True Voices Summer Camp: June 22nd - 24th, 2026
Space is limited and will be granted on a first-registered, first-served basis. True Voices welcomes both new and current clients. If you are a current client, ask your clinician for more information. If you are new to Echo Counseling and have questions or are ready to register, click on the “I’m Interested” button below, and the camp director will reach out.
Welcome to Echo Counseling’s summer intensive, True Voices Summer Camp!
This is a multi-day intensive camp for children aged 4-8 who have been diagnosed with Selective Mutism.
Weekly behavioral therapy can be very helpful for children with Selective Mutism (SM), but more families are also choosing intensive treatment programs because they often lead to quicker, meaningful progress.
Benefits of Intensive Camps:
With 15 hours of focused practice for kids, 6 hours of parent training, and an additional hour of school support, intensive camps often help children make faster and longer-lasting progress than traditional once-a-week therapy.
Our camp is a more affordable option—with the 6 hours of parent training and an hour of follow-up school support, families typically save around $1,150.
Kids get many real-world speaking opportunities built right into camp through different activities, special events, and a mock classroom setting. This variety helps them practice using their voices with both adults and peers in natural ways.
Parents and teachers are trained in PCIT-SM strategies so they can continue supporting progress at home, in social settings, and at school. This teamwork is key to creating consistent, system-wide improvement.
Camp is fun! We design activities to be interactive and enjoyable because kids make the biggest gains when they’re engaged and having a good time.
Being in a group setting helps children learn from one another. Seeing peers who share similar challenges can be incredibly motivating, and kids often inspire each other to try new, brave moments.
As the parent, you will have the opportunity to expand your social network of people who intimately understand the challenges and rewards of raising a child diagnosed with SM. Parents connect and learn from each other every day in this 3-day program.
Attending camp over the summer gives children a helpful boost in confidence and practice, setting them up for a smoother and more successful start to the school year.
About True Voices Summer Camp:
True Voices Summer Camp is a 3-day therapeutic camp designed for children ages four to eight who have been diagnosed with selective mutism. The program runs from June 22nd through June 24th, and uses an exposure-based treatment approach to help kids practice brave speech and social interactions, giving them a strong boost before the new school year begins.
Each child is paired with their own counselor, allowing us to tailor goals, activities, and pacing to meet each camper’s unique needs. Throughout the week, we create a simulated classroom and incorporate real-world community exposures so campers can apply their new skills across many different people and situations. Activities are hands-on and engaging—group games, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts, music, and special themed events. We also practice circle time, centers, and show-and-tell to mirror a school routine. Individual goals may focus on peer interactions, speaking in small and large groups, raising a hand, presenting, spontaneous speech, and self-advocacy.
Our camp is built on well-structured exposure opportunities and grounded in the PCIT-SM (Parent-Child Interaction Therapy for Selective Mutism) model created by Steven Kurtz, Ph.D. PCIT-SM is a research-supported method that strengthens verbal behavior through specific, speak-encouraging skills.
By combining these evidence-based strategies, we help campers make meaningful progress toward their personalized goals. All counselors are thoroughly trained in these methods and receive ongoing supervision throughout the week to ensure high-quality support.
Camp Package includes:
15 hours of child-focused therapy in a group setting with an individual counselor who provides one-to-one therapeutic support
Daily developmentally appropriate and fun camp events and activities (see more below)
6 hours of parent training in a group setting and additional live coaching with your camper during planned exposures
1-hour skills-based teacher training call
Outline of a progression of speaking goals for the school to follow, tailored to your child
Sample Daily Schedule:
Check-In and gradual separation from parent
Parents transition to the parent training group, and campers gather on the morning meeting carpet
Activity
Snack break
Activity
Parents join their camper for lunch
Camp counselors review progress and skills from the morning. Parents and campers practice the upcoming planned exposure for the day
Community exposure
FAQs
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The camp director, Bria Rakison, will reach out to schedule a free 30-minute consultation call. This call is to determine the child’s eligibility for the camp and how much lead-in time the child will need based on your child’s SM severity and prior experience with treatment.
The parent-only lead in session will be scheduled at the end of this call.
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These sessions are completed before the first day of camp and are required for each camper. Lead in sessions include one 90-minute parent only intake and psychoeducation session and one 60-minute in person session with the parent, child, and lead clinician.
The parent only intake session can be done anytime and will occur over zoom. Lead-in sessions with the camper are done the week before camp starts.
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Yes! Camp will be split into two groups - one for parents and one for campers. The parent group will run through the morning, with educational topics like PCIT-SM CDI/VDI skills refresher, exposures, fade-ins, school related topics like 504/IEP meetings, medication, and more.
Parents will join their camper for lunch in the afternoon. After lunch, they will join their campers in practicing their speaking goals at the camp and finally out in the community for planned exposures!
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Speaking goals are individualized to fit the needs of the child, focusing on asking and answering questions, initiating conversations, speaking and presenting to larger groups, and engaging in peer-to-peer interactions.
These goals are targeted through planned activities like arts and crafts, movement based singing and dancing, and other fun activities.
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90-minute parent intake session: $300
60-minute lead-in session: $150 / hour
3-day, in-person kids camp that includes a 3-day group parent training: $2250
Half of the camp fee is required as a registration fee to secure your child’s enrollment in our camp. The remainder camp fee is due the Friday before lead-ins week. Lead-in sessions are charged directly after the session.
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Echo Counseling is a cash-only practice and is considered out-of-network with all insurance companies. At the end of camp, you may request an itemized receipt that can be submitted to your insurance provider for reimbursement. It is strongly recommended to reach out to your insurance provider before camp begins to learn about the specific out-of-network benefits of your plan. Billing codes for insurance reimbursement include:
90791: 1 unit, 90-minute intake session
90837: 1 unit, 60-minute lead-in session (may need multiple lead-in sessions)
90853: 15 units, camp (group therapy)
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Full payment is required 1 business-day prior to the start of lead-ins week. If you withdraw from the camp program for any reason 30 days or less prior to the start of the lead-ins week, we will refund all but $1,000.00. There are no refunds or credits for any withdrawals after the start of lead-ins week.
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Our camp director, Bria Rakison, LPC, and our lead clinician, Dr. Lenna Vaughan are both certified in PCIT-SM. Our counselors are intensively trained volunteers in the evidence-based approaches so they can help support each camper at a 1:1 or 2:1 ratio.
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Dates: TBD, 3 days over the summer
Hours: 9am-2pm
Location: Echo Counseling Services, LLC 7501 Penn Ave. Pittsburgh, Pa 15206