Selective Mutism: Adventure Camp Lead-Ins

Lead-In Sessions: July 25th- Today my husband, Tomek, and I got up extra early to drive to Oakbrook, IL. I decided I wanted to arrive at the office by 10am so I would be able to observe the therapy sessions that were occurring with my first kiddo as I was anxious and lacked confidence in the beginning about whether I would be good at this or not and thought if I went to watch early it would help decrease that anxiety I was feeling. My first session was scheduled for July 26th so I was just there to watch the early sessions. However, upon arrival I was told that my little girl was moving much quicker than originally anticipated and there was a high chance that I was going to conduct my session with her that same day since I was there. I was asked if I was willing to conduct my session that same day and I was really nervous but I realized that if I said no I wanted to wait I wasn’t sticking with the be brave mantra. Thus, I said I would conduct my session if asked to do so and in the end I did. Even just in the first session I had with my little girl I was able to see this girl grow with me in her speech during the transfer from the previous parent à therapist à counselor 1 roles. July 28th- Today was my longest day working for lead-ins but it was joyous! I started my day with my second child who is about 4 years older than my first little girl and I was the first counselor so I worked with him after the parents and the primary therapist. It was different working with each child, realistically due to the age difference which has been noted as a substantial influence on the way selective mutism is experienced and displayed in each child/adolescent. Once I finished my work with my first child of the day I took a brief lunch break and then prepped to do my final lead-in session, a pairing session, with my first kiddo, the little girl, from earlier on in the week. I, of course, can’t divulge the details of the session but one thing I would like to share, as I want to remember it for future reference, is that the excitement I was able to see on my little girls face when she made a new friend (after working with another child in the play room) was one that just filled me with happiness and a sense of knowing that I am definitely where I am supposed to be! I think this is a great point to leave on for Lead-Ins…See you again when I write about adventure camp! My experience with my kiddos went so well in these two days that although I was here for an entire week I only had to conduct sessions on these two days. Since I was here though I did go into the office other days so I could watch other sessions and other kid's experiences to gain further understanding of both our therapy process as well as different presentations of selective mutism. I will leave you all on that note...until camp! :)