ANNA BIAVATI

Selective Mutism Speech Therapist

I’m also available for:
remote therapies and consult or advice,
training for parents, teachers or other specialists

Via phone, video calls or Whatsapp service (only for parents)

Find more about my selective mutism course

I’m Anna Biavati, a selective mutism speech therapist, supporting children and families where anxiety affects communication.

In simple terms, my work helps children feel safe enough in their bodies for speech to become possible again.

I work with children who may speak confidently at home, yet go silent or freeze in nursery, school, or social settings. Because of this, families often feel confused, worried, and unsure what will truly help.

Over time, it has become clear that progress does not come from pressure or expectation. Instead, communication begins to return when safety, trust, and understanding are in place.

My Clinical Focus

My clinical focus is supporting children whose communication is impacted by anxiety rather than language ability.

These children often:

Understand everything that is said to them
Have age-appropriate or advanced language skills
Want to communicate, but cannot access their voice in certain environments

As a result, silence can be misunderstood as shyness, stubbornness, or choice. However, from a nervous system perspective, this silence is often a freeze response.

Because anxiety affects the whole body, speech can temporarily shut down even when a child wants to speak.

How My Approach Is Different

At the core of my work is the belief that safety must come before speech.

Rather than focusing on getting a child to talk, my approach supports:

Nervous system regulation
Emotional safety
Gradual confidence building

Importantly, I use brain-based, anxiety-informed strategies that respect a child’s pace. This means we reduce pressure, lower expectations, and create conditions where communication can emerge naturally.

Through my Brave Muscle Method, confidence is treated as something that can be built step by step. Over time, as safety increases, speech often follows.

Who I Support

Alongside working directly with children, I also support the adults around them.

This includes:

Parents who want to understand why their child is silent and how to help
Schools and nurseries seeking practical, compassionate strategies
Therapists and professionals looking for supervision and specialist insight

When adults understand what is happening beneath the silence, the entire dynamic begins to change. As a result, children often feel less pressure and more space to grow.

Supporting Communication Without Pressure

Well-intentioned encouragement can sometimes increase anxiety.

For example, phrases such as:

“Just say hello”
“We know you can talk”
“Use your brave voice”

are often meant kindly. However, when a child is already in a freeze response, these words can unintentionally make the nervous system tighten further.

Instead, progress happens when:

Predictability increases
Demands decrease
Trust is prioritised

Over time, this creates a foundation where communication feels possible again.

Working Together

I offer therapy, parent guidance, professional consultation, and online learning through Steps to Brave Talking Therapy & Support.

Whether you are a parent seeking clarity, a school needing guidance, or a professional wanting specialist input, you are very welcome here.

If you’d like to explore the next step, you can:

Book a free 30-minute call
Explore my courses and free resources
Watch my videos explaining anxiety, communication, and selective mutism

You don’t need to rush. Small, supported steps matter.

With warmth,
Anna Biavati SLT
Selective Mutism Speech Therapist
Steps to Brave Talking Therapy & Support

"Everyone should be able to reach their communication potential"

Professional Registration & Membership
Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT)
Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Association of Speech & Language Therapists in Independent Practice (ASLTIP)

Educational & Research Background
Board member and co-founder of Selective Mutism National C.E.N. (Clinical Excellence Networks). I am dedicated to ongoing professional development and a member of a number of other CENs. I am committed to using up-to-date research and evidence based clinical advice and has effectively supported many parents during my career, providing immediate reassurance.

Specialist Training & Additional Certification

• Bridging PROMPT Technique to Intervention (The PROMPT INSTITUTE)
• Introduction to PROMPT: Technique workshop (The PROMPT INSTITUTE)
• Post graduate course in “Working with Selective Mutism”
• Curriculum approaches in Child Care and Education
• Promoting Positive behaviour in Children
• Providing Play Experiences for the Child
• Signalong Foundation Course Phase 1
• Assessment and Management of children with developmental disorders of literacy
• Derbyshire Language Scheme
• Screening and intervention with young or late developing children
• Introduction to Counselling Skills
• Sentence Processing and Colourful Semantics
• Play boxes
• Trained NLP Practitioner (Neuro Linguistic Programming)
• Emotion Talk Training
• Evaluating and Managing complex phonological disorders cases
• Introduction to CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)

Some happy parents

					We attended the Awesome Powers academy course that was ran by Anna and Jo. I think the course was about 6 weeks long, once a week a live zoom session.
Anna... read more and Jo are very welcoming and professional. There was never any pressure for cameras to be on or voices to be heard. From around the second lesson my daughter put her camera on which shows just how comfortable she felt. Anna and Jo didnt make a big deal about it which was amazing. We really saw small progress steps and we carry on continuing our journey.
We completed activities and exercises throughout on the session and away from the sessions.
Anna has reached out since the course which is lovely.
Both Anna and Jo are really lovely people and made us feel welcomed and at ease. I wouldn't hesitate to attend another course with them and recommend it to others.				
Tammy Lydamore
 

					The awesome powers group that I attended with my daughter, run by Anna and Jo was amazing.  The group is a safe and welcoming space for all involved and... read more Anna and Jo make everyone feel welcomed and valued and celebrate every small achievement.

The group has had such a positive impact on my daughter, myself and out whole family.  She has managed many things since the group for the first time and is using some of the activities on a daily basis in school, supported by her 1.1.

Anna has been in touch several times since the group to check in with us personally which we've never had from any other professional.				
Virginia Bourne
 

					Anna has worked with our 5year old granddaughter who has Selective Mutism for over a year, she was extremely anxious and would freeze in social situations. Through her 1:1 sessions,... read more she created a fun safe setting to interact and the progress she has made is incredible. Her confidence is growing and she is thriving and enjoying school.
Her wealth of knowledge and expertise also provided us with strategies and a plan to continue her progression
Anna is the consummate professional, very down to earth, and we will be eternally grateful for all her help and continued support				
Connie Ballantyne
 

					I can’t recommend Anna enough, she really is the most wonderful speech and language therapist.Anna has helped all 3 of my children with problems with their speech.Anna developed a strong... read more bond with all of my kids through play , their sessions with her were so much fun, they all looked forward to our weekly visits that when the time came that they no longer needed therapy they were all so sad to leave.Anna helped me youngest daughter develop her speech and she now speaks beautifully! Anna is the best and truly cares!				
Amanda Smith
 

					Anna is amazing person and therapist! I have learned so much from her course about Selective Mutism,and techniques really working.What we needed was and still is TIME and patience.
Small steps... read more turning into bigger and bigger steps/achiwments.We are learning about anxiety as much as possible knowing that the exercises (wherever we can) and calm is priority.Also Anna had given Us tools how to support my child and handle this journey myself.
So happy that We meet Anna ,thank you for everything!!!!				
Karolina Pastwa
 

					With Anna's support and advice we managed to implement the tools and methods needed to strengthen our daughters confident speaking. As a result she made huge improvements at school going... read more from speaking quietly to one child to speaking with the whole class and teachers. She is even selected to read aloud to the class and can do so with a much reduced level of anxiety. There are moments in certain settings that we see her selective mutism appear again and we always return to Annas advice to think, how should we manage this, what would Anna say. After quite a search, finding Anna was a huge deal, a professional who really understood this very specific condition - location no barrier (we have worked remotely very happily) and we couldn't recommend her highly enough. Thank you Anna.				
Tina Mason
 

					My husband and I were concerned after a period of lots of change that our already shy boy had retreated even more and seemed not to be talking to teachers... read more at nursery or