Lcpc Donna Mac - Suffering in Silence: Breaking Through Selective Mutism

Suffering in Silence

BREAKING THROUGH SELECTIVE MUTISM

Donna Mac, M.S., LCPC

www.breakingthroughselectivemutism.com

Copyright 2015 Donna Mac, M.S., LCPC.

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ISBN: 978-1-5043-3916-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-3918-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-5043-3917-9 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015913227

Balboa Press rev. date: 09/28/2015

CONTENTS

Chapter 6 Therapeutic Concepts & Techniques to Help Reduce Selective Mutism Symptoms
at Home, School, and in Community Settings

Chapter 7 Other Interpersonal Modes of Therapy
for Young Children with Anxiety Disorders

Chapter 9 Special-Education Law and School Accommodations for Children with Anxiety and SM
(321 years old)

Suffering in Silence: Breaking Through Selective Mutism is written in honor of my three little girls, Makenzie, Katie, and Jordyn Hailey. My identical twin daughters, Makenzie and Katie, have selective mutism.

As devastating as it is to watch my girls suffer with this condition, I am blessed that God gave these little girls specifically to me, as its been an incredible learning experience. Not as much was known about selective mutism when I was in graduate school learning to become a therapist, so their diagnosis of SM pushed me to read books on it, go to lectures and seminars on it, and learn from the best researchers and clinicians specializing in it, and now I have learned how to best help my own children at home, at school, and in the community.

My twins SM diagnosis also helps me to be a better clinician daily; I now not only see the children I treat in therapy as children I treat, but I see them through the eyes of their desperate parents as well. This experience of getting to be a mom of children with mental health concerns has given me new perspective on parenting, my career, and life in general. I never thought I would have been blessed with two children with selective mutism to teach me my lessons in life, but I am glad this is how it worked out, because I wouldnt change my girls for the world! The goal is not to change them, but rather help them to experience symptom reduction so they can lead more peaceful lives.

I would like to note all of the people I either quote, reference, or acknowledge and thank in this manuscript:

A) Professionals specializing in SM, working in SM treatment centers, and/or conducting SM research :

Steven Kurtz, Ph.D., ABPP, Rachel Busman, Psy.D., Lindsey Bergman, Ph.D., Carmen Lynas, Ph.D., Andrea Brandon, Psy.D., Ashley OMeara, Ed.D., ABSNP, Elisa Shipon-Blum, D.O., and Aimee Kotrba, Ph.D., LP. Some of these clinicians have similar philosophies on SM treatment, yet some have differing views as well. However, they are all using techniques informed by research and have the same final goal of helping children to feel less anxious and more comfortable verbally communicating with others. There are plenty of other specialists in SM, and I cant possibly address all of them or all of their treatment techniques. (As a disclaimer, these people do not endorse this book, nor do they agree or disagree with anything I have written in this book. If I quote them on something or reference them, it may be my personal interpretation. If a reader tries something that I quote, reference, or interpret from them, neither they, nor I, are responsible for any negative consequences or outcomes. If readers seek evaluation or treatment from any of these people, they cannot guarantee success or an absence of symptoms, and treatment is at each persons own risk.)

B) General education teachers, special-education t eachers, school counselors, school social workers, speech therapists, occupational therapists, itinerants, school psychologists, clinical psychologists, and specials teachers of art, music, and PE, in different schools or collaborating with schools, working with shy children, and children with generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and/or SM:

Anna Hammond, Psy.D., Marilyn DeStefano, M.A., LCSW, Becky Herman, M.S., MSW, Deb Zielke, MSW, Dawn Klancic, M.A.T., LSW, Erin ODonnell, M.A., Michelle Frank, B.A., Kelly Grace, M.A., LCSW, Danielle Martin, M.A., Lauren Sanders, M.S., LCPC, Amanda Millard, M.A., Josie Stable, M.A., Kristi Boston, B.A., Sharalee Lewis, M.S., LCPC, Rebecca Lallier, M.A., Stacy Washington, B.A., John Gelnnon, Ph.D., Colleen Gjataj, M.A., Sue Craig, M.A., Jenn Kirberg, M.A., Caron Jones, M.S. OTR/L, Megan Miller, B.A., Laura Ehlert, Psy.D., Ken Sanders, Ph.D., Aimee Brito, M.A., Diana Daller, M.S., LCPC, Marc Ryan, M.S., Robyn Rider, M.A., Jeff Daggar, B.A., Lindsay McKibben, M.A. CCC-SLP, all the staff who work at my therapeutic day school, and all of the Oswego 308 preschool and kindergarten staff who have dedication to working with my own little girls and their SM, especially their general education classroom teachers, LBS 1 special-education resource teachers, speech and language pathologists, social workers, art teachers, music teachers, PE teachers, librarians, cafeteria staff, and administration. (As a disclaimer, these school staff members from a variety of schools do not endorse this book, nor do they agree or disagree with anything I have written in this book. If I quote them on something or reference them, it may be my personal interpretation. If a reader tries something that I quote, reference, or interpret from them, neither these school staff members, nor I, are responsible for any negative consequences or outcomes. If readers happen to have children who attend the same schools these staff members work, these school staff members cannot guarantee success. Sixteen of the thirty people in this section have their names changed to protect confidentiality.)

C) Parents telling stories of their own children with SM :

Kristen Banner, Dr. Michelle Fernandez, Regina Johnson, Kelly Kerlin, Katie McDermott, Sarah Jones, Jen Webber, Kristine Grace, Maggie London, Michelle Kraft, and my husband and biggest supporter, Jason MacDonald. (As a disclaimer, these parents do not endorse this book, nor do they agree or disagree with anything I have written in this book. If I quote them on something or reference them on something and a reader tries it, neither they nor I are responsible for any negative consequences or outcomes. Five of the eleven parents in this section asked that I change their names to protect confidentiality.)