Selective (Situational) Mutism Support

This support may be helpful for:

• Children experiencing selective mutism or significant speaking anxiety
• Parents and carers who are struggling to manage the day-to-day impact at home
• Families who have been given a plan or advice but feel unsure how to implement it in real life
• Parents who feel they are navigating this largely on their own
   

 Support is primarily offered in person in Somerset.
In some circumstances, and following discussion with parents or carers, online sessions may be considered where this feels appropriate for the child. 

Selective mutism is rooted in anxiety and nervous system responses, not defiance, stubbornness, or lack of understanding.

Many children:

• Want to speak but feel unable to
• Become highly vigilant in social or educational settings
• Experience pressure — even well-intentioned — as overwhelming

Progress is usually gradual and depends on safety, trust, and consistency.

 My work does not replace NHS, Speech and Language Therapy (SLT), or CAMHS input. Instead, I offer additional, complementary support, focused on:

• Reducing anxiety and pressure around communication
• Supporting emotional safety and confidence
• Helping families understand what helps — and what can unintentionally increase anxiety
• Providing practical, realistic strategies that fit everyday family life
   

Sessions are:

• Child-led and paced carefully
• Grounded in anxiety-aware, non-pressured approaches
• Adapted to the child’s age, needs, and comfort
   

Often, the work is indirect — focusing first on safety, regulation, and confidence rather than speech itself.

Many parents are given information or a plan but receive little ongoing, practical support with implementation.

I work with parents and carers to:

• Translate guidance into manageable, real-world steps
• Reduce pressure on both the child and the family
• Build confidence in how to respond in everyday situations
• Create consistency across home and other settings where possible
   

This support recognises how challenging and emotionally demanding this can be for families.

•  Background in education, working with children and young people outside mainstream settings
• Specialist training in Selective Mutism with Maggie Johnson
• Ongoing professional development in anxiety-informed therapeutic practice
   

This work is approached with care, humility, and respect for the complexity of selective mutism.

 Selective mutism support is primarily offered in person in Somerset.
This allows sessions to be paced appropriately and tailored to the child’s needs in a way that online work cannot always support.

If you are unsure whether in-person support is suitable, this can be discussed gently and without pressure.

In some circumstances, and following discussion with parents or carers, online sessions may be considered where this feels appropriate for the child.