Unspoken Words: A Selective Mutism Podcast by Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum

The holiday season is here! Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum sits down with co-host Alex Collins to answer some 'Ask Dr. E' questions on how to best prepare yourself, child or teen heading into the holidays. (0:00) Intro (1:37) Prepare your child/teen for the holiday season (4:35) Communicating with relatives (19:01) Holiday parties  (29:35) School performances / shows (32:37) Overall communication strategies (35:15) Different types of Travelers -  Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Previous episodes of Unspoken Words: Ep 1 - More Than Mutism Ep 2 - S-CAT: A whole person approach Ep 3 (Part 1, Part 2) Ep 4 (Part 1, Part 2, BONUS FAQ) Ep 5 – Back to School Ep 6 – Medication Ep 7 – The Quad Relevant resources: Handout – Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum’s Holiday Preparations and Practicalities Handout Brochure – What is Selective Mutism This podcast was made possible thanks to New Edition Consulting For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum welcomes Jennifer Brittingham, LPC, back on the podcast to discuss the prevalence of eating, sleeping, toileting, and behavioral difficulties associated with Selective Mutism – otherwise known as the ‘Quad’. Get out your pen and paper, because this 99-minute episode is jam-packed! (0:00) - Intro (1:19) - What is the QUAD (4:07) - Results from the SMart Center's study on the QUAD (9:15) - Eating issues (30:49) - Sleeping issues (52:40) - Toileting issues (1:14:01) - Difficult behaviors + tips for parents - Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Listen to previous episodes of Unspoken Words: Ep 1 - More Than Mutism Ep 2 - S-CAT: A whole person approach Episode 3 (Part 1, Part 2) Episode 4 (Part 1, Part 2, BONUS FAQ) Ep 5 – Back to School Ep 6 – Medication Relevant resources: Research – The “QUAD”: Eating, Sleeping, Toileting and Difficult Behaviors in Children with Selective Mutism Brochure – What is Selective Mutism This podcast was made possible thanks to New Edition Consulting For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum uses this month’s podcast episode to explain the reasons to consider the use of medication as an adjunct in the treatment of Selective Mutism. The SMart Center receives questions on this topic all the time. “Should I use medication?” “For how long should I use medication?” “What type of medication should I use?” “What’s the dosing of medication to use?” “When can I ween off?” “How do I ween?” Dr. E answers all of these questions and more in this month’s episode. (0:00) - Intro (4:09) - On prescribing Xanex or Valium (5:10) - Why use medication (7:12) - When to use medication (10:49) - How to use medication (14:20) – Medication-induced side effects to be aware of (18:26) – Medication's long-term effects (20:10) – Common concerns around using medication (22:53) – How to tell a child or teen they are going on medication (24:52) – Weening off medication (27:36) – How long should someone be on medication (28:45) – Listener Q&A Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode.  Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Relevant resources: Medication in the Treatment of Selective Mutism | What is Selective Mutism - Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast was made possible thanks to ⁠⁠New Edition Consulting⁠⁠ For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum welcomes Jennifer Brittingham LPC, a SMart Center lead clinician and school consultant to the podcast to discuss all things back to school! From preparing your child/teen and their teachers, to the comfort-building strategies that help with progression of communication, to how to educate the school, to determining IEP & 504 plans, this episode is jam-packed! (2:01) - How to prepare your child for school (12:02) - What if my child has anxiety or a panic attack during school? (16:12) - What if the teacher calls on me? (20:41) - How do you recommend we build comfort and help with progression of communication? (34:20) - How do you recommend educating the school? (42:37) - How do you determine what type of plan you recommend (i.e., 504, IEP)? (48:51) - Bathroom and eating issues (1:01:07) - Taking the Bus Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Relevant resources: About My Child | The Selective Mutism Summer Vacation and Back to School Guide | Social Communication Bridge® | Preparing for the Upcoming School Year - Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠. This podcast was made possible thanks to ⁠New Edition Consulting⁠ For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org

