Anne Marie Albano is Professor of Medical Psychology in Psychiatry at Columbia University and Founder of the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders and Clinical Site Director of New York Presbyterian Hospital’s Youth Anxiety Center, and Executive Director of Modern Minds of Charleston, SC. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Mississippi. Dr. Albano is a Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT), Founding Fellow of the Academy of Cognitive Therapy, a Beck Institute Scholar, and is Board Certified in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. She is the recipient of the 2015 ABCT Award for Outstanding Contributions by an Individual for Clinical Activities. Dr. Albano is a past President of the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology of the American Psychological Association and also past-president of the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). She is past editor of Cognitive and Behavioral Practice and Associate Editor of the Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. Dr. Albano was the inaugural editor of the journal “Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health” published by the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology. She has published more than 200 articles and chapters and is the co-author of several cognitive behavioral treatment manuals and of the Anxiety Disorders Interview Schedule for DSM-5, Child and Parent Version, all published by Oxford University Press. Dr. Albano served as a Principal Investigator of a 6-site, National Institute of Mental Health-sponsored study entitled “Child/Adolescent Anxiety Multimodal Treatment Study” (CAMS) and the Extended Long Term Follow Up of CAMS (CAMELS) and also was a PI for the Treatments for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS). Both trials examined the relative efficacy of CBT, medication, combination treatment, and pill placebo in youth. Her book with Leslie Pepper, You and Your Anxious Child: Free Your Child from Fears and Worries and Create a Joyful Family Life, was a 2014 ABCT Self-Help Book Award winner and 2014 Self-Help Book Award winner from the American Society of Journalists and Authors. In 2015, a new ABCT award was established in Dr. Albano’s name by a family to encourage the proliferation of evidence-based treatment, the Anne Marie Albano Early Career Award for Excellence in the Integration of Science and Practice.

Rachel Busman, PsyD, ABPP is the senior director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety and Related Disorders Center at Cognitive Behavioral Consultants. She was previously the director of the Anxiety Disorders Center and Selective Mutism Service at the Child Mind Institute. She ran Brave Buddies, an intensive treatment program for SM for many years. Dr. Busman is the former president of the Selective Mutism Association, the nation’s largest network of professionals, families, and individuals with selective mutism.

Dr. Busman has extensive experience providing cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to children, teenagers and young adults struggling with anxiety disorders, school difficulties and behavioral problems. She also has specific interest and expertise in the evaluation and treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder and specific phobias. She is certified in PCIT-SM and has lectured widely on this topic. She trains others through the SMA and is passionate about her work with children and families.

Elisa Shipon-Blum DO, is the President and Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety and Related Disorders Treatment Center (SMart Center) located in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. She is the Founder and Director Emeritus of the Selective Mutism Association (SMA) and a Director of the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI), a foundation established to study Dr. Shipon-Blum’s theories and treatment methodologies on Selective Mutism. In addition, Dr Shipon-Blum is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology & Family Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She is a board certified physician who specializes in Selective Mutism.

Dr. Shipon-Blum practices in Jenkintown, PA, and has developed the evidenced-based Social Communication Anxiety Treatment (S-CAT)® from her years studying and researching individuals with Selective Mutism. She consults worldwide with families, treating professionals, and educators, and has helped thousands of children from around the world overcome Selective Mutism. Based on her successful S-CAT® program, Dr. E also created CommuniCamp™, an intensive group treatment program for children with Selective Mutism, social anxiety, and extreme shyness.

Veronica Raggi, Ph.D. is a child and adolescent psychologist and owner of Brighter Outlook Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, LLC in Bethesda, MD. Dr. Raggi has specialized in treating children with SM for over 12 years. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland, College Park and participated in a postdoctoral fellowship at NYU Child Study Center under the mentorship of Dr. Steve Kurtz in the Selective Mutism Program. Prior to starting her own practice, Dr. Raggi practiced for 10 years at Alvord, Baker & Associates, LLC in the Washington D.C. metro area. During this time, she co-developed and directed the Selective Mutism Program and Cool, Confident and Courageous Kids Camp. Dr. Raggi continues to co-direct the intensive summer camp for children with SM, run therapy groups, and implement research in collaboration with Alvord Baker. Dr. Raggi is also first author on the book, Exposure Therapy for Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents, a comprehensive, practical resource for implementing exposure therapy when treating children and adolescents with anxiety. She regularly provides seminars and consultation to schools and professionals on the implementation of treatment for SM. She has published in a variety of scholarly journals and engages in social media interviews to provide education on child mental health. She has served as adjunct faculty at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Katelyn Reed, M.S. is a Limited Licensed Psychologist at Thriving Minds Family Services, located in Chelsea, MI. She completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Behavioral Psychology at Eastern Michigan University where she focused on evidence-based behavioral and cognitive behavioral interventions for children and adolescents. Through her work at Thriving Minds, Katelyn specializes in treating children with Selective Mutism via traditional weekly therapy, intensive therapy (i.e., 15-20 hours of treatment in one week), and group therapy models. Katelyn emphasizes collaborative care and frequently works in partnership with parents and schools to best assist clients and to promote growth through education on appropriate goals and interventions. Katelyn is also the Assistant Director for Confident Kids Camp, an intensive week-long treatment program for children with Selective Mutism.

