Selective Mutism is a social anxiety disorder most commonly found in children, characterized by a consistent failure to speak in select settings for a least a month or two. These children understand language use and have the ability to speak. In typical cases they speak to their parents and select others. Most do not speak in school or in other social situations. Generally, most function normally in other ways, although some have additional disabilities. Most are thought to be extremely shy.

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The selective mutism seminar was facilitated by Jonathan Berent, L.C.S.W., A.C.S.W. Jonathan is the author of “Beyond Shyness: How to Conquer Social Anxieties (Simon & Schuster). Since 1978, he has pioneered psychotherapy for social anxiety having worked with thousands of individuals of all ages. He has developed a progressive treatment program for selective mutism in which, hundreds of individuals have participated. In fact, his appearance in 1988 on CNN Medical News was the first national program to feature selective mutism. He has been featured extensively in the media including Oprah, Sally Jesse Raphael, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, CNN, CNBC, Joan Rivers, The New York Times, Newsday, The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Globe, and over a thousand other appearances. Jonathan is an expert in “performance” training. He has served as a stress management consultant to numerous organizations and corporations including the United Federation of Teachers, Technicon Science Center, Bloomingdale's, NBC and others. Jonathan has extensively researched technology and the avoidant personality. Mr. Berent is a “diplomate” in clinical social work. He is certified by New York State and by the Association of Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback.   Jonathan is the director of Berent Associates Center for Social Therapy in Great Neck, New York. 1-800-248-2034. [an error occurred while processing this directive]