"Did you know that some children talk freely at home but can’t get a single word out at school? It’s not stubbornness, and it’s not shyness — it’s something called selective mutism, an anxiety condition that literally freezes a child’s ability to speak.

In this episode of Let’s Talk Small Talk, we dive into the most common questions parents and teachers ask.
What causes selective mutism?
How can you tell the difference between being quiet and having SM?
And most importantly — what actually helps, and what makes it worse?

If you’ve ever wondered how to support a child with selective mutism — or you just want to understand it better — this episode is for you.
Libby's book is on Amazon https://amzn.eu/d/dRlx2Fp

Libby talks to Cathy Wassell who is the CEO and founder of the Autistic Girls Network Charity and founder of The Haven online provision. She is also author of 'Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person: A parents handbook to supporting newly diagnosed teens and pre-teens.'

This is the website where you can also learn more about the charity itself and also The Haven https://autisticgirlsnetwork.org/
This is the link for the book https://amzn.eu/d/eBx7XYf

Libby talks to Joel Roskin, who was diagnosed with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) as an adult. He is an amazing advocate for DLD and has a story that both inspires and informs. He is happy to be contacted and would make an ideal speaker for your CEN or support group. I certainly want to pick his brains for several projects that I have in mind and look forward to working with him again soon joelroskin1@hotmail.co.uk

Libby interviews Cathy about Gestalt Language Processing and the natural language acquisition process. Listen to her explanation and rationale for working in a different way to previously, how the approach embraces a nuero-diveregent affirming style and has completely altered the look and sound of the clinic rooms at The Speech Den. They also touch upon the fact that not everyone agrees with them. Cathy's website https://thespeechden.com/
Cathy is organising another conference this October, which is her third year in a row. This years' conference brings fresh insights, the latest evidence base, practical ideas and solutions, and retrospective reflections. Professionals, parents and adult Gestalt Language Processors will explore how Gestalt Language Processors are supported across diverse settings and celebrate the real-world successes families and professionals are experiencing. To book a place on the on-line conference which starts 9th October https://registration.glpconference.co.uk/glp25

Join us for a fascinating conversation with Dawn and Libby as they discuss her new book Born Naughty? Decoding PDA – A Decade of Discovery in Practice. Drawing on over ten years of clinical experience, Libby shares powerful insights into Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), exploring why it's so often misunderstood and how we can better support children and families. Whether you're a parent, professional, or simply curious about neurodivergent experiences, this is a must-listen episode packed with practical wisdom, real-life stories, and compassionate expertise. https://amzn.eu/d/cHVRPRU

Libby interviews Sally Cat about this lesser-known type of PDA. Many of us are confident we know what PDA looks like but what if we are missing a huge group of people who don't show overt signs of PDA? Read more here http://www.sallycatpda.co.uk/2024/10/a-quick-guide-to-internalised-pda.html Sally Cat's blog is full of information that you might not have come across before including her Big Traits study http://www.sallycatpda.co.uk/2019/06/a-demonstration-of-differences-between.html

Libby talks to the lovely Anna Biavati. Anna Is a multilingual speech and language therapist specialising in selective mutism and multilingualism. With years of experience, she has developed a unique and holistic approach that focuses, not just on speech, but on building resilience, self esteem, and fostering independence in all aspects of a child's life. Anna is the creator of the brave muscle method which takes into account the brain function approach, and her method is designed to empower children by starting from what they can already do and gradually building their ability to communicate in a pressure-free way. Her Steps to Brave Talking program provides a structured step by step process to help children with selective mutism find their voice in a supportive and encouraging environment. Believing that family plays a crucial role in a child's Progress, Anna developed the Family Dynamic Approach, ensuring that parents and caregivers are actively involved in their child's journey. She provides practical tools, training and guidance to help families create a nurturing and supportive environment for communication growth. In addition to her work in speech and language therapy, Anna is trained in primitive reflex integration, which she incorporates into her approach to address underlying motor and sensory challenges that may impact a child's ability to communicate confidently. By integrating these reflexes, she helps children develop greater emotional regulation, body awareness and communicational readiness.
https://stepstobravetalking.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@annabiavatislt https://www.edinburgh-speech-therapy-wordsteps.co.uk/

Liz is an award winning Occupational Therapist (OT) with 25 years of expertise. As someone who is dyslexic and part of a neurodiverse family, Liz brings a unique perspective to her work. She is passionate about collaborating with children, young people, parents and caregivers, supporting them to discover understanding, connection, neuro-affirming and trauma and sensory responsive tailored solutions and support that fits each family's individual needs. She helps parents and carers to regain clarity and confidence in their parenting experience, creating more meaningful moments with their kids, whilst remembering their own well being matters too. She supports parents and carers in additional needs families with parental burnout, mental health and well being so they can be the parents they want to be. web site: https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk/ Podcast: https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk/#section-fojBZLwt8