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

EP28 of the Unspoken Words podcast features an in-depth discussion on the buddy process, an important and effective accommodation to help children and teens with Selective Mutism build comfort in the classroom. 

In the episode, Dr. E and Jen explain what the buddy process is, why it’s so important, what to do when the school isn’t cooperating, and much, much more. 

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This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting (neweditionconsulting.co) 

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Chapters: 

(2:59) Explaining the Buddy Process 

(6:22) Why the Buddy Process is so important and how to set your child up for success 

(20:26) What if the school can't implement the buddy process? 

(29:19) How the buddy process evolves as your child gets older 

(36:06) Next steps once child's buddies are in place and working 

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Ask Dr. E a question of your own! 

Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum 

Explore our SMart Center success stories! 

Get started at the SMart Center 

Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here. 

Learn more about C&A, our General Mental health Counseling & Assessments division 

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For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠ 

This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting (neweditionconsulting.co) 

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This episode features the latest installment of our Shining Star series. Olive was diagnosed with Selective Mutism in pre-school, when her parents noticed she wasn’t talking in school yet was fully verbal and “normal” at home.  

In this episode, Dr. E sits down with Olive's mom, Mindy, to discuss how Olive overcame Selective Mutism, what Olive is like today, and the strategies that worked. 

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Chapters: 

(3:14) Mindy and her daughter Olive’s Selective Mutism Story 

(8:10) Mindy and her daughter's experience at CommuniCamp 

(12:17) The tipping point moment where treatment was the only way through 

(15:24) What's Olive like today? 

(23:27) Importance of Parental Education 

(27:22) Mindy's advice to parents and strategies that worked for her and her child 

(42:07) How Mindy helped her child build social connections 

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Ask Dr. E a question of your own! 

Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum 

Explore our SMart Center success stories! 

Get started at the SMart Center 

Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here. 

Learn more about C&A, our General Mental health Counseling & Assessments division 

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For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org

This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting (neweditionconsulting.co) 

⁠We Learn more about C&A⁠, our General Mental health Counseling & Assessments division

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In the latest installment of our Ask Dr. E series, we answer four listener questions; including whether or not the use of basic signs is good for a Selectively Mute child, to what to do when specific accommodations don’t seem to be working, to what to do when your child is scared to ask to go to the bathroom at school, and more. 

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Questions: 

(2:39) I am a kindergarten teacher that uses basic signs with all my students, including my student with SM. Is this ok? 

(9:56) Despite weekly lunch bunches, my child in pre-school hasn't seen much improvement. Do you have any recommendations on how do we get her past this stage? 

(20:37) My child doesn’t feel comfortable asking to go to the bathroom in school, so he doesn't drink out of his water bottle. How do we handle this? 

(26:37) Recommendations for ways to continue progressing during sessions now that the child's mom can no longer be present. 

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Ask Dr. E a question of your own! 

Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum 

Explore our SMart Center success stories! 

Get started at the SMart Center 

Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here. 

- 

For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠

This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting (neweditionconsulting.co) 

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In the episode, Dr. E and autism expert, Dr. Vera Joffe, discuss the coexistence of SM and autism, the differentiation between the two, treatment considerations, school-based accommodations, and the importance of early screening for autism. 

Timestamps: 

(2:52) The link between SM and Autism 

(16:36) “Sometimes, parents are in denial” 

(23:00) The difference between an individual with SM and an individual with Autism 

(34:39) Treatment considerations for Autism 

(44:57) Findings from Dr. Joffe’s SM & Comorbidity study 

(49:42) School-based accommodations for individuals with SM & Autism 

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Ask Dr. E a question of your own! 

Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum 

Explore our SMart Center success stories! 

Get started at the SMart Center 

Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here. 

Learn more about C&A, our General Mental health Counseling & Assessments division 

- 

For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠ 

This episode offers valuable insights from Dr. E, Jen, and school professionals, James and Lindsey, on empowering students with selective mutism in the classroom. 

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Timestamps: 

(04:16) Student overcomes school anxiety with teacher support. 

(06:57) Prepare and support children to ease transitions. 

(11:01) Observe children and note behavior in class. 

(16:00) Use songs and sounds to engage cat. 

(18:03) Small groups or one-on-one aid progress. 

(21:25) Encouraging verbal interactions to move to next stage. 

(24:48) Be cautious of tallying for motivation. 

(29:34) Student excels in independent projects, delivers eloquently. 

(30:22) Fostering student engagement and growth in class. 

(35:11) Preparing thoughts, sharing verbally, mastering social cues. 

(39:06) Each child's unique needs require personalized approach. 

(42:28) Focused support and communication helps student thrive. 

(45:51) Guide parents on appropriate involvement in school. 

(47:43) Parents need education on selective mutism support. 

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Ask Dr. E a question of your own! 

Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum 

Explore our SMart Center success stories! 

Get started at the SMart Center 

Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here. 

- 

This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting 

For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠ 

This episode features a conversation between Dr. E and Lynn Lyons, LICSW. Dr. E and Lynn discuss how to balance parental intervention and accommodations to avoid the pitfalls of excessive worry and anxiety that could cripple a child's development. They emphasized the need for regular parental modeling, skill-building, and promoting flexibility rather than rigidity.

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TOPICS: 

(04:48) GENERATIONAL ANXIETY IS REAL 

(09:41) PARENTS NEED TO BE INVOLVED IN THEIR KID'S TREATMENT, TOO 

(16:15) HOW PARENTS CAN MANAGE THEIR OWN ANXIETY 

(37:29) PARENTS NEED A SELF-CARE ROUTINE 

(47:00) WHERE TO BEGIN IF YOU'RE AN ANXIOUS PARENT 

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MORE ON THIS EPISODE’S GUEST, LYNN LYONS: 

Lynn travels internationally as a speaker and trainer on the subject of anxiety, its role in families, and the need for a preventative approach at home and in schools. She is a sought-after expert, appearing in the New York Times, Time, NPR, Psychology Today, Good Morning America, the Today Show and other media outlets. Lynn is a featured expert in the recent documentary Anxious Nation. 

With a special interest in breaking the generational cycle of worry in families, Lynn is the author/coauthor of several books and articles on anxiety, including Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents: 7 Ways to Stop the Worry Cycle and Raise Courageous & Independent Children, and the companion book for kids, Playing with Anxiety: Casey’s Guide for Teens and Kids. Her latest book for adults and teenagers, The Anxiety Audit was released October ’22.  

Lynn is the co-host of the popular podcast Flusterclux. 

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Ask Dr. E a question of your own! 

Learn more about the host, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum 

Explore our SMart Center success stories! 

Get started at the SMart Center 

Listen to other episodes of Unspoken Words here. 

- 

This podcast was produced by New Edition Consulting 

For all podcast inquiries, please contact Dakota Hornak at ⁠dhornak@selectivemutismcenter.org⁠