We received A TON of questions after our two-part episode on The Social Communication Bridge®. So, we decided to record a BONUS episode and answer some of them! In this bonus episode, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum answers the following questions: (0:38) Because children with SM are not speaking, shouldn’t the emphasis be on helping them to speak, perhaps even offering incentives to speak? (6:37) My son’s clinician felt strongly that if we allowed him to use a verbal intermediary or whisper buddy, we were enabling him... (9:38) Since Selective Mutism is an anxiety disorder, shouldn’t lowering anxiety be enough to propel them into speech? (14:25) When we think about “the bridge” and “the Whys of SM,” it makes sense that Selective Mutism is a social communication anxiety disorder. Do you feel that if others saw it this way, more individuals would overcome their mutism? (18:23) Can you give some examples of how you would determine an individual’s beginning stage of communication? (22:49) My 10-year-old child is truly stuck in nonverbal with kids and teachers, even kids he’s known for years. We’ve tried everything: rewards, even a trip to Disney. We are at a loss. We’ve seen five therapists and he seems to have only gotten more stuck. Any advice? (30:37) My child progressed across the bridge at CommuniCamp (!), but now, a few weeks later, they are no longer in stage 3. How can I get them back to being verbal like they were at camp? (35:19) My child has begun making animal sounds in social environments but he will not speak. How can I get him to use his words? (41:39) My teenage daughter will communicate with others through written responses. She will even initiate with her teachers and peers through writing. However, she will not speak to them. What can I do to help transition her from written communication to verbal communication? (48:10) My child is completely nonverbal and non-communicative in any setting outside of the home. He is very expressive and loud at home. What should I do to make him able to communicate effectively in other environments? Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Relevant resources: The Social Communication Anxiety Inventory© | Social Communication Bridge® | The Missing Link - Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast was made possible thanks to ⁠⁠New Edition Consulting⁠⁠ For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

The discussion on Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum’s Social Communication Bridge® continues. In Part 2, Dr. E and co-host Alex Collins discuss: How to ‘transition’ from nonverbal to verbal communication Key strategies used to ‘bridge’ a child or teen into speech, in the school environment. How to bridge up or down in social settings to reduce anxiety And much, much more! Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about Dr. Elisa Shipon Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Listen to previous episodes of Unspoken Words: Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 (Part 1, Part 2) Relevant resources: The Social Communication Anxiety Inventory© | Social Communication Bridge® | The Missing Link This podcast episode was made possible thanks to New Edition Consulting

Learn all about Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum’s popular visual tool, The Social Communication Bridge©.  The Bridge is used within Social Communication Anxiety Treatment (S-CAT®), where Selective Mutism is understood as a social communication anxiety disorder. In Part 1, Dr. E and co-host Alex Collins discuss: How and Why the Social Communication Bridge® was developed How to determine an individual's stage of communication, in each setting, using the Social Communication Anxiety Inventory© Key strategies to progress an individual across the Bridge, into speech. The importance of respecting a child, teen or adults' stage on the Bridge And much, much more! Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum Explore our SMart Center success stories! Get started at the SMart Center Relevant resources: The Social Communication Anxiety Inventory© | Social Communication Bridge® | The Missing Link - Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast was made possible thanks to ⁠⁠New Edition Consulting⁠⁠ For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum continues her conversation with Board Certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist Vera Joffe Ph.D., P.A..  In PART 2, Dr. E and Dr. Joffe discuss: bilingual/multiculturalism being an immigrant social anxiety auditory processing and more! Ask Dr. E any questions you may have from the episode. Learn more about guest Vera Joffe, Ph.D., P.A.: http://www.verajoffe.com/ Learn more about Dr. E: https://selectivemutismcenter.org/about-dr-e-2-0/ Get started at the SMart Center: https://selectivemutismcenter.org/getting-started/ Relevant resources: What is Selective Mutism? | Social Communication Bridge® - Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠. This podcast was made possible thanks to ⁠⁠New Edition Consulting⁠⁠ For all podcast inquiries please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum talks with Vera Joffe, a Board Certified Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychologist with over 25 years of experience. They delve into the underlying factors of Selective Mutism, including sensory processing and speech issues. Joffe emphasizes the need for holistic early interventions and tailored strategies for treatment. The discussion also highlights the importance of understanding associated comorbidities and creating supportive environments for children, bridging communication gaps effectively.

Welcome to Unspoken Words: A Selective Mutism Podcast By Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum! Before we launch,  listen to this trailer to get an idea of what to expect from Unspoken Words. Dr. E can't wait to share her knowledge on this podcast with the world!   To learn more about the SMart Center, please visit  http://www.selectivemutismcenter.org