Selective Mutism Training for
Parents & Educators
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy
Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM)
March 5, 2020

Parenting the child with selective mutism (SM) is a major challenge, as is being their teacher. Kurtz Psychology Consulting PC will provide a 1-day training for parents and teachers in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM). PCIT-SM is an empirically-supported treatment developed by Dr. Steven Kurtz to treat children with SM. PCIT-SM has been shown in both individual and intensive group formats to significantly increase verbalizations and engagement, to decrease mutism and avoidance, and to lead to significant remission rates of SM. Click here to read the original peer-reviewed research conducted independently by two psychology labs not affiliated with Kurtz Psychology Consulting - one at the Florida International University and one at the British Columbia Children's Hospital in Vancouver, Canada.

SM is an impairing child anxiety disorder that typically renders children virtually unable to speak within their normal limits outside of their homes in school and community situations, despite the fact that they usualy talk perfectly fine in their own homes. SM is typically accompanied by other anxiety disorders as well as often accompanied by externalizing disruptive behavior disorders, making successful treatment even more challenging.

Dr. Kurtz pioneered the development of PCIT-SM as an adaptation of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) - a gold standard treatment for young children with disruptive behavior disorders. PCIT-SM is provided to individual patients and families as well as provided in groups and intensive camp-like formats, most notably as Mighty Mouth Kids and Brave BuddiesSM  

This 1-day training is designed to teach parents and teachers how to best support the child with SM by using the skills of the PCIT-SM program.  We will provide you solid small group instruction along with ample opportunities throughout the day to actually practice the skills while we coach you. 

Separate Training for Mental Health Professionals

Dr. Kurtz will also hold a separate 2-day training specifically for mental health professionals on Friday and Saturday, March 6-7, 2020 in the same location at Washington University in St. Louis. Click here for more information to send to providers you know. 

Presenter: Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Kurtz is a licensed psychologist and is certified as a Master Trainer by PCIT International.  He is Board Certified in Behavioral and Cognitive Therapy by the American Board of Professional Psychology and a Clinical Fellow in the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). He is on the Board of Directors for the Selective Mutism Association. Dr. Kurtz has been a tireless advocate for children's mental health for decades. In addition to many peer reviewed publications and presentations, he has appeared on ABC Nightline, NBC Today Show,  PBS Keeping Kids Healthy, and numerous other TV, print and radio outlets to spread awareness of empirically-supported treatments and to help de-stigmatize access to mental health care. He travels internationally to train parents, teachers and mental health professionals, with recent trips to Ireland, Dubai, Germany and Canada to carry forward this important work.

Co-Presenter: Andrea Brandon, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Brandon is a Board Certified Clinical and Adolescent Child Psychologist who specializes in the treatment of selective mutism (SM) and disruptive behavior disorders. Dr. Brandon delivers Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adapated for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM) as well as Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) at her private practice, childthrive, located in Northwest Indiana. Dr. Brandon was trained in PCIT-SM in 2011 by its developer, Dr. Steven Kurtz, through Advanced Therapeutic Solutions (ATS), located in Oak Brook, IL. Dr. Brandon completed her post-doctorate fellowship at the Primary Care Center for Psychological Health from 2010 to 2012, also in Northwest Indiana. Simultaneously, Dr. Brandon received SM specialty training and supervision at ATS and administered individual and group treatment, along with individual and group treatment intensives for children and adolescents with SM and social anxiety disorder until 2016. During her employment at ATS, Dr. Brandon also provided supervision and training of PCIT-SM to others. Dr. Brandon earned her Board Certification in Child and Adolescent Psychology through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) in 2015. She earned her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in psychology from Adler University in Chicago, IL, in 2010, after having completed her pre-doctoral internship at the Children’s Institute, Inc., in Los Angeles, CA.

Schedule

Thursday, March 5, 2020

8:30 Onsite registration and making yourself at home

9:00 Welcoming remarks, introductions, goal setting

9:30 Morning session

Review of the SM University online course you completed
Child-Directed Interactions (CDI) practice
Verbal-Directed Interactions (VDI) practice

1:30 Afternoon session

Verbal-Directed Interactions (VDI) practice continued
Fading in peers and teachers
Handling playdates and community expoures
Dealing with family and family gatherings
Training school staff, 504, IEP and other school issues
Medication considerations: when and why to consider

4:00 Q&A

4:30 Ending time

Training Highlights:

• In-depth coverage of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy Adapted for Selective Mutism (PCIT-SM)
• Small group learning experience (maximum of 12 with 2 instructors)
• Lectures with video exemplars of all stages of treatment
• Experiential skills practice throughout with feedback and coaching
• Guided practice in the two phases of the PCIT-SM Treatment: CDI and VDI
• Discussion of special considerations such as how to foster talking playdates, transferring gains to the school and community settings, handling holidays and family gatherings.
• Discussion of medication considerations to know when and why to consider adding medicine to a treatment plan
• Optional access to the Kurtz Psychology online parent skills and support group for help with implementation after taking this course
• Optional consultation with you and/or your current provider at any point if you hit sticky situations and need some extra assistance 

Continuing Education (CE) Credits for Teachers

We will provide you with documentation of this continuing education program.

Fees & Discounts

The fee is $600 for this 1-day training. 

We offer a 50% discount to $300 for any additional family members who register wtih you as well as providing a 50% discount for any teacher or school staff working with your child.  Note when you register, all additional persons, family and/or teachers, are entered in a separate section as Teammates.