Katelyn joined the Board of Directors for the Selective Mutism Association in 2017 and is currently the President Elect for SMA. She is passionate about spreading awareness about Selective Mutism and about effective treatment techniques.

Dr. Joffe has been treating Selective Mutism for over 30 years. Dr. Joffe wrote a book for parents and for teachers from the point of view of a child with S.M.: Sophie’s Story: A Guide to Selective Mutism. This book has been translated into Portuguese, Chinese, and French. Dr. Joffe also provides treatment for children other anxiety disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Specific Phobias, and Social Anxiety. She also provides assessment, treatment, and consultation for children with neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD, Tourette’s Syndrome anxiety, mood disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder. She works with children and families, consults with schools, hospitals, and has been a professional board member of CHADD. Dr. Joffe was a member of the National Board of Directors of the Selective Mutism Group for four years. Dr. Joffe has presented about Selective Mutism in National Conferences in the U.S. (SMA, APA, AACAP), and also in Israel and in Brazil.
Dr. Joffe uses empirically based cognitive-behavior and (behavior-cognitive) therapy for S.M., including PCIT-SM (as she is Certified in PCIT-SM and PCIT). However, Dr. Joffe also considers developmental, family, and environmental/cultural aspects of each individual case. Dr. Joffe‘s approach is to work mostly at schools and where the symptoms happen, thus her approach is “environmentally-based” as well. Dr. Joffe works Florida and in New York. Dr. Joffe also provides consultation and education to parents and teachers globally. She speaks English and Portuguese. Finally Dr. Joffe has developed (with Dr. Zimmerman and Dr. Panjwani) the Selective Mutism (SM) Family Questionnaire (2022). For more information and contact email vera@ verajoffe.com

Dr. Hoffman is a clinical psychologist at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) at Columbia University Medical Center. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. Dr. Hoffman completed her predoctoral clinical internship at the NYU Child Study Center and Bellevue Hospital Center, where she worked in outpatient, emergency department, partial hospital, and inpatient settings. Dr. Hoffman specializes in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. Her current research interests include the use of novel technology, such as virtual reality, to improve access to care for youth and young adults with anxiety.

Dr. Jami Furr is a Clinical Associate Professor and Senior Psychologist in the Mental Health Interventions and Technology (MINT) Program, and Developer of the Selective Mutism Program at Florida International University Center for Children and Families. She is the Past-President of the Selective Mutism Association and has served on their Board of Directors for the last 7 years. Dr. Furr has extensive clinical and research expertise in cognitive and behavioral treatments of childhood anxiety and disruptive behavior disorders, with a particular focus on preschool mental health. Dr. Furr currently serves as a Trainer on a SAMHSA-funded program providing largescale training and consultation in disaster mental health to youth-serving professionals in disaster-hit and disaster-prone regions. Dr. Furr has published numerous articles on intensive group behavioral treatment in person and via telehealth for youth with selective mutism. Further, Dr. Furr provides training and supervision for clinical services for graduate and undergraduate students.

Dr. Alison Miller is a Licensed Psychologist in Baltimore, MD. She earned her Psy.D. at the Institute for Graduate Clinical Psychology at Widener University in 2005. Dr. Miller is the founder and director of Miller Psychology Group, a private practice specializing in anxiety disorders in children and adolescents, with particular emphasis on providing individual and group treatment to youth with selective mutism. Dr. Miller has served on the Board of Directors for the Selective Mutism Association and speaks to various audiences both locally and nationally regarding selective mutism and anxiety disorders in general.

Emanuela Iacchia is a psychologist and developmental psychotherapist. She taught in primary school for many years; now she is a lecturer in Developmental Psychopathology in the Specialization Schools of Cognitive-Behavioral Psychotherapy in various locations in Italy. She is a teacher in the Italian Society of Cognitive BehavioralTherapy (SITCC) and Professor of Health Psychology at the LUDES University of Lugano. She’s an AID trainer (Italian Dyslexia Society). She is the clinician in charge of Centro Vela di Como, a clinic created to support parents in a timely diagnosis of Specific Learning Disorders. Emanuela is a Trainer of the Red Cross of Italian-speaking Switzerland. Since 2015 she has been a member of the Scientific Committee of A.I.Mu.Se(Italian Selective Mutism Association) and she has been engaged in the clinical and research area by organizing Residential Therapy groups for school-age children and adolescents. Since 2020 she has been the Director of the Scientific Committee of A.I.Mu.Se. She also collaborates with "Il GiardinoSegreto", an association for social promotion, created to help children, victims of femicide and all those who take care of them.

Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP specializes in assessing and treating child anxiety, such as selective mutism and social phobia, as well as externalizing behaviors, such as ADHD and oppositionality. Dr. Kurtz is the original developer of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM), an empirically supported therapy for selective mutism now used worldwide and created the renowned Mighty Mouth Kids and Brave Buddies intensive SM treatment programs.

He is a Global Trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). As an expert commentator, he has appeared on numerous programs addressing child mental health, including NBC's Today, CBS's The Early Show and PBS's Keeping Kids Healthy and was featured in the Canadian Broadcasting Company's ADD & Lovin' It. He is a Board Certified Specialist in Behavioral and Cognitive Psychology from the American Board of Professional Psychology and volunteers time in the leadership of numerous organizations such as the Selective Mutism Association.

Jenna Blum is currently a master’s level clinician. She graduated with honors from Muhlenberg College where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree and majored in Psychology and minored in Creative Writing. Jenna was a member of the Psychology National Honor Society (Psi Chi). Jenna is continuing her education by pursuing a doctorate in the field of Clinical Psychology at Chestnut Hill College. Jenna has years of experience working at the SMart Center. Over the years, she has developed a passion for this community. She explained that her favorite part about working at the SMart Center is the rewarding feeling that she gets every time she reads a story from a patient located anywhere in the world who has found a voice from the comfort and confidence that they have gained at the center.

Jenna treats children and teens at the SMart Center, currently trains on S-CAT® and is the CommuniCamp counselor superviser and lead CommuniCamp™ Counselor. Jenna helped to develop our Virtual CommuniCamp programs and has been a Lead counselor at CommuniCamp since the camp originated and enjoys meeting families from all over the world. Her favorite part of CommuniCamp™ is watching children and teens from various sides of the world come together for one weekend to find their voices together. She explained that it is so powerful to watch children act as leaders and helpers to other campers. She stated, “Every child walks out of CommuniCamp™ as a new, confident, and inspired young individual and feels encouraged and proud of the person that they have become.”

Kelsey Woods is a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow in the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of Maryland, College Park. She recently completed an APA-accredited internship program at Johns Hopkins University Kennedy Krieger Institute. Kelsey graduated in 2013 with University and Psychology Honors from the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Psychology and a minor in Spanish Language and Culture. Prior to matriculation into the doctoral program, she completed two years of post-baccalaureate research as a Faculty Research Assistant at the Maryland ADHD Program. Her current research aims to evaluate the effectiveness and implementation of group interventions for children with selective mutism.

Lisa Garg, M.S. is a Limited Licensed Psychologist who completed her Master’s degree in Clinical Psychology at Madonna University. She began working with children with Selective Mutism (SM) in 2013 as a counselor in Confident Kids Camp (CKC), an intensive week-long treatment program for children with SM. She was a CKC counselor for 2 years and then a CKC classroom teacher the following 5 years.

Lisa’s passion for working with SM was sparked while working at CKC, and in 2015 she joined Thriving Mind Behavioral Health as a psychotherapist where she received further training in the expert assessment and treatment of SM. In the spring of 2016, Lisa completed advanced training and consultation through the Selective Mutism Group’s Selective Mutism Proficiency Program. Through Thriving Minds, Lisa has run SM peer practice and parent support groups, given trainings to schools on SM interventions, and has provided school intensive interventions. Currently, Lisa works with children with SM in individual therapy, provides coaching on behavioral interventions to parents, and consults with schools on using behavioral interventions for SM in the school setting.

Ruth Perednik is an expert psychologist, a pioneer in the treatment of children and teens suffering from selective mutism. She heads the Selective Mutism Treatment Center and has published articles and books on SM and bilingualism.
She has developed an innovative treatment approach, over two decades and thousands of cases of treating children with SM. She has written a clear, concise treatment manual which is divided into three sections: for therapists, parents and teachers. This cognitive behavioral treatment focuses on improved social communication, usually resulting in an excellent response to intervention within several months. The treatment is pioneering in that it is integrative and an ecosystems approach: the significant adults in the child’s world - the teacher, parents and therapist - are all considered therapeutic agents for change, and whenever possible, carry out their own, complementary interventions, in this way leveraging momentum for change and healing.
Perednik has developed online treatment courses – for parents and therapists, and has treated clients and trained mental health professionals the world over. She carries out brief intensive treatments around the world, which often lead to astounding progress, and lectures internationally in English, Spanish, and Hebrew.

Dr. Hoffman is a clinical psychologist at the Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders (CUCARD) at Columbia University Medical Center. She received her doctorate in clinical psychology from the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University. Dr. Hoffman completed her predoctoral clinical internship at the NYU Child Study Center and Bellevue Hospital Center, where she worked in outpatient, emergency department, partial hospital, and inpatient settings. Dr. Hoffman specializes in the cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. Her current research interests include the use of novel technology, such as virtual reality, to improve access to care for youth and young adults with anxiety.

Natalie Hong is a doctoral student in the Clinical Science Ph.D. program and a member of the Mental Health Interventions and Technology (MINT) Lab at Florida International University. Natalie completed her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Applied Psychology at New York University and received her Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Psychology from the Clinical Science program at Florida International University. She interned with the Selective Mutism Program at the Child Mind Institute and subsequently worked as a project coordinator at Weill Cornell Medicine’s Center for Autism and the Developing Brain prior to joining the MINT team. Natalie’s research interests focus on informed clinical decision-making for children who exhibit slower or fewer improvements throughout the course of treatment. She is particularly excited about work investigating tailoring interventions (e.g., Sequential Multiple Assignment Randomized Trials) to improve efficiency and efficacy of treatments. She is also interested in examining effective methods for utilizing parents as the agents of change in their children’s treatment.

