-understanding, confidence and social communication skills to address peer relationships, school participation, the real-world, the workplace, self-advocacy and much more!
It can often be challenging for older children and teenagers with Selective Mutism and social anxiety to agree to participate in a group treatment program like CommuniCamp™. This is a widespread barrier to treatment, so rest assured you and your child are not alone!
CommuniCamp™ for Teens delivers the motivation for success and will address all aspects of life, including (but not limited to): starting and joining conversations, making friends, participating in class, job interview skills, text/email/social media, asking others for help, standing up for themselves, talking to strangers (like servers) without anxiety, initiating conversations, building self-confidence, understanding themselves.
CommuniCamp for teens provides a supportive environment for enhancing social communication skills through a variety of activities. Each day begins with a Meet-n-Greet session where teens set goals, discuss successes and challenges, and strategize with counselors. Teens will engage in activities focused on understanding and navigating social situations using the Social Communication Bridge® framework, allowing them to identify their communication stage and develop strategies for progress.
Journaling sessions provide opportunities for reflection and goal-setting, while Role Plays & Exposures offer real-world scenarios for practicing newfound skills. Mind/Movement breaks encourage mindfulness and relaxation which furthers their comfort level. During mealtimes we practice communication skills in a supportive setting, replicating typical social interactions.
Throughout the program, counselors employ S-CAT® strategies to support teens in building confidence, competence, and leadership skills.
Want to learn more? Read our in-depth blog post to discover more about the program’s unique approach and how CommuniCamp™ empowers teens.
*Some exceptions can be made for 18 and 19-year-olds upon clinician approval
“It was so great to find a place where we could come and connect to other parents, get real-life tools that are quick and easy to bring back to our real lives that are so far away, and my daughter was so excited to be here. It was such a great experience for the whole family and we’re just so pleased with our experience here and our takeaways from here.”
“Great info – I feel this was the missing link that we needed, as a family, to continue on our journey.”
PARENTS 👨👩👧
With ALL DAY parent training, education and support, learn how to facilitate proven S-CAT strategies in all settings, receive expert feedback from our lead clinical team, and gain a supportive community of people who understand!
Parents are critical in the treatment process. A child or a teen cannot overcome Selective Mutism without the help of adults in their life.
Over the course of the program CommuniCamp™ offers 16+ hours where parents are working on those skills, getting questions answered, and learning how to best understand and support your child. Families leave with a toolbox of information to be able to implement strategies and see the children make amazing progress.
For more information on our comprehensive parent training, education, and support, dive deeper into our CommuniCamp™ for Parents blog post.
Financial Assistance 🤝
We understand that finances can be an obstacle to care for some and we are here to help. The SMart Center has established a financial assistance program that provides reduced rates, sliding fees and/or grants to qualifying families.
Learn more about our Financial Assistance Programs.
Travel and Lodging ✈️
Looking for affordable lodging during CommuniCamp™?
The SMart Center has compiled several low-cost and convenient options to support families attending our programs. These include:
- Hosts for Hospitals – Stay in local volunteer homes for as low as $20/night. It’s a home-like, supportive environment and a great option for extended stays.
- Nearby Hotels – Multiple hotels are located close to the SMart Center in Willow Grove, offering a range of rates and amenities.
To explore rates, and booking info, visit our Low-Cost Lodging page.
Testimonials ⭐
Hear from those who have participated in CommuniCamp™.
Parents and children from around the world have shared many heartfelt testimonials about their experiences at CommuniCamp™. Scores of parents have expressed gratitude for the compassionate and knowledgeable staff, grateful that their children felt safe, understood, and supported throughout the program.
For more stories and experiences, please visit our CommuniCamp™ Testimonials page.
To request a reference send an email to communicamp@selectivemutismcenter.org.
“My daughter enjoyed CommuniCamp so much that she wished she CommuniCamp could be her ‘school.’ The warm-up time and RSA helped her around others she was just getting to know, and will be an important tool at school! Parent support during camp and resources for after camp were exceptional! Certainly received tools for life!”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 💬
Do you have lead in sessions?
What happens after CommuniCamp?
Follow up is key to long term success. At camp, your child (and you!) will learn many skills, but building on these skills and ongoing guidance on transferring of skills to other settings is needed.
Based on where you live, dictates the type of follow up. For those who can travel for in person appointments, the Monthly S-CAT Program or weekly Psychotherapy are follow up options.For those who want virtual or telehealth: 1. If you live in a state the SMart Center is licensed, this is considered treatment. We can conduct the Monthly S-CAT Program or weekly psychotherapy with your child/teen. 2. If you live in a state the SMart Center team is not licensed in, we can conduct parent coaching and training services since this is not direct treatment with your child/teen. 3. For international families, we require confirmation of your diagnosis which our team can then provide recommendations/strategies via our parent coaching/training program.
FOR ALL states/countries, school trainings are a professional/non-treatment service and hence can be done in all locations.Do you have references I can speak to?
What if we are already established SMart Center patients?
Do you offer Financial Assistance?
How much does CommuniCamp™ cost?
What is your Cancellation Policy?
What is your Insurance Policy?
What if we are already established SMart Center patients?
How to determine eligibility for CommuniCamp™?
- Is your child functioning at grade level or no more than 2 yrs behind socially, emotionally, and/or academically?
- Does your child speak in at least one setting but mute in another?
- My child does not have aggressive tendencies towards other children & adults.
- My child does not have disruptive tendencies towards other children & adults.
- If your child is 12 yrs + are they willing & interested in camp at least at a 5 or more out of 1-10 scale with 10 being the most motivated to join?
Are meals included?
How to get to CommuniCamp?
Can parents visit their child between Parent Training sessions?
My child can’t go to the restroom without assistance. Please advise.
Are Parent Training sessions included?
Parents from previous CommuniCamp™ programs 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."
Do you provide childcare at CommuniCamp™?
- Older siblings are encouraged to actively listen/participate in learning how to help their sibling with SM.
- Younger siblings are welcome but may become a distraction to the other parents. In that case, we ask that a family member simply walk their children into the lobby. It's common for extended family members to attend CommuniCamp to be the go-to person to take young children into the hallway. This way, parents don't have to miss any of the lectures. There is no extra charge for an additional family member who is joining to help with childcare.
