Treat Selective Mutism with CBPT — evidence-based protocol by Susan M. Knell
In CBPT, selective mutism is addressed by structuring play situations in which communicating becomes progressively more reinforcing, combined with graded exposure and cognitive-behavioral techniques.
What you will be able to do
The intervention that fails with selective mutism is the obvious one: targeting the silence directly. CBPT works in the opposite direction — build a space where not speaking is never a problem, let the puppet model gradual speech, and when the child speaks, reinforce what they said, not the fact that they spoke. This course shows you how to make clinical progress with the child who won't talk to you.
A clear path forward for the case that stalls every other approach.
About this course
Selective Mutism is an anxiety-based disorder in which a child who is capable of speaking consistently fails to speak in specific social situations. It typically begins in early childhood and can persist into adolescence if untreated.
This course shows how CBPT uses behavioral shaping techniques — delivered through play — to gradually increase a child's verbal communication in anxiety-provoking contexts. Participants learn structured protocols for school-based intervention and parent training.
Course objectives
- Assess selective mutism using CBPT diagnostic and functional criteria
- Apply behavioral shaping techniques in a play therapy context
- Develop school-based and parent-led intervention strategies
- Monitor speech progression and adapt the clinical protocol accordingly
Course requirements
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Clinical Social Workers
- Licensed Professional Counselors
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists
- Licensed Mental Health Clinical Nurse Practitioners
The delivery of the certificate of attestation at the conclusion of the course will be tied to the evaluation of participants' requirements. In the absence of the requirements, the course hours will not be certified.
Curriculum · 1 lesson + Learning Test · 26 min
Instructor
Who this course is for
Psychologists and psychotherapists · Psychiatrists · Clinical and licensed independent social workers · Licensed professional counselors · Marriage and family therapists · Mental health clinical nurse practitioners.
A certificate of attendance is issued on completion, tied to the final learning test.