Chelsea Gamache is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst in Southern NH. She was diagnosed with Selective Mutism at age five and is passionate about sharing her experience, raising awareness and helping others who are struggling with Selective Mutism and anxiety.

Chelsea hosts Outloud the Selective Mutism Podcast which aims to spread awareness and resources to families, teachers, and professionals. Chelsea has also volunteered at Selective Mutism intensive treatment programs at Child Mind Institute and Boston Child Study Center. She is honored to be a part of SMA Board of Directors and continue educating others about Selective Mutism.

Annie Dantowitz, LICSW received her B.A. in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in Human Development and Family Studies and went on to earn her Master’s Degree in Social Work with a group work certification at Boston University. She is a clinician, supervisor, and Group Work Director at the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program at the Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders at Boston University. Annie specializes in treating anxiety disorders in children and adolescents using Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy and exposure in particular. She has extensive experience working with children with Selective Mutism and their parents. In addition to providing direct individual and group treatment for Selective Mutism and other anxiety disorders Annie provides training and consultation to clinicians and school staff.

Michele Monticelli Since 2009 he has collaborated with the Department of Pedagogy of the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore) inItaly, where he carries out teaching and research activities on the topics of research methodology, design and evaluation in the educational and training fields. At the Faculty of Educationhe has been adjunct professor since 2014 of educational planning methods (master's degree course in educational design in child and youth services– Piacenzacampus) and since 2018 of research and training (bachelor's degreecourse in sciences of education and training processes –Milan campus). He collaborates with the Centre for Research and Studies on Education Policy (CERIFORM) and has been part of the research group since its establishment. He combines teaching and research with an intense clinical activity as a psychologist and a postgraduate in constructivist cognitive psychotherapy carried out in specialized centers and practices with roles of responsibility, coordination, training and supervision. He is a member of the scientific committee of the Italian Association of Selective Mutism (AIMUSE, AssociazioneItalianaMutismoSelettivo).

Brenda Ray is a speech language pathologist in Washington State who specializes in the assessment and treatment of selective mutism and provides individual and group-based intervention to youth with selective mutism, their family, and school personnel. She focuses on improving communication and increasing socialization using CBT and PCIT-SM techniques. She is especially interested in working with youth with selective mutism with associated speech and language difficulties such as childhood apraxia of speech, speech sound disorders, language delays, and autism spectrum disorders.

Alessandra Digiacomo completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of British Columbia and her pre-doctoral residency at the Alberta Children’s Hospital. She is the author of 6 peer-reviewed journal articles and remains active as a researcher. She currently holds a Post-Doctoral Fellowship in the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital and the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia. Dr. Digiacomo is also a member of the Canadian Psychological Association and is presently undergoing the registration process with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia.

Maria João Silva is a clinical psychologist and psychotherapist. She holds a BSc in Psychology from the University of Coimbra, Portugal, a Postgraduation in Integrative Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children and adolescents, and specialized education in Third-Generation Therapies such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT).

With more than 13 years of experience, Maria João currently practices at PIN – Em todas as fases da vida, in Lisbon, Portugal, with a strong focus on children and teenagers. At this private clinic, she coordinates the Anxiety and Selective Mutism Unit and delivers training, supervision, psychological assessment and psychotherapy.

Maria João has been taking, organizing and participating in multiple national and international conferences and seminars on Anxiety and Selective Mutism. She has also been active in the Portuguese written media, having authored a chapter dedicated to Anxiety, in the book “Sentidos: O Grande Livro das Perturbações do Desenvolvimento e Comportamento”, and co-authored “O Livro das Emoções”, a children’s book on emotions.

Anne is a nurse, a mom, and the co-host of Outloud: The Selective Mutism Podcast along with Chelsea. As a mother of a daughter who used to have SM, Anne has extensive first-hand knowledge of treatment from the caregiver perspective. She provides an invaluable voice on the lengths parents go to in order to get help for their children, and understands the challenges other caregivers face in committing to treatment.

Dr. Susanna Crowell McQuarrie is a licensed psychologist with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. She received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University and her doctoral degree from Georgia State University. She completed her predoctoral psychology internship at the University of California at Davis Child and Adolescent Abuse and Resource and Evaluation (CAARE) Center where she was certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Dr. McQuarrie completed her postdoctoral fellowship here at CABC and gained valuable experience treating school refusal and furthering her experience with anxiety disorders and OCD. She also has experience with Prolonged Exposure and Cognitive Processing Therapy treatments for PTSD in adults and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for trauma symptoms in children. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety disorders, selective mutism, and parenting/behavior management strategies.

