Emily, a seven-year-old girl who was referred to Austin Child Guidance Center by her private therapist, came to the Center to join a social skills group. Emily’s family had recently returned from living abroad, where Emily attended a small school with small class sizes. At age three and a half, Emily was diagnosed with Selective Mutism. Upon returning to Texas, Emily was immersed in a larger class and her symptoms of Selective Mutism were exacerbated. Emily also began displaying signs of poor impulse control and having difficulty interacting appropriately with peers.
Emily joined a group of six-to-nine year-olds in group therapy at Austin Child Guidance Center. Initially, her anxiety was significant. At the first group meeting, Emily attempted to bite her mother on the way into the group setting. Throughout that first meeting, Emily resorted to nonverbal communication, withdrawal from the group, and placing herself under her chair. The group leaders remained physically and and emotionally accessible to Emily. As the group progressed, Emily found her own ways to connect with her peers. She enjoyed bringing and sharing toys to group therapy and as the group engaged in interactive activities, Emily and her peers did an excellent job of including everyone in their conversations and games.
The therapists noted that it was a pleasure to see Emily engage in age-appropriate silliness with her peers as well as her emerging ability to share with a growing ease. Eventually, Emily was able to share difficult topics with the group, including milestones and challenges in her own life. The small group experience at Austin Child Guidance Center provided Emily with the opportunity to join in a setting of peers that helped her work on feelings of being overwhelmed by larger crowds. Emily gained skills and confidence in her own creative ways. These are assets that Emily will refine and use throughout her life.
