Why Can't You Speak? - with Chelsea Gamache, the Selective Mutism Podcast Host

Do you struggle to get your words out? Feel yourself freeze when someone speaks to you? Do your words seem to get stuck in your throat? In this fascinating episode, we explore the relationship between social anxiety and selective mutism - a severe response to anxiety. We answer that dreaded question “why don’t you talk?” And you’ll discover how your behaviour might be helping to keep someone ‘stuck’ in their cycle of silence and fear -including how praise may actually reduce the likelihood of someone speaking up again. You’ll also hear about why ‘shy’ isn’t a helpful word to use to describe quieter children. You’ll learn about other ways that this fear response can show up that you might not have considered, and how you should respond if a child is using ‘silly talk’, animal noises, or a voice that isn’t their own - and why they might be doing this. Chelsea also demonstrates how very important it is to take a comfort zone stretch approach to overcoming selective mutism and anxiety as she explains what helped her to move through selective mutism to becoming a podcast host. About our GuestChelsea Gamache is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. She was diagnosed with Selective Mutism at age five and is passionate about sharing her experience, raising awareness and helping others who are struggling with Selective Mutism and anxiety. Chelsea hosts ‘Outloud the Selective Mutism Podcast’ with her mom and recently wrote a children's book about Selective Mutism called 'I Am Brave'. https://outloudsm.comSupport the show