In collaboration with the University of Bremen (Prof. Dr. Anja Starke, Dr. Katharina Hoge), children and adolescents with selective mutism are supported in various contexts. The goal is to gain a broad understanding of the situation of children and adolescents with selective mutism, as well as to understand transfer processes and the roles of parents, teachers, and educators.

There are shy children in every class. However, some of them exhibit behaviors that go beyond mere shyness. In class and even during recess, they consistently remain silent toward teachers and/or other children. This may indicate a condition known as selective mutism (SM)—a relatively rare communication disorder of early childhood associated with anxiety (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). A hallmark of SM is the stark contrast between extremely silent behavior outside the family context and uninhibited, often even dominant behavior within the immediate family (Starke & Subellok, 2015). This is because, fundamentally, these children possess adequate language skills. This silent behavior most commonly occurs in educational settings such as daycare centers or schools, as well as in the presence of strangers or in unfamiliar situations (Ford, Sladeczeck, Carlson & Kratochwill, 1998).

As part of the project, students can write theses focusing on topics of their own choosing. Possible topics include counseling teachers and schools, conducting intake interviews with parents, or documenting therapeutic outcomes.