Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum's third edition guide book, "Easing School Jitters for the Selectively Mute Child" is an updated version of the first edition. It is a down-to-earth informational book that will provide advice in an entertaining manner. Every colorful page is filled with facts, helpful ideas, reasons that Selectively Mute Children feel the way they do, and an interactive section where parents can work with children to help them list, draw and write about the things that make them feel good about themselves and see the positive aspects of school. The final chapter of the book is an Ask the Doc- Frequently Asked Question which focuses on common school-related dilemmas that the child with SM may experience and offers an easy-to-understand approach for handling various situations and issues. The book is a must for parents, teachers and treating professionals trying to help the child with SM conquer his/her fears, worries and communication difficulties within the school environment.

More About the Author
Elisa Shipon-Blum, DO - or Dr. E, as her patients call her - is the President and Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety and Related Disorders Treatment Center (SMart Center). She is a board-certified physician who specializes in Selective Mutism. Over the past 30 years, Dr. E has helped thousands of children, teens, and adults from around the world overcome Selective Mutism. Notably, the inspiration of her work comes from her daughter, Sophia, who suffered from and overcame Selective Mutism.

Dr. E developed the evidenced-based Social Communication Anxiety Treatment (S-CAT)(R). According to Dr. E's work, The key to an effective treatment plan is understanding factors that contribute to the development and maintenance of SM (The Why's of SM) as well as understanding an individual's baseline stage of social communication on the Social Communication Bridge(c). Then, working as a team; the treatment professional, parents, and school staff, help the individual build coping skills to combat anxious feelings and to progress across the Social Communication Bridge(c).

To learn more about the SMart Center, visit SelectiveMutismCenter.org!