We receive a lot of questions about our Online Sessions, here are some common FAQ's:
Are you really able to help children to overcome Selective Mutism through Online Sessions?
Yes! We have helped hundreds of families in this way!
How do Online Sessions work?
Once your session is booked, you will receive a confirmation email with an online meeting link. During the initial session, your therapist will want to gain an understanding of your child's unique presentation of Selective Mutism. Following this, they will run through some essential information about SM before moving onto a plan for your child - specific goals based on what they have learnt about your child with tailored strategies and techniques.
I don't live in England, can I still do sessions with you?
Yes! We have supported families from all over the world through Online Sessions, including; Ireland, Australia, the USA, New Zealand, Brazil, Luxembourg, Spain, Greece, Thailand, Singapore and many many other countries! The sessions work in exactly the same way.
Will I need follow up sessions?
Yes! For sustained progress follow up sessions are needed every 6-8 weeks. The real magic happens in the follow up sessions. This is when we review how your child has been doing with their SM since our last session. We help troubleshoot any challenges you may be having and provide you with guidance to help your child move to the next step.
Can my child's school join the sessions?
Yes, absolutely! We love it when teachers and TA's join Online Sessions so that we can discuss directly with them how your child is presenting at school. It's ideal when we can provide guidance directly to the people who work with your child at school. We ask that school staff join from the second session so that the first session can be spent getting to know you, and talking through your child's SM in detail as well as making an initial plan. They are very welcome to join from the second session.
Tell me about the initial report
The report after the initial session is useful for parents to have everything covered during the first session in a clear written format. This can also be useful to share with the school and refer back to it if needed. We also do encourage you to take notes during your session (so make sure you have a pen and paper with you!).
I would like you to work face to face with my child, is this possible?
This depends on several factors, for example, how close you live to one of our therapists' locations, as well as our waiting list. There is also the option of bringing your child to our therapy rooms in London or Bournemouth. Please ask us about the possibility of direct therapy during your Online Session.
I have worked with other organisations online before and I didn't find it helpful...
We are not sure what support you have received previously, however, what we can say is that our approach is highly practical. We will give you tangible strategies that you can start implementing to help your child right away. What is also unique about us is that we only work with children with Selective Mutism. We specialise in this one condition and are really experienced in understanding what works specifically for children with SM. We are also super passionate with helping children with Selective Mutism!
Should my child join the session?
No, your child shouldn't join the session. The session is for you to discuss your child's SM with the therapist. If you would like your child involved in sessions, please ask us about Online Therapy Sessions
What if my child's school can't join?
That's ok! We recommend however, that you speak to them afterwards to pass on any information from the session.
How long will it take for my child to overcome SM?
Unfortunately we cannot give an answer to this question as it depends on multiple factors, for example, how consistently yourself and the school implement the recommendations. It also depends on the level of your child's anxiety when we start. We have seen children make progress very quickly, and others have needed longer. Just like any therapy, we cannot give any guarantees. Although we feel pretty confident that they will make progress if the recommendations discussed are implemented in the correct way and consistently.
If you can not work with my child directly, is it still possible to help them to overcome SM through Online Sessions?!
We have helped hundreds of children to overcome SM through Online Sessions alone (and having never met the child)! The beauty of Online Sessions is that we are guiding you (the adults who see your child every day) on what to do to help them in every day situations.
Can you work with my child online?
Yes! We have developed Online Therapy Sessions which we deliver to families all over the world! We have even helped children in Australia speak to their teacher for the first time through Online Therapy Sessions! Many families are sceptical about how this could work for their child; of course we cannot guarantee that every child would respond to this, however, we have now worked with many children successfully in this way. We have even helped children talk to their grandparents for the first time during these sessions! If you are interested in Online Therapy Sessions, please let us know. You will always start with Online Sessions to begin with and your therapist will assess whether they feel Online Therapy Sessions would be appropriate in your child's case.