Beyond Words: The Truth About Selective (Situational) Mutism

Apr 18, 2025

Meredith Polsky, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in selective mutism, shares her journey as a parent and clinician. She uncovers common myths, explaining that selective mutism is an anxiety disorder, not mere shyness or choice. Meredith discusses the importance of language in this context and the role of parents in treatment. She emphasizes that pressuring children to speak can increase their anxiety. With effective strategies and a focus on communication, families can find progress in supporting children with selective mutism.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Language Shapes Understanding

The term 'selective mutism' describes selective situations, not a child's choice to be silent.
Using the established diagnostic term helps maintain research continuity and clinical collaboration.

ANECDOTE

Parent Journey To Treatment

Meredith Polsky discovered selective mutism when two of her three children stopped speaking at school despite speaking at home.
Intensive treatment and parent training at Dr. Stephen Kurtz's program rapidly changed their progress and inspired her clinical focus.

ADVICE

Make Parents And Teachers The Engine

Train parents and teachers in the protocol because their consistent use is central to progress.
Use short, daily special play and model strategies so adults can implement them in unfamiliar settings.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

Today, Emily Kircher-Morris and Meredith Polsky look into the complexities of selective mutism, exploring its definitions, the importance of language in understanding it, and the personal experiences that led Meredith to specialize in this area. They discuss the myths surrounding selective mutism, and its manifestation as an anxiety disorder rather than a choice or a form of shyness. Meredith shares her journey as a parent of children with selective mutism and the challenges she faced in finding appropriate treatment, ultimately leading her to become a clinician herself. They explore the challenges of diagnosis, and provide effective therapeutic techniques. This is a must-listen for adults supporting children with selective mutism.

TAKEAWAYS

Selective mutism is often misunderstood as a choice.
Language matters in discussing selective mutism.
The term 'situational mutism' is gaining popularity.
Parents play a crucial role in treatment.
Selective mutism is an anxiety disorder, not shyness.
Pushing children to speak can increase anxiety.
There is a lack of awareness among clinicians about selective mutism.
Selective mutism can complicate the diagnosis of autism.
Children with selective mutism may not exhibit typical anxiety responses.
Effective communication strategies are crucial for children with selective mutism.

Register here for a free one-hour continuing education webinar entitled The Cost of Camouflage: Exploring Masking and Burnout in Neurodivergent Clients. It's a free service of the Neurodiversity University!

Meredith Polsky, LCSW is a licensed clinical social worker specializing in Selective Mutism through her private practice, Counseling Out Loud. With a career dedicated to supporting children with diverse needs, she also serves as the Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships at Matan, Inc., an organization she co-founded in 2000 to promote inclusion in education.

Meredith is the co-author of the award-winning I Have a Question children's book series (Jessica Kingsley Publishers), which helps children—both with and without disabilities—navigate complex topics. She holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan, an MA in Early Childhood Special Education from Bank Street College, an MA in Clinical Social Work from Columbia University, and a graduate certificate in Early Intervention from Georgetown University.

BACKGROUND READING

Counseling Out Loud, Matan, I Have a Question, LinkedIn, Selective Mutism Association