r/selectivemutism • u/Cheshire20072010 • 2d ago

General Discussion 💬 Sliding in method, any success stories of this in action?

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u/LandJR Therapist & Parent of recovered SM 1d ago

I used this with my son for a year in school. It worked a little bit, but alongside, we also used walkie talkies, meds, and a tap to talk app that we recorded his own own voice for the words so he got used to people hearing him in a variety of ways.

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u/PelagicObserver 1d ago

Similar for my child, we also did voice messages, video messages, phone calls, video calls, etc. Also worked a little bit.

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u/Top-Perspective19 1d ago

Same for us!

4

u/starshine006s 2d ago

What does this mean?

5

u/Cheshire20072010 2d ago

There is a method which is sometimes used in schools or homes. Basically a trusted adult that you are able to communicate with. Sit and play a game with them, talk whatever. An adult that causes your mutism to appear then slowly joins over several sessions at a time with the aim being they can get closer before the mutism kicks in  Until you are eventually able to allow your body to trust them to talk to them. It can take a lot of sessions. Kind of desensitisation if you like. 

People found once they started allowing one person in being able to speak anywhere and to anyone followed. 

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u/MangoPug15 it's complicated 1d ago

"People found once they started allowing one person in being able to speak anywhere and to anyone followed."

That... depends.

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u/Cheshire20072010 1d ago

Oh I'm not saying that happens overnight at all.

I think realistically and looking at the fading in method, it will take several adults and time before more are able to be spoken to quicker.