Kristin is a licensed Speech-Language Pathologist with more than 27 years of experience helping children strengthen communication and social skills across private practice, school, and pediatric rehabilitation settings. Since joining Child & Family Therapy Collective (CFTC) in 2025, she has deepened her expertise through specialized training in the Parent-Child Interaction Therapy/Selective Mutism (PCIT/SM) model. At CFTC, Kristin integrates speech-language therapy with evidence-based anxiety treatments, working collaboratively with families and a multidisciplinary team to help children build brave talking behaviors, reduce avoidance, and grow in confidence.
Driven by more than a decade specializing in Selective Mutism, Kristin blends her background in social-pragmatic communication, Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and sensory processing differences to create meaningful and developmentally appropriate interventions. She plays a key role in developing structured peer groups at CFTC that foster social confidence, communication skills, and emotional regulation within a supportive, collaborative environment.
Kristin currently serves as Tennessee’s State Coordinator for the Selective Mutism Association, where she advocates for greater awareness and access to evidence-based SM treatment. A sought-after presenter and trainer, she regularly provides professional development to educators and clinicians on the intersection of anxiety and communication. Licensed in Tennessee and Kentucky, Kristin considers it a privilege to partner with families in helping children find their voice and reclaim the joy of childhood through compassionate, research-driven care.
Beyond Responding: Bridging the Gap to Social Communication Development in Selective Mutism
In the treatment of individuals with Selective Mutism (SM), evidence-based strategies have been proven to help individuals reduce anxiety and begin using their voices to respond to others' communication initiations. However, once a child gains confidence in responding, many professionals feel less equipped to bridge the gap between responding and engaging in meaningful, reciprocal conversation.
This webinar will address this critical treatment gap by highlighting the role of social (pragmatic) language therapy. Through a multidisciplinary lens—including collaboration between mental health p...Read morerofessionals and speech-language pathologists—participants will learn when and how to introduce pragmatic language strategies to support continued communication growth.
Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of pragmatic language development, with emphasis on a developmental hierarchy of skills that moves individuals from simple verbal responses to more complex social communication. Practical strategies will be presented to support expanding beyond yes/no responses, incorporating “why” to build self-advocacy, and developing skills to begin engaging in conversations with others. Participants will leave with actionable tools to support individuals with SM in navigating their social worlds with increased independence and confidence across settings. Less...
Learning Objectives
- Define social (pragmatic) language therapy and explain its role in supporting individuals with Selective Mutism in progressing from answering questions to engaging in conversation.
- Discuss when it is appropriate to begin implementing social (pragmatic) language strategies within an evidence-based framework (e.g., PCIT-SM).
- Identify at least two components of a hierarchical sequence when targeting social (pragmatic) language skills in individuals with Selective Mutism.
- Identify and describe at least two strategies to expand communication beyond yes/no responses, including incorporating “why” to support the development of self-advocacy skills.
- State at least two strategies to support individuals with Selective Mutism in initiating and maintaining social conversations.
Learning Levels
- All Levels
Thursday, May 07, 2026
Live Interactive Webinar
08:00 PM EDT - 09:00 PM EDT
EARN 1 CE Credit Hours
Click Here to Register
Click Here to Register
About the speaker
Kristin Mathis, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist
CE Information - Earn 1 CE Credit Hour
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CE Process Info
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Disclosure
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FACULTY
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