Katherine Dahlsgaard, PhD - Introducing the New Anxiety Disorder: Selective Mutism

CE Objectives

Following this presentation, participants will be able to:

1. Participants will be able to describe the typical presentation of selective mutism in the clinical and school setting
   
2. Participants will be able to describe empirically supported interventions for selective mutism
   
3. Participants will be able to name at least two useful recommendations and resources for teachers and other school personnel who provide care for children with selective mutism
   

Selective mutism is a fascinating but little understood disorder. Thought to be an early variant of Social Anxiety Disorder among very young children, it has now been officially classified as an anxiety disorder as of the publication of DSM-5. Selective mutism is also under-recognized and under-treated: Although most school teachers can recall encountering 1-2 children that "never talked to anyone" in their classrooms, parents frequently lament that they had to search for -- but could not find -- knowledgeable treatment providers. This workshop will address dilemmas of differential diagnosis and then provide demonstrations of several specific interventions that work to encourage selectively mute children to speak in clinician's offices as well as the outside world. Because family and school involvement is crucial to treatment success, a major portion of this workshop will address how parents, schools, and clinicians can effectively work together and help these children find their voices.

About Dr. Dahlsgaard

Katherine K. Dahlsgaard, Ph.D., is Lead Psychologist at the Anxiety Behaviors Clinic (ABC) and Director of The Picky Eaters Clinic at the Dept. of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). She is a licensed clinical psychologist in Pennsylvania and New York with expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults with anxiety disorders. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and completed a two-year fellowship in child anxiety disorders at NYU's Child Study Center. At CHOP, Dr. Dahlsgaard teaches CBT to psychiatric residents and supervises their CBT cases. She is a frequent lecturer and guest speaker, as well as regular contributor to the Philly.com Healthy Kids Blog. Dr. Dahlsgaard has specialized in behavioral treatment of selective mutism for over 10 years.

Target Audience

This presentation is intended for mental health professionals, researchers, and graduate students. The instructional level of this presentation is introductory.

Continuing Education

Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Philadelphia Behavior Therapy Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

This program provides two (2) hours of CE credits. PBTA is also an authorized provider for CE credits for Professional Counselors, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Clinical Social Workers licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.