Finding Your Voice

Synopsis

Selective mutism is a childhood anxiety disorder characterised by a child's inability to speak and communicate effectively in select social settings, such as school. These children are able to speak and communicate in settings where they are comfortable, secure, and relaxed. Most children with selective mutism also have social phobia or social anxiety: they fear social interactions where there is an expectation to speak and communicate. 

Finding Your Voice highlights the different challenges a child with selective mutism might face, and provides effective, research-based behavioural intervention plans. Tips for engaging and motivating children are provided, focusing on a gradual, step-wise approach to increased speech, as well as fun and engaging activities that can be used at each step of treatment.





The Authors

Veteran child psychiatrist Daniel Fung is the CEO of the Institute of Mental Health (IMH). Dr Fung is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Yong Loo Lin Medical School, Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore and Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University. He has co-authored over 160 peer-reviewed research papers, books and book chapters.


Clare Kwan is a clinical psychologist with an interest in mood and anxiety disorders. Dr Kwan has successfully treated children with selective mutism and is familiar with a range of therapies including DBT, CBT and narrative therapy.


Wong Zi Jun is a researcher at the Institute of Mental Health's Child Guidance Clinic. She has been involved in exploratory and intervention research on clinical issues including emotional disorders such as selective mutism.