Many children may be shy or slow to warm—someone who hangs back in a new setting, takes a little longer to join in, or needs time before feeling comfortable speaking up. But how do we know when that’s simply a child’s temperament, and when there may be something more complex at play?
That’s what we’re exploring in today’s episode: how to distinguish between a child who needs a little more time to warm up and a child whose difficulty speaking may be rooted in anxiety. In some cases, that anxiety can take the form of Selective Mutism—an often misunderstood anxiety disorder in which a child who speaks comfortably in some settings struggles to speak in others.
We’re so grateful to be joined by Dr. Rachel Busman, a leading expert in Selective Mutism, who helps us understand what parents should look for, when to seek support, and—perhaps most importantly—how to respond in ways that actually help.
Dr. Busman is a Senior Director of the child and adolescent anxiety and related disorders program at Cognitive and Behavioral Consultants. She works with children, teens, and families with a wide range of mental health concerns and has a specific expertise in the evaluation and treatment of selective mutism. Dr. Busman is the past president of the Selective Mutism Association and is the author of Being Brave with Selective Mutism- a step-by-step guide for children and their caregivers.
