At the Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley, we offer cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) for children with Selective Mutism. Our approach with children with selective mutism is practical, goal-oriented, compassionate, and scientifically-based while focusing on your child’s individual needs. If you think your child may be experiencing selective mutism, you can learn more about selective mutism and our treatment approach below.

What is Selective Mutism?

Your child may be suffering from selective mutism if he/she refuses to speak in situations where talking is expected or necessary, and their refusal interferes with school and making friends. If your child has selective mutism, he/she may stand motionless and expressionless, turn his/her head, chew or twirl hair, avoid eye contact, or withdraw into a corner to avoid talking. This is very sad for a parent to watch. Your child can be very talkative and display normal behaviors at home or in another place where they feel comfortable. You might have even been surprised to learn from a teacher that your child refuses to speak at school. The average age of diagnosis is between 4 and 8 years old, or around the time a child enters school.

Symptoms of Selective Mutism

• Failure to speak in specific social situations (e.g. at school or day care).
• Staring, looking away, hiding, or otherwise withdrawing when approached by others in the specific social situation.
• Ability to speak at home or in other environments where the child feels comfortable.
• Problems with school performance or peer interactions due to failure to speak.

Cognitive Behavioral Model of Selective Mutism

While there is no clear cause of selective mutism, some factors do seem to be related to the diagnosis. Some children have a shy or nervous temperament or may not have sufficient experience interacting with peers or authority figures. They may “freeze up” in unfamiliar situations in order to gain a sense of control or to avoid feeling embarrassed or making a mistake. These children are often anxious, have low self-confidence and have exaggerated beliefs about the likelihood of making a mistake and the negative ramifications. These negative self-beliefs are then reinforced as their failure to speak or interact with others prevents new learning about his/her actual abilities.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Selective Mutism

The main goals of therapy for selective mutism are to lower anxiety, increase self-esteem and increase social confidence and communication. Emphasis should not be on getting a child to talk. With lowered anxiety, confidence, and the use of appropriate tactics/techniques, communication will increase as the child progresses from nonverbal to verbal communication.

Therapy for selective mutism involves some or all of the following components:
Empathy and Trust: Treatment starts with developing a therapeutic relationship that establishes trust and safety with your child.
Assessment and Treatment Planning: We will work with you and your child to thoroughly assess the possible triggers and maintaining factors for your child’s selective mutism.
Behavioral Therapy: Positive reinforcement and desensitization techniques are among the primary behavior techniques for selective mutism, as well as removing pressure to speak.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: CBT can help your child learn to manage their fears and worries in a more realistic and helpful way. Many children with selective mutism worry about others hearing their voice, asking them questions about ‘why they do not talk’ and trying to force them to speak. The focus in CBT is on emphasizing the child’s positive attributes, building confidence in social settings, and lowering overall anxiety and worry.
School involvement: We can work with you so you can educate teachers and school personnel about selective mutism, helping them to understand that your child is not being defiant or stubborn by not speaking, that they truly can’t speak due to their anxiety. As the child progresses with treatment, the teacher should be involved in the treatment plan with verbalization being encouraged in subtle, non-threatening ways. An Individualized Educational Plan or 504 Plan may be necessary to help accommodate your child’s inability to communicate verbally and to help your child progress communicatively as well as build social comfort. If needed, your therapist may go to the school to observe your child at school and talk to teachers.
Family involvement: Family members must be involved in the entire treatment process. Changes in parenting styles and expectations might be needed to help your child.

Common Goals of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Selective Mutism

• Decrease anxiety and increase self-confidence in unfamiliar social situations.
• Improve academic functioning and confidence at school.
• Increase time spent interacting with peers and confidence in meeting new friends.
• Learn ways of coping with anxiety and unfamiliar situations.

How to Get Help for Your Child with Selective Mutism

The Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley (San Jose/Los Gatos) specializes in anxiety and OCD therapy and counseling for children. Click to send an email for more information on how we can help your child overcome his/her anxiety-related problems.

Silicon Valley and Sacramento Valley Communities We Serve

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Silicon Valley offers evidence-based therapy for Child Anxiety and Child OCD near the following Silicon Valley/San Jose communities:

San Jose Therapy Counseling • Saratoga Therapy Counseling • Los Gatos Therapy Counseling • Monte Sereno Therapy Counseling • Cupertino Therapy Counseling • Campbell Therapy Counseling • Mountain View Therapy Counseling • Los Altos Therapy Counseling • Sunnyvale Therapy Counseling • Santa Clara Therapy Counseling

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Center of Sacramento Valley offers evidence-based therapy for Child Anxiety and Child OCD near the following Sacramento Valley and Sierra communities:

Sacramento Therapy Counseling • Roseville Therapy Counseling • Rocklin Therapy Counseling • Granite Bay Therapy Counseling • Lincoln Therapy Counseling • Folsom Therapy Counseling • Citrus Heights Therapy Counseling •  El Dorado Hills Therapy Counseling • Loomis Therapy Counseling • Grass Valley Therapy Counseling  • Auburn Therapy Counseling

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