Dr. Alyssa M. Farley is a Licensed Psychologist and Research Assistant Professor at the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program in the Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (Child CARD). She delivers evidence-based treatments to children, adolescents, and families dealing with a range of anxiety disorders, including selective mutism. She also provides clinical supervision, training, and mentorship to Child CARD graduate students and trainees. Dr. Farley's research is focused on enhancing the identification, prevention, and treatment of youth mental health concerns in diverse settings. In this vein, she is dedicated to improving the identification and understanding of selective mutism, and to helping more families receive effective and timely treatment for the condition. Dr. Farley holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Rutgers University.

Beatrice Cavallini, clinical psychologist. MmBs member of British psychological society. member of AIMuse.

Kendra Read, PhD is a clinical psychologist, the Director of the Mood & Anxiety Program and Director of Anxiety Programs at Seattle Children’s. She is also the Director of Psychotherapy Training and Co-Chair of the Curriculum Committee through the University of Washington School of Medicine Child Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Read specializes in the treatment of youth with anxiety disorders and OCD from a cognitive behavioral therapy perspective. Her research interests include understanding factors that contribute to treatment outcome, and the dissemination and implementation of CBT for anxiety disorders.

Dr. Catchpole received her Ph.D. in child-clinical psychology at Simon Fraser University. She is passionate about the treatment of anxiety disorders and related concerns in children and adolescents and employs cognitive-behavioural and parent-based approaches (including an innovative parent-based treatment program for childhood anxiety) in her work, as well as a good dose of humour and creativity.

She loves nothing more than empowering children and families with tools and knowledge to free them from the clutches of anxiety disorders! In addition to her therapeutic work she regularly provides workshops to community professionals and parents about the treatment of anxiety disorders. She has a particular interest and specialized training in the treatment of selective mutism.

In addition to her work with Cornerstone, she is a staff psychologist and head of the Mood and Anxiety Disorders Clinic at BC Children’s Hospital and a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of British Columbia where she provides assessment, treatment, research and teaching on anxiety disorders. She belongs to several professional associations including the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, the Selective Mutism Group, and the Canadian Psychological Association. She is registered with the College of Psychologists of BC (Registration # 01860) and is certified in cognitive-behavioural therapy through the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies.

Elisa Maria Neiva de Lima Vieira is a clinical psychologist in Brazil. She did post-graduate work in Infant Development at FCM/Unicamp and she received a certification of CBT. She is also the Director of “Mutismo Seletivo Brazil” and she is the International Coordinator for the Selective Mutism Association in Brazil.

Dr. Tracey Ward is a licensed psychologist in Seattle, WA, and a provider at The Seattle Clinic. She is also the clinical director of Brave Seattle, which focuses on providing intensive treatment camps for children with selective mutism and other anxiety disorders. She received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Seattle Pacific University and completed her pre-doctoral internship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Seattle Children’s Hospital within the University of Washington, School of Medicine. Dr. Ward’s clinical practice spans both assessment and therapy for children and teens in the areas of obsessive compulsive disorder, challenging behaviors in young children, autism spectrum disorders, and anxiety disorders – with a particular expertise in selective mutism. Dr. Ward specializes in evidence-based treatments that include cognitive behavioral therapy, PCIT-SM, exposure-based therapy, behavioral parent training, and school and community-based interventions and trainings.

Rachel Merson, Psy.D. is the Clinical Director of the Child and Adolescent Fear and Anxiety Treatment Program at the Boston University Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders (Child CARD). Dr. Merson has extensive experience providing evidence-based treatment to children and adolescents with a range of anxiety disorders and co-occurring emotional and behavioral concerns. As Director of Child CARD’s Selective Mutism Program, she oversees Brave Bunch, Child CARD’s intensive group treatment program for young children with SM. In addition, Dr. Merson is actively involved in providing supervision and training to Child CARD graduate students and trainees. She frequently conducts workshops with schools and community agencies on selective mutism and other topics related to child anxiety. Dr. Merson is currently the President of the Selective Mutism Association's Board of Directors. (Name of Camp: Brave Explorers Camp)

Fabiana Baracchini has a Degree in Psychology. She is Director of the Centro Mutismo Selectivo Internacional and is a graduate from the Universidad de Buenos Aires. In the last fifteen years, she has specialized in selective mutism and behaviors of socio-communication inhibition, school phobia and social phobia in children and adolescents. Since 2009, Fabiana has been an International Coordinator of the Selective Mutism Association. Since taking on this role, she has actively participated in the SMA Conferences held in Chicago and New York-USA (in the latter, she has presented a Poster about the experience of the Group Treatment Program provided by the Centro Mutismo Selectivo Internacional).

Fabiana deepened specialization in selective Mutism, taking seminars about selective mutism at the Smart Center in Philadelphia-USA and at University College, London. She also participated at Mighty Mouth Camp in New York at Kurtz Psychology Consulting. She is the Coordinator of the Selective Mutism Seminar dictated by the Universidad de Buenos Aires.

