Selective Mutism In the School
Do you know a child or student who doesn’t speak or barely whispers in the classroom? This child could be suffering from Selective Mutism.
Join Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum, world-renowned Selective Mutism expert who pioneered the evidence-based Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT®), and fellow presenters Jenna Blum, PsyD and Jennifer Brittingham, LPC, for a live, virtual conference exploring Selective Mutism assessments and interventions in the school setting.
Conference Details
Event Information
Selective Mutism In the School
Virtual Conference
April 10, 2026
9AM – 5PM EST
You can reach us at events@smartcenter.us with questions or information on group rates and purchase orders.
Who is this Conference for?
This educational activity is for School Psychologists, Psychologists, Physicians, Speech and Language Pathologists, Nurses, Social Workers, Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, Educators, Graduate Students, and Families.
Conference Agenda
Golden Rules and Key Philosophies for Assessing and Treating the Child/Teen With Selective Mutism
Elisa Shipon-Blum, DO
Providing Psychological Assessments to Children/Teens With Selective Mutism
Jenna Blum, PsyD
Addressing Comorbid Conditions in the School Setting through 504/IEP Plans
Jenna Blum, PsyD
Tips and Strategies to Help Children From Pre-School to High School Speak in the School Setting
Jennifer Brittingham, LPC
Case Studies/Review
Elisa Shipon-Blum, DO, Jenna Blum, PsyD, Jennifer Brittingham, LPC
Continuing Education (CE/CEUs) Available
This educational activity is 6.5 credit hours. We are approved providers of APA, NASP, ASHA, ACT 48, and New York Boards for Social Workers, Mental Health Counselors, Psychoanalysts, Psychologists, and Marriage & Family Therapists.
Scholarships & Financial Assistance
We are offering scholarships for students and professionals, as well as offering financial assistance to attendees who are in need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a group, school, or organization attend under one registration?
If you are attending for the purpose of receiving CE/CEU’s, then each individual who wants to obtain those credits must register separately.
The links to join will be unique to each registrant so links cannot be shared.
Email events@smartcenter.us for group rates and purchase orders.
What platform will you be using?
Zoom.
Other Resources
I have learned how to better address the needs and goals of my student with SM, and share the information with my colleagues.
Thought this training was excellent! I have been struggling to meet the needs of a student I work with and have come away with great ideas to try with him.
Thank you for providing such a thoughtful, well-organized program.
Thank you! I learned a great deal. I’m feeling so much better about the direction to take and where to go to receive information and get support.
Event Description
Individuals with Selective Mutism (SM) manifest social communication deficits based on the setting and expectations from others within a setting. Parents, therapists, and school staff are often perplexed as to how to help the mute child. Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum, an expert in treating children and adolescents with SM and developer of the CBT-based Social Communication Anxiety Treatment® (S-CAT®) and director of the SMart Center, conceptualizes SM as a social communication anxiety disorder where “not speaking” merely skims the surface of the difficulties these individuals face. Dr. Shipon-Blum has found that individuals with SM can make significant progress and transition to verbal communication when provided with comprehensive treatment that focuses on the whole person and improving their social communication and engagement skills.
The school environment is most often the setting where children present as mute. Progress in the therapy room and at home will not automatically generalize to the school setting without the implementation of specific treatment goals and adult facilitation from educational staff. SM treatment in the school requires a team approach involving the clinician, parents, and educational staff. Through collaboration and consistent implementation of specific treatment strategies and goals, students with SM can transition to verbal communication in the school setting.
This conference will review the importance of the initial evaluation and assessment process that are critical in developing an effective treatment plan for an individual with Selective Mutism. Next, the impact of SM on a child’s academic performance and ability to make progress and the need for accommodations and services through an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan will be discussed. A review of common comorbid disorders (e.g., speech and language disorder, sensory processing disorder, developmental delays, etc.) seen in children with SM and sample accommodations and interventions to address these challenges in the school setting will also be discussed. Finally, the presentation will identify and describe effective treatment strategies and interventions in treating SM in the school setting.
The conference will be led by world-renowned Selective Mutism expert, Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum. Dr. Shipon-Blum’s has helped thousands of children, teens, and young adults overcome selective mutism, social anxiety, extreme shyness, and related challenges.In addition to Dr. Shipon-Blum, the conference will feature other Selective Mutism experts, including Jenna Blum, PsyD, and Jennifer Brittingham, LPC.
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