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Helping kids with selective mutism find their voices

Brave Buddies^SM is an intensive group behavioral treatment program designed to help children with selective mutism (SM) speak in school and other public places. We create a simulated classroom, which offers children a safe environment to practice verbal participation, or what we call "brave talking."

Brave Buddies is offered as a week-long session twice a year, and as one-day sessions four times throughout the year. The Brave Buddies day is structured like a typical school day, with morning meeting, craft and sport activities, meals, and field trips to places like the library and the park. Prior to the Brave Buddies days, each child attends individual and small group sessions to build a trusting and talking relationship with staff members who will coach them during Brave Buddies. The staff guides children through progressively more challenging activities, prompting them to use verbal responses and speak spontaneously as they play with other children and adults. Each Brave Buddies day ends with a trip to the famed Brave Buddies prize store—a chance to practice buying a toy on their own with the points earned each day for brave talking.

WHEN:

One-day sessions are offered four times a year. Week-long programs are given twice a year. The next upcoming one-day sessions in 2013 are: April 16, June 25, October 15, and December 20. The next 5-day Summer Program runs August 12-16.

Our 5-day Summer Program is no longer open for new out-of-town families. If you are interested in joining us from out of town, and are new to the Child Mind Institute, please contact Sara Rothschild at Sara.Rothschild@childmind.org to discuss individual intensive treatments. The next weeklong program will be February 17-21, 2014. Please check back in the summer to register for the Winter program.

If you are a current or former patient of the Child Mind Institute, please continue to register as such.

WHERE:

Day-long sessions :  Child Mind Institute, 445 Park Avenue at 56th Street
Week-long programs:  92nd Street Y Nursery School, 1395 Lexington Avenue in NYC

ELIGIBILITY:

Children diagnosed with selective mutism (SM) between the ages of 3 and 8 are invited to join Brave Buddies. Weeklong programs are open to current, former, and new patients, who have been determined clinically appropriate by the clinical team at CMI. Daylong sessions are for current and former patients only. Older children will be considered on an individual basis. Groups are organized by grade level.

We are no longer accepting applications for new out-of-town families for the Summer 2013 week-long program. Please check back in the summer for registration for our next weeklong winter program, scheduled for February 17-21, 2014.

If you are a current or former patient of the Child Mind Institute, please continue to register as such.

FEES: 

$500 for day-long sessions, $2,500 for the week-long program. Parent training sessions are included in the program fee. Caregivers and educators are also welcome to attend.

HOW TO APPLY:  

Click here to apply for a one-day Brave Buddies session or a week-long Brave Buddies program.

We are no longer accepting applications for new out-of-town families. If you are a current or prior patient of the Child Mind Institute, please continue to register as such.

Priority is given to families already receiving treatment from Dr. Kurtz and his clinical team. Enrollment is otherwise determined on a first-registered, first-served basis.

To learn more, please read our Frequently Asked Questions.

You can also download a PDF flyer about Brave Buddies.

Our Team

• 
  Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP

  Senior Director, ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Center; Director, Selective Mutism Program
  Child Mind Institute

  Steven Kurtz, PhD, ABPP, is one of the nation’s leading clinicians in the treatment ...

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• 
  Laura Kirmayer, MA

  Associate Psychologist, ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Center; Fellow, Selective Mutism Program
  Child Mind Institute

  Laura Kirmayer, MA, is a clinical psychologist with experience in behavior therapy. Laura joins the ...

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• 
  Rachel Busman, PsyD

  Clinical Psychologist, Anxiety and Mood Disorders Center
  Child Mind Institute

  Rachel Busman, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety ...

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• 
  Steven G. Dickstein, MD

  Pediatric Psychopharmacologist
  Child Mind Institute

  Steven G. Dickstein, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with extensive experience diagnosing and ...

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• 
  Natalie Weder, MD

  Pediatric Psychopharmacologist
  Child Mind Institute

  Natalie Weder, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist with extensive experience diagnosing and treating ...

  Read More