Unspoken Words: A Selective Mutism Podcast by Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum EP2: S-CAT: A Whole Person Approach
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Jun 6, 2022 Dive into innovative strategies for addressing selective mutism with a holistic, whole person approach. Gain insights into the unique challenges faced by individuals, including social anxiety and communication hurdles. Discover the S-CAT method, tailored to meet diverse needs through personalized treatment plans. Learn about the impact of sensory processing issues and speech challenges in multilingual environments. Understand the importance of fostering supportive environments that empower both individuals and their families.
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Person-First Philosophy
- SCAT treats selective mutism as a social communication anxiety disorder and focuses on the person, not the mutism symptom.
- It integrates evidence-based therapies (behavioral, CBT, desensitization, modeling, reinforcement) to improve social engagement skills.
Train Parents To Observe And Reflect
- Train parents intensively to use direct language, reflect back, and 'look, listen, and learn' from the child.
- Use those skills to highlight positives and reduce focus on speaking failures.
Start At Comfort, Bridge Purposefully
- Don't demand speech on arrival; assess what communication the person can do and 'bridge down' to their comfort level.
- Then purposefully 'bridge up' from baseline using staged strategies rather than forcing verbal answers.