Fearless Friends Bravery Program
A fun, short-term summer program to help kids with selective mutism and social anxiety build confidence and bravery.
What is Fearless Friends?
Fearless Friends is an intensive summer program designed to help kids overcome symptoms of selective mutism and social anxiety, and build bravery and confidence. The program is meant to encourage long-term growth through repeated brave speaking practice tailored to your child’s individual goals in an enjoyable way. Parents and caregivers will be a key part of practice during the program with live coaching from licensed clinical psychologists specializing in anxiety and brave speaking.
Dates & Times
08/10/26 through 08/14/26 from 9AM to 2PM
Location
The Baker Center: 53 Parker Hill Ave, Boston, MA 02120
Age Ranges
Ages 3 through 9
Cost
$4500
Program Highlights
- Mimics a school setting with enjoyable summer activities
- 1-1 counselor to child ratio
- 25 hours of speaking practice
- Help with preparing for the start of a new school year
How Does The Program Work?
The Fearless Friends Bravery Program is an intensive program that gives your child 25 hours of supported speaking practice in just one week! The program is based on an evidence-based treatment developed by Dr. Steven Kurtz, a leading expert in Selective Mutism. Your child will have many chances each day to practice their bravery goals with a supportive coach. Caregivers will learn the skills to continue bravery practice following their child’s program experience
What's Included?
The cost of the program includes:
- 2 pre-program caregiver trainings
- 4 lead-in meetings prior to the program
- Pre-program group orientation
- 5 program days + field trips
- 5 days of live caregiver coaching during the program
- Post-program caregiver debrief
Sample Schedule
Your child can expect to arrive for a brief “warm-up” through play and a morning meeting with fellow fearless friends. Throughout the day, your child will enjoy a snack, participate in a craft or group activity, lunch, and caregiver-child bravery activities. Fun field trips are incorporated throughout the program so your child can practice brave talking in the community. Brave speaking practices will be key throughout each activity in the day!
(Schedules are subject to change)
Meet the Team
Katherine Corteselli, PhD
Staff PsychologistDr. Katherine Corteselli is a Staff Psychologist at the Center for Effective Therapy. She earned her B.A. in Applied Psychology and Human Development…
Read MoreNicole Drost, PsyD
Staff PsychologistDr. Nicole Drost is a Staff Psychologist at the Center for Effective Therapy. Dr. Drost obtained her Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology with concentrations…
Read MoreResources
FAQs
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Every child’s response to this process is different! Over the course of the week, your child will have many supported opportunities to practice brave speaking and initiating social interactions with peers and adults, helping build confidence that can continue after the program ends!
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The program directors are planning a number of fun movement, craft, and group activities on site, as well as offsite field trips!
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Caregivers are asked to attend the program daily from 1-2pm each day to take part in guided brave talking activities with their child. During this time, caregivers receive live coaching and feedback from program staff so they can confidently support brave speaking at home and in the community. Please note that hours that you are expected to be on site are subject to change.
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Lead-ins provide the opportunity for your assigned clinical psychologist to guide your child in practicing brave speaking with 1) a “new” program counselor and 2) another child in the program. The purpose of encouraging your child to respond to a program counselor and a “Fearless Friends” peer is to promote brave speaking throughout the program. If it is determined that your child is a good fit for the program, the program directors will speak with you directly about scheduling the anticipated lead-in times following your scheduled intake and feedback.