Description
Selective Mutism (SM) is a serious anxiety disorder that affects some children when they begin school (Toppelberg, 2005). The long-term impact of the disorder, if untreated, can include complex, debilitating mental health conditions. Usual presentation is lack of speech in educational settings, contrasting with confident speech at home. Incidence is estimated at around 0.7% (Bergman, 2002) but can be three times higher for children with immigrant backgrounds (Elizur, 2003). Care pathways indicate manualised behavioural treatment as a first-line intervention for SM. However, strong evidence suggests Music Therapy can have a powerful impact (Jones, 2012; Jones and Odell-Miller, at review) but increased awareness of SM and our potential therapeutic role is needed. The aim of this interactive, experiential workshop is to help resource Music Therapists to step onto the current therapeutic landscape for SM. We will begin by discussing the key features of SM and dispelling some common myths. The main components of a theoretical framework of Music Therapy for children with SM will be shared and explored including the role of physical self-expression, humour and enabling speech generalisation through transdisciplinary practice. We will interrogate the usefulness of many ‘normal’ therapy boundaries when working with children with SM and see what happens when you purposely challenge conventional practice. The session will use clinical case examples and experiential techniques to workshop and illustrate some key elements and give practical support to clinicians interested in working with children with SM.
| Period | 2022 |
|---|---|
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | Edinburg, United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |