Supporting Students That Do Not Speak

April West

april.west@gcpsk12.org

Selective mutism is a communication disorder that affects approximately 1% of children. A child can speak normally in certain situations, such as at home or with close friends, but is unable or unwilling to speak in others, such as in school or other public places (2022). Working with selectively mute students can be challenging and rewarding for school counselors. On one hand, you know that working with them can have an impact on their academic and social success, but there is sometimes a fear that you lack the knowledge and tools to be effective.

Since the pandemic, school counselors have seen a noticeable rise in the number of students with symptoms of selective mutism (Raggi). One of the biggest challenges a school counselor faces when working with selectively mute students is communication. Considering this barrier, it is important to keep in mind that traditional counseling methods might not work with these students and that they need a more personalized approach to counseling. Students who do not speak still need to be heard, and the more creative the environment, the more opportunities there are for that to happen.

When working with selectively mute students, the primary focus is to create a safe and supportive environment where they can feel comfortable and slowly build their confidence. School counselors can start by establishing trust and building rapport with the student using nonverbal communication and allowing them to communicate in alternative ways.

In keeping with the personalized approach to counseling, there are several activities that school counselors can do with selectively mute students in one-on-one sessions to help them express themselves. The goal of these activities is to help students gain confidence and feel comfortable talking to people in different settings. One example is role-play. Games such as Charades or Pictionary can add a twist to role playing and help selectively mute students practice their communication skills in a fun and interesting way.

Another activity is creating a personal journal or artwork. Employing art therapy techniques can be a way for students to express their thoughts and feelings nonverbally. School counselors can encourage the student to share their journal or artwork if they feel comfortable doing so, or they can simply keep it as a personal outlet for self-expression. This activity can be taken a step further by utilizing a sand tray and incorporating play techniques and sensory exploration.

In addition, technology can be a useful tool in working with selectively mute students. Using electronic Boom Cards is a wonderful way to create an interactive learning environment that can help with social-emotional learning and self-regulation. Another way to use technology when working with these students is to use video conferencing and messaging. This tool may be reserved for middle- to high-school students, but it can be an effective alternative to in-person meetings.

It is also important to include the student's family and teachers in the counseling process so that everyone works together in a consistent way. School counselors can provide support and strategies in the form of resources and outside referrals to help parents and teachers understand the condition and support the student's needs.

In the end, working with selectively mute students takes patience, empathy, and a willingness to change to meet their needs. By making counseling more personalized and supportive, school counselors can help these students get past their trouble communicating and reach their full academic and social potential.

RESOURCES:

What is selective mutism. Selective Mutism Anxiety & Related Disorders Treatment Center | SMart Center. (2022, July 14). Retrieved March 15, 2023, from https://selectivemutismcenter.org/whatisselectivemutism/Raggi, V. (n.d.). Silent and overlooked: Children with selective mutism. Psychology Today. Retrieved March 22, 2023, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/brave-voices/202204/silent-and-overlooked-childrenselective-mutism