Unspoken Words: A Child’s View of Selective Mutism

Unspoken Words: A Child’s View of Selective Mutism, is the first book of its kind! It’s written by a teenager who suffered from Selective Mutism. This unique book is directed to children with Selective Mutism as well as for parents, professionals and teachers to help them understand a child’s unspoken words when unable to speak and express themselves. Sophia Blum is Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum’s daughter and wrote this book to help others understand. ’Unspoken Words’ begins with a letter to children helping them to know they are not alone and others feel as they do. The book also includes a letter to parents, professionals and teachers reading the book as well with the goal of helping them understand what a child with SM feels like, may be wanting to say, but can’t regarding various social settings, such as in public, with guests at home, friends who visit and with teachers/peers at school. The bulk of the book includes well-written and insightful sayings that children may be saying or actions they may be taking and then explains what they really may be meaning. Beautiful illustrations are included throughout to help ’see’ what the child may be feeling.

Finally, Sophia has written her story, Beneath my Shell, as a way of explaining her feelings while suffering in silence. Sophie’s story is detailed, introspective, heartwarming and inspirational as she describes her personal journey to overcome Selective Mutism. Dr Elisa Shipon-Blum has a section called, ’From a Mom’s Perspective’ where she tells her story of when Sophie was young, Sophie’s journey to overcoming Selective Mutism and hence the fuel to Dr. Shipon-Blum’s life mission to understand and treat children suffering in silence. ** ALL proceeds for this book will be used towards the education and public awareness of Selective Mutism.

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!

Sophia Blum is the daughter of the international expert, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum. Sophia, or Sophie as many refer to her as, suffered from Selective Mutism during her earlier years. Rather than ignore and minimize her social communication anxiety, Sophie chose to ’embrace’ her challenges by working hard to overcome her silence, but also by helping others. She volunteered as a pen pal and authored the ’Ask Sophie’ column on the SMart Center website and newsletters. Sophie speaks at national and local conferences to share her story. During high school Sophie worked in the SMart Center product purchasing department. Sophie graduated with honors from Abington Friends School in June ’12. She now attends Franklin & Marshall College and is pursuing a career in medicine. Sophie’s Mom, Dr. Elisa Shipon-Blum, is the President & Director of the Selective Mutism Anxiety Research & Treatment Center (SMart Center) located in the Northern suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is the Founder of the Selective Mutism Group (SMG) and a Director of the Selective Mutism Research Institute (SMRI) a foundation established to study Dr. Shipon-Blum’s theories and treatment methodologies on Selective Mutism. Dr. Shipon-Blum is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychology & Family Medicine at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Shipon-Blum practices outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and has developed the evidenced based treatment, Social Communication Anxiety Treatment (S-CAT)(R). She consults worldwide with families, treating professionals, and educators, and has helped thousands of children overcome Selective Mutism. Dr. Shipon-Blum lectures throughout the country performs school evaluations and trainings for treating professionals, educators, and parents, and is considered one of the worlds leading experts in the treatment and understanding of Selective Mutism. She has been a featured expert on national television programs such as 20/20, CNN, Inside Edition, and Good Morning America, etc. She he has been featured in TIME Magazine, People Magazine and has interviewed with newspapers such as the New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Boston Globe, San Diego Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, and Palm Beach Post, etc. Dr. Shipon-Blum has authored research papers, numerous articles, books and produced DVD’s on the topic of Selective Mutism. Dr. Shipon-Blum treats children at the SMart Center in the NE Suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.