Fabiana Baracchini has written the book “Juanita cuenta su historia”, this being the first book in Spanish for children with selective mutism. The selective mutism treatment provided by Baracchini is recognized in spanish-speaking countries. She has traveled to help families in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Paraguay, among others and has provided virtual counseling to hundreds of spanish-speaking families settled in different parts of the world, including China, Brazil, the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norwey, Canada, France and Switzerland. Her vast experience on the subject of Selective Mutism and Social Anxiety has made mass media require her query for the awareness of the problem, highlights notes made by the newspaper La Nación, radio and television.
Currently, Fabiana, in addition to providing socio-therapeutic assistance, conducts training and dissertations at conferences and national and international institutions on the subject of her specialization.

Dr. Lindsay Scharfstein is the Founder of the Rockville Therapy Center LLC and Director of the Confident Kids Camp DC Metro for Selective Mutism. Dr. Scharfstein earned a doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Central Florida and completed a 2-year fellowship at the Yale Child Study Center with Drs. Eli Lebowitz and Wendy Silverman. With almost 20 years in the field, Dr. Scharfstein offers skilled diagnosis, psychological treatment, and consultation for Selective Mutism, Social Anxiety, and Tourette Syndrome, and is passionate about promoting mental health equity, increasing access to care, and creating systems driven by anti-racist values.

Junhua is the mother of a child who had overcome selective mutism. Over the past 10 years, she has been an advocate in the Chinese community for children with selective mutism and their parents. She shared her personal experience with millions to increase public awareness of SM, and coached SM parents one at a time to help their children overcome selective mutism.

Junhua is the co-author of the forthcoming book, A Companion Workbook to the Selective Mutism Resource Manual (SMRM) for Parents and Professionals. This book is co-authored with Maggie Johnson and to be published by Speechmark | Routledge Education, UK in 2022.

Junhua is the lead English-to-Chinese translator for several books about selective mutism, including: The Selective Mutism Resource Manual 2nd ED (Maggie Johnson & Alison Wintgens); The Selective Mutism Treatment Guide (Ruth Perednik); and Sophie's Story: A Guide to Selective Mutism (Vera Joffe).

Dr. Mah values the importance of empowering children, youth, and their caregivers with practical skills and resources that have proven effectiveness for social, emotional, behavioural, and cognitive development and well-being.

Dr. Mah offers expertise in behavioural parent training (BPT) and cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT). These are evidence-based interventions for addressing attentional and behavioural difficulties, as well as anxiety (including selective mutism) and emotional regulation. Her practice is attachment-informed and may incorporate mindfulness and reflection for parents. She also provides treatment and consultation for executive functioning and learning difficulties, sensorimotor regulation, tics, and child health concerns (e.g., feeding, sleep, pill swallowing). Dr. Mah also conducts diagnostic and psychoeducational assessments for children and adolescents with attentional and/or learning challenges. She enjoys collaborating with the family to enhance their strengths, and tailoring interventions to address their unique challenges in ways that are engaging and achievable.

In addition to her work at Cornerstone, Dr. Mah works as a staff psychologist and research lead in the ADHD and Infant Psychiatry clinics at the B.C. Children’s Hospital. She is also a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Dr. Mah has also worked at the Sunny Hill Health Centre for Children in the Provincial Autism Resource Centre (PARC) and Complex Developmental and Behavioural Conditions (CDBC) programs. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UBC, with a Pre-doctoral Residency in Pediatric and Child Clinical Psychology at the I.W.K. Health Centre in Halifax, NS, as well as training at Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMH) in Surrey, BC, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto, ON. Dr. Mah is a Registered Psychologist with the College of Psychologists of British Columbia (Registrant #2000), and is a member of the BC Psychological Association. She is fluent in English and has basic conversational Cantonese.

Dr. Bice-Urbach is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin and has been working as a clinical psychologist at the Child Development Center, a developmental clinic through Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, in the School Performance Program. She completed her graduate training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School Psychology Program, her internship at Illinois State University’s Psychological Services Center, and her Post-Doctoral fellowship at Connections Day School, a therapeutic day school in Illinois. Dr. Bice-Urbach has a specialty in best practices in providing telebehavioral health services. She was involved with a team of providers in developing training materials for the recent and rapid transition to telebehavioral health at Children’s Wisconsin in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has contributed a book chapter regarding practical considerations in providing teleconsultation services. Dr. Bice-Urbach also has a clinical specialty in treating children and adolescents with anxiety disorders through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a primary focus on treating children with Selective Mutism. At the Child Development Center, she has been offering assessment, individual therapy, and family/school consultation and training to support children with Selective Mutism. She has participated in the Selective Mutism Training Institute and given several national presentations at the National Association for School Psychologists Annual Convention on the topic of addressing symptoms of Selective Mutism in a school setting. She also has prioritized trainings for medical facilities and pediatricians on detecting symptoms of Selective Mutism and supporting children and their families through the journey in finding appropriate resources.

Annie graduated from West Virginia University with a Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology. She has worked with individuals all across the country including New England, West Virginia, Atlanta, and South Central Los Angeles. Annie uses an integrated approach and enjoys working closely with family members, school teams, and other service providers to create a collaborative model of support for the individuals she serves. Though she has worked with many populations, Annie’s particular area of clinical interest is selective mutism.

