Brave Buddies® Program

Brave Buddies® is an intensive, evidence-based program designed to help children ages 3–12 with selective mutism (SM) overcome anxiety and build the confidence to speak in any setting. Developed and refined over 13 years at the Child Mind Institute, Brave Buddies® uses a unique, classroom-like environment where children practice “brave talking” through structured activities and real-world exposures. The program is offered as both a five-day intensive and as one-day sessions throughout the year, with required lead-in sessions for the multi-day version.

Children diagnosed with selective mutism (SM) between the ages 3-12 years old are invited to join the Brave Buddies® program. Multi-day programs are open to current, former and new patients who have been determined to be eligible by the clinical team at the Child Mind Institute.

Your child does not need to be a current or prior patient at the Child Mind Institute to participate in the Brave Buddies® weeklong program. For new families, a screening appointment by video call with a member of our clinical staff will help determine if Brave Buddies® is appropriate for your child.

Brave Buddies® helps children build confidence and practice brave talking in real-world settings. Each child follows an individualized plan tailored to their speaking goals, with added support for older kids through CBT-based strategies. Parents also learn how to reinforce progress at home through training sessions and live coaching. Led by experts in selective mutism, the program offers a high level of support with a low staff-to-child ratio.

Yes, we absolutely do! However, the Brave Buddies® program is for children up to age 12. Please call us at 212.392.1435 to discuss the treatments we offer, which include traditional individual treatment, intensive treatments, and school consultation. Our clinicians will develop a tailored treatment plan to address your child’s individual needs.

Yes. We welcome children and families from across the country and around the world. Our website has more information on how to get here and our recommended hotels close by our office.

Yes, qualifying families may be eligible for financial aid. Please request a separate Child Mind Institute Financial Aid Application when you speak to our team about Brave Buddies®. We will review your completed application and then establish your fee based on demonstrated financial need. Awards are made on a first-applied, first-served basis. For those families who qualify for financial aid and are traveling from out of town, the Child Mind Institute Cares Fund may offer a daily stipend for travel expenses.

The Child Mind Institute does not participate as an in-network provider for any specific health insurance plan. Most insurance companies will cover a portion of the fees under “out-of-network, outpatient mental health benefits.” We will provide you with a detailed statement of services provided for you to submit your claim directly to your insurance carrier. We suggest consulting your insurance carrier in advance for the specific benefits of your plan.

Our staff consists of specially trained clinicians, such as psychologists and social workers. We also intensively train volunteers in our evidence-based approaches so they can help support the program as counselors. Children are paired with trained adults at a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio.

Brave Buddies® follows the format of a typical school day, allowing children many opportunities to practice real-life challenges, including morning meeting, peer to peer activities, show-and-tell or group presentations, community exposures and much more. Children earn “brave bucks” for their talking and hard work, which they can turn in for prizes at the end of the day. We build on the previous day’s wins to continue your child’s progress during the week. For older children (8-12), we incorporate age-appropriate activities, such as education about the nature of anxiety, goal setting, and mindfulness.

Lead-in sessions are an opportunity for your child to practice his or her brave talking before participating in the Brave Buddies® group program. These sessions also allow your child to meet other Brave Buddies® participants and counselors before the program begins. Additionally, these sessions allow the Brave Buddies® leaders to better determine initial counselor matches for your child. Additional details will be shared via email before the program begins.

All programs: We require a 50% deposit to secure your child’s spot in any of our Brave Buddies® programs, taken upon registration. No refunds will be issued if the program moves to a virtual format once it has started.

Multi-day programs: If a participant cannot attend a multi-day program and a Brave Buddies® coordinator is notified 30 days prior to the start date of the program, a refund will be issued, excluding a $300 non-refundable deposit for administrative fees. If less than 30 days’ notification is given, no refund will be provided.

One-day programs: If a participant cannot attend a one-day program and a Brave Buddies® coordinator is notified at least 14 days prior to the start date of the program, a refund will be issued, excluding a $60 non-refundable deposit for administrative fees. If less than 14 days’ notification is given, no refund will be provided.