Brave Explorers Treatment Map and Enrollment Process
We offer a set of services for our Brave Explorers that are customized to increase success and efficacy of the intensive experience.
Step 1: Assessment and Intake
Your child must complete an initial three-part evaluation by a licensed psychologist in order to understand their history, confirm the diagnosis, and create goals.
The assessment includes a diagnostic history and assessment of current impairments. Parents will also fill out baseline questionnaires.
The second part includes parent-child observation and a mini lead-in session to assess the level of severity.
The final session includes diagnostic feedback and treatment recommendations.
Step 2: Lead-in Sessions
Lead-in sessions are a systematic and evidence-based process during which your child becomes verbal with their counselor. Each session looks like a playdate from the outside observer, but it is actually a careful and methodical procedure to get children verbal with others.
Children must complete lead-in sessions before camp to ensure the effectiveness of camp. Sessions range from 1- 3 hours and may require up to 6 sessions. Your child must progress through sessions and become verbal with 2 counselors to be ready for camp. Lead-in sessions occur prior to camp week.
Step 3: 5 Day Intensive Brave Explorers Camp
The 5 day intensive therapeutic camp is the core of our Brave Explorers Program. Here, Explorers join a group of peers for 30-direct hours of treatment, activities, and exploration.
Parents also receive 5 hours of parent training during camp, totaling 35 hours of direct hours in 5 days. Parents will receive updates of their child’s progress in treatment notes and videos (with permission) daily.
Optional: Individualized Follow-Up
After camp, we offer optional, supplemental clinical interventions that help the transfer of speaking skills to school settings. These include education to your child’s teacher to foster their support of your child’s new skills. A summary of treatment success and individualized feedback on supporting that particular child in their school setting. Providers may organize a lead-in session with the teachers or accompany the child at school to do in-school support if needed.
Cost and insurance.
Summer Camp registration opens May 1st!
Cost of Assessment and Lead-in sessions are billed separately, as they will vary in number of sessions by child and mutism severity. An overall cost breakdown for the additional required sessions is provided in an introductory informational packet.
All services are out-of-network, meaning we are not contracted with insurance companies. The fee for camp is charged at the time of camp registration. For assessment and lead-ins, fees are charged at the time of service delivery.
Many families are able to get some percentage of out-of-network reimbursement ranging from 20%-80%, though this is not guaranteed and is determined by the insurance company. It is the responsibility of the policyholder to understand your benefits. Upon request, Brave Explorers Camp would be happy to advocate or challenge any denial of reimbursement claim with your insurance company.