When Jocelyn was 5 years old, she struggled to speak anywhere outside of her home, especially in school.Sshe wanted to answer questions, make friends, and join conversations, but the words simply wouldn’t come out. After trying a local treatment option without progress, her family discovered the SMart Center.

Through CommuniCamp™, school support, parent coaching, and ongoing follow-up care, Jocelyn gradually found her voice. Today, she’s a confident, outgoing teenager who speaks freely in class, has strong friendships, and even hosts social gatherings with friends. The little girl who once felt invisible now has the social life she once only dreamed of having. Read more about how Jocelyn overcame SM below!

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How old were you when your parents noticed that you were mute in select settings?

5 years old.

Please briefly summarize where/when you were mute/not mute.

In any setting outside of home, especially in school, it was extremely difficult to speak. It always felt like the words could never come out, no matter how much I tried. Since kindergarten, Selective Mutism made it very difficult for me to make friends. Other kids at school would always ask why I wouldn’t talk, but I could never answer them. I felt like I physically couldn’t speak.

Were you in treatment for Selective Mutism, Social Anxiety, or related disorders before finding the SMart Center?

Yes, at Cornerstone Counseling Center in Hickory, NC.

What brought your family to seek treatment at the SMart Center?

The treatment I had been receiving in Hickory at the time had not been very effective in treating my SM, as they were not very familiar with it or knew how to treat it. My family and I felt hopeless, and I was scared that I would never be able to use my voice, but then my parents discovered the SMart Center. It was life-changing for me!

What SMart Center services did you use?

  • CommuniCamp™ Intensive Group Treatment & Parent Training Program
  • Parent Training & Coaching
  • School Consultation
  • Treatment Professional Consultation
  • Follow Ups
  • Books
  • Webinars

What changes have you noticed?

My life has changed drastically after receiving treatment from the SMart Center and overcoming Selective Mutism. I have noticed that I can speak freely and sometimes feel like I can’t even keep my mouth shut around my friends. Whenever I’m called on in class, I have no issue answering at a normal volume, and now I don’t even feel a rush of anxiety from it anymore at all.

From elementary school to high school, I went from feeling invisible and like my mouth was sealed shut to having some of my teachers threaten to move me away from my friends if we didn’t stop talking. I never really had lots of issues at home when it came to talking, as I always felt relatively comfortable around my family, but I’ve definitely noticed a difference within my friendships.

I have been able to form significantly more friendships than I ever had before, have multiple healthy social circles, and I’ve even gotten to be a relatively known party host at my large school. I can say now that I have become exactly who I wanted to be when I was a young girl and felt like I would never make any close friends, let alone be able to actually talk to them.

What S-CAT® strategies helped the most?

One of the most beneficial S-CAT® strategies for me was eating lunch in a classroom alone with just some of my friends. It helped me be able to talk to them in a comfortable environment and eventually get more comfortable speaking around other peers. Another thing that also helped was making quiet sounds to indicate an answer to a question, so that I could get more comfortable with answering things. I was eventually able to use my voice instead, so it was extremely helpful.

Do you have any “key” advice for other teens or their parents going through it now?

My advice that I would give out to parents who have children with SM would be to be easy on them; don’t try to force the words out, don’t put them in situations that they are extremely uncomfortable in, and don’t get aggravated and lose hope that they will overcome it. At first, my family and I were angry that we couldn’t find answers, yet they supported me and helped me in any way that they could, which is what I would tell any parent to do.

For individuals with SM, I would say to never lose hope and take small steps out of your comfort zone. And, of course, I would recommend that they go to the SMart Center for resources, as that was the most impactful for me.

What has your overall experience with the SMart Center been since beginning treatment?

I believe that while it was a long process, stretching over multiple years of my childhood, it helped me grow as a person and pick up skills that have helped me throughout my life. The treatment that I received here was unlike any other treatment I had previously. The SMart Center worked with me, my family, and my school to help make me feel more comfortable, and it all worked out in the end. I now get to have a social life that I had only dreamed of having when I was younger.

$500 CommuniCamp™ Grants Available for Limited Time!

We’re excited to share that the SMart Center has recently received additional funding, allowing us to offer MORE $500 CommuniCamp™ Financial Awards for a limited time! 🎉 If you’ve been considering CommuniCamp™, now is the time!

These expanded funds are only available for our upcoming summer sessions and will go quickly. Help your child build social confidence and communication skills in a supportive, evidence-based environment this summer.

✅ Eligibility:
• Household income of $150,000 or less
• Child ages 3–17+
• Experiencing social communication challenges (no diagnosis required*)
• Open to U.S. & international families

⌛ These additional funds are limited and first-come, first-served for our summer 2026 CommuniCamp™ dates; once they’re gone, they’re gone. Apply now to secure your funding + your child’s seat!