She is a volunteer Selective Mutism Association (SMA) State Coordinator for NH, MA, VT and ME. Annie provides a variety of selective mutism services including web-based trainings and in-services to school teams and early intervention teams across New England and also works directly with families who have a child(ren) with SM. Annie loves working with all ages and has experience working with children ages nine months – 18 years of age and with adults 20 -104 years of age. She is passionate about her field and about helping people to communicate. She feels that the ability to communicate is a beautiful gift and the foundation of human connection.

Annie is also a certified yoga instructor. She has a Level II Reiki practitioner training and holds a Life Coach Training certificate from Health Yoga Life Boston. Annie lives with her husband, Gary, and their rescue pup, Quincy, in Newmarket NH. In her free time, Annie enjoy reading books on mindfulness, self-compassion and alternative medicine, running at Mount Agamenticus, practicing yoga, and watching movies with her husband.

Emily (Doll) Laracy, M.A., M.S., CCC-SLP, is a licensed school-based speech-language pathologist. Her caseload includes students in grades K-5 with a variety of social, emotional, cognitive, and academic needs, including students with selective mutism. Emily has worked in several intensive treatment programs for children with SM, and is the author of the book, "Treating Selective Mutism as a Speech-Language Pathologist." She has been an invited presenter at local, state, and national conferences on the topic of SM, is the author of several webinars, and often provides education and training to school districts and professional organizations about how to meet the needs of children with SM. Her professional interests are in helping children with anxiety and communication needs find the tools to communicate effectively with those around them.

Janine Domingues, PhD, is the Manager of Curriculum Development and Professional Training for the School and Community Programs team and a Clinical Psychologist in the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders. She has experience in providing cognitive behavioral treatments to children, teenagers and young adults struggling with those disorders, as well as behavioral problems and post-traumatic stress disorder. She is certified in PCIT-SM.

Dr. Domingues has a specific interest in helping children and families who have been affected by trauma, as well as children with anxiety disorders, including separation anxiety, social phobia, generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder and selective mutism. She has co-authored scholarly articles for several peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.

Dr. Giglio is a US clinical psychologist who has been practicing in Hong Kong for 10+ years. She serves as the Director of Central Health Partners, Child Development Team, a multidisciplinary group of specialists offering speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, learning enhancement services, and therapy and counseling services. Dr. Giglio is also the co-founder of Brave Mighty Minds, a platform created to offer resources to educators and families. She co-authors the children's book Bravery Grows, a story about a young girl diagnosed with selective mutism.

Prior to Dr. Giglio’s arrival in Hong Kong, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and evidence-based treatment for Selective Mutism were unavailable to the English-speaking community. In 2014, Dr. Giglio launched the Confident Crew program, an intensive group behavioral therapy for selective mutism, the first of its kind in Asia, and modeled from Brave Buddies and the Mighty Mouth, programs created by Dr. Steven Kurtz, Ph.D., ABPP. She has invited clinicians and patients from all over the world to participate in Confident Crew to learn how to treat selective mutism effectively. Her passion for helping families with children diagnosed with anxiety disorders has led her to explore alternative ways of treatment delivery and to develop resources available to teachers and caregivers.

Dr. Giglio received training in Cognitive Behavioral at the NYU Child Study Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital. At NYU, Dr. Giglio was first introduced to the treatment of selective mutism. She was extensively trained by Global Trainers in PCIT for ADHD and disruptive behavior disorders and PCIT -SM for selective mutism. Her interest in effective treatments for SM inspired Dr. Giglio's dissertation research with children diagnosed with selective mutism. Dr. Giglio completed her post-doctoral fellowship at Child Mind Insititute in New York, was the Brave Buddies program coordinator, and was part of the ADHD service.

Dr. Giglio has presented at multiple international conferences and has been featured in the SCMP and the Asia Society podcast. She also sits on the non-profit organization's board, The Zubin Foundation, and is on the Executive Committee for FOCUS Hong Kong, a parent advocacy group.

Alisa Gudz, MSW, is a social worker in the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute. Ms. Gudz has specialized interest in the treatment of selective mutism and other anxiety disorders in children. She has experience providing these treatments to families and children through the Brave Buddies intensive selective mutism program. She is certified in PCIT-SM.

Ms. Gudz has received training in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and has experience providing individual and group therapy in outpatient and school settings. She has worked with children and adolescents with selective mutism, generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Ms. Gudz is passionate about helping children and their families reach their goals.

Aileen Herrera, M.S., LMHC, is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and the Clinical Director of the Mental Health Interventions and Technology (MINT) Anxiety Program at the Center for Children and Families (CCF) at Florida International University. She has extensive clinical training in cognitive and behavioral treatments for children and adolescents, with a special emphasis on selective mutism. She supervises student trainees and provides weekly and intensive treatment in English and Spanish for children and teens with anxiety and directs specialty programs for youth with selective mutism. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the Selective Mutism Association.

