In 2018, our daughter was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder I had never heard of – Selective Mutism. She was always a bright, talkative, outgoing child at home, but when she was in public she was withdrawn and couldn’t speak. SM is an anxiety disorder that prevents people from communicating in certain situations. Their brain perceives speaking as a dangerous situation and they freeze, are unable to speak, gesture, and/or make eye contact.
Through our journey I realized just how many people from around the world were affected by Selective Mutism and couldn’t get the help they need. Whether it is a child diagnosed with SM, a parent supporting their young child or teen with SM, or an adult who never got a diagnosis, it can be very difficult to find easily understood information that can help. In 2020, Selective Mutism H.E.L.P. (Home Educational Learning Program) was created to give anyone from around the world useful information about Selective Mutism. Through free Online Summits, anyone can get information about Selective Mutism from top professionals from around the world. Through a free Podcast, people can hear our story and learn tips and strategies that may work for their child. Through Parent Training, a parent can get one on one support as they guide their child through overcoming their SM.