Individual TreatmentJoe2017-11-03T12:44:20+00:00

Individual Treatment

Intensive S-CAT^® Program: SMart Center Gold-Standard

This evidence-based treatment program is our most popular and most successful approach. This comprehensive, Social Communication Evaluation and treatment program is designed for children, teens, and adults who have social communication challenges such as Selective Mutism, social anxiety, extreme shyness, social communication (pragmatic) disorder, and other related challenges. More than 5,000 individuals worldwide have been successfully treated with the Individual Intensive S-CAT^® Program.

Call the SMart Center today for more information or to schedule an appointment: (215) 887-5748. You can also send us an email at SMartCenter@SelectiveMutismCenter.org.

How Does It Work?

The Individualized Intensive Treatment Program is available in a one-day or multi-day format and uses Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum’s research-based methodology of Social Communication Anxiety Treatment^® (S-CAT^®) to provide a holistic, all-encompassing evaluation of the individual’s social communication challenges.
S-CAT^® treatment is based on our assessment and understanding of the contributing factors and/or co-occurring challenges into the development and maintenance of Selective Mutism, Social Anxiety, and related challenges.
Based on this evaluation, the clinician will recommend tailored strategies, tactics, and school-based accommodations. Treatment begins on the same day as the evaluation. Following the initial session, families receive a detailed, step-by-step written treatment plan with proven techniques to implement at home, the real-world, and within the school setting.
Follow-up consultations are recommended approximately every 3-4 weeks and can be conducted in-person, over the phone, or via web conference. Continued care also can include direct school staff training and/or consultations.

Traditional Psychotherapy: Therapy Track

For those seeking treatment without entering our Intensive S-CAT^® Program, we offer a traditional approach, Therapy Track. Our Therapy Track Program involves one of our trained clinicians evaluating and treating you or your loved one for a range of social communication-related issues. Therapy Track sessions implement S-CAT^® treatment principles but they do not include the full S-CAT^® program components such as the length of time spent at the SMart Center and the detailed, step-by-step written treatment plan.

Please contact our center by calling (215) 887-5748 or email SMartCenter@SelectiveMutismCenter.org to schedule an appointment and/or receive more details about the Individualized Intensive S-CAT^® Program or Therapy Track.

Insurance Policy

For information on our insurance policy, please click here.

Reasons to Choose the SMart Center

Because our practitioners are world experts in the field.

• The SMart Center director, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum (Dr. E), pioneered early, effective treatment approaches to Selective Mutism.
• Dr. E's Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT®) program is acknowledged as a gold standard for treating SM and is increasingly being used in treatment for a range of other social communication issues.
• Dr. E and our other practitioners have ample experience using S-CAT® to treat children, teenagers, and adults.

Because our S-CAT® therapy is proven and extensively researched..

• More than 5,000 children have been successfully treated to overcome their social communication difficulties using the S-CAT® program.
• Research done at the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI) showed that children made statistically significant improvements in their ability to speak in school and other social settings with each treatment visit with the SMart Center.
• The SMart Center is the only center in the world implementing the S-CAT® program.
• Research on S-CAT® shows that children significantly improve their communication skills after each visit to the SMart Center compared to what can feel like an endless mill of visits with the psychologist, therapist or speech pathologist.

Because we get fast results.

• 3-7 visits is the average number of sessions at the SMart Center.
• Our structured, step-by-step approach saves you money while delivering results.

Because SM and social communication issues are all we do, all day, every day.

• Unlike generalist medical practices, our center is dedicated to treating children, teenagers and adults suffering only from selective mutism, social communication anxiety, and related disorders.
• When you come to the SMart Center, you are getting specialists who know what you're dealing with and who can get results for your loved one.

Because we treat the whole child/individual.

• We take a holistic approach to treating your child or loved one.
• Our treatment is based on the understanding that social communication issues are a symptom, not the root cause of what is causing your loved one to be mute or socially anxious.
• We develop an individualized approach for each patient, tailoring our S-CAT® program to their unique needs.

Learn About Our School Services

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