Taylor Hicks-Hoste is a licensed psychologist (LP) in the states of Michigan and California, as well as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). She received her Ph.D. in school psychology from Michigan State University. Her professional experiences span across both school and clinic settings. As a school psychologist, she has serviced students, families and teachers, grades preschool through twelfth grade. She has also worked as a countywide behavioral health consultant, in which she has partnered with local districts in the promotion of mental health awareness and in the direct provision of school-based mental health supports to students. Taylor’s clinical work at Thriving Minds in Michigan includes the treatment of children, teens, and families with an emphasis on anxiety-based disorders such as selective mutism, separation anxiety, and school refusal.

Jonathan Kohlmeier is from upstate New York and graduated from Babson College with a B.S. in Business Administration concentrating in Finance and Technology. He later obtained his M.A in Clinical Psychology from Teachers College - Columbia University. He was diagnosed with selective mutism at age five and is passionate about helping the countless individuals and caregivers that face similar challenges. Jonathan has volunteered at multiple SM intensive treatment programs since 2016 at Kurtz Psychology Consulting, the Child Mind Institute, and the Child & Adolescent Anxiety Practice. Additionally, he often speaks to SM support groups and schools about his memoir on selective mutism called Learning to Play the Game: My Journey Through Silence. He was featured on PBS Keeping Kids Healthy and BBC Our World.

Dr. Carly Mayer is the Director of Clinical Services at Growing Minds Psychology in New York City. She provides intensive Selective Mutism (SM) treatment and is a PCIT-SM trainer. She offers virtual groups for elementary-age children with selective mutism and social anxiety. Her focus is on helping these children to develop independent communication skills to build meaningful social relationships. Dr. Mayer has a passion for working with children who need additional support to advocate for themselves; initiate and maintain friendships; and develop confidence in sharing interests and opinions. She was introduced to the world of SM during her post-doctoral fellowship at Kurtz Psychology. She was directly supervised by Dr. Steve Kurtz and subsequently joined his practice as a staff clinician. She directed multiple Mighty Mouth Programs, presented alongside Dr. Kurtz, and conducted intensives within the office, family homes, and schools. Dr. Mayer also specializes in the treatment of disruptive behaviors.

Phei Phei Oon is a Canada-based Registered Psychotherapist currently in private practice with more than 15 years of clinical experience. Phei Phei’s virtual treatments for children with Selective Mutism reach clients across Canada and also other parts of the world including Singapore, China, and Australia. She provides her services in English, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese, and Malay.

As Phei Phei is fluent in different languages, she has considerable experience working with bilingual families, many of whom are overseas Chinese who live in English-speaking countries. She has considerable exposure to factors in bilingual families that may contribute to Selective Mutism.

With her previous training and clinical experience in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and her further training in Drama Therapy, she designed an integrated approach that combined behavioural intervention from CBT and the dramatic play element from Drama therapy to treat children with Selective Mutism. The approach was effective and helped children overcome the anxiety condition successfully in a playful and relaxed manner.


Phei Phei’s current approach in treating children with SM emphasizes understanding the child’s nature and strengths to design an intervention journey that is fun, rewarding and intrinsically motivating for the child. Her approach is heavily based in CBT which is the evidence-based approach for SM, and also in Dramatherapy, which facilitates a therapeutic process that is relationship-based, fun and celebrative of the child’s agency in the growth process. Equally important, Phei Phei stresses partnering with the school and parents to form a strong team to facilitate a comfortable step-by-step intervention that helps the child climb the brave talking ladder successfully. Phei Phei provides consultations and training to the schools and the parents to equip the team with the necessary knowledge base and skills to support the child.

Dr. Heather Schmitt is a licensed psychologist at Thriving Minds Behavioral Health, a pediatric psychology clinic dedicated to providing exceptional, research-based behavioral treatment for Selective Mutism and related anxiety issues. Her clinical specialties include assessment and treatment of anxiety disorders, disruptive behavior problems, and ADHD. Dr. Schmitt also has extensive experience in behavioral consultation, including work with school-based professionals, caseworkers, and other mental health providers to promote the success of children, teens, and young adults.

Dr. Becky Thomson is a Licensed Psychologist and the Clinic Director at Thriving Minds – Chelsea (www.thrivingmindsbehavioralhealth.com), a group practice that specializes in the evaluation and treatment of pediatric behavioral health concerns. Dr. Thomson particularly enjoys treating anxiety disorders, including Selective Mutism, using evidence-based behavioral and cognitive-behavioral approaches. She is passionate about helping children and adolescents build bravery and confidence to conquer anxiety using an exposure-based approach, and she makes it a top priority to collaborate closely with parents, school, and others to optimize outcomes.

Natalie Weder, MD, is a senior child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Child Mind Institute with extensive experience diagnosing and treating the full range of psychiatric disorders. Dr. Weder has particular expertise in the areas of ADHD, mood and anxiety disorders, and resilience in children and adolescents.

Dr. Weder is highly skilled in treating with medication as well as in evidence-based therapies, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). In her training and approach, she brings together a big-picture understanding of a child’s functioning within their family and environment, and the specific skills needed to overcome challenges. Dr Weder has particular interest and expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of selective mutism. She has treated patients of all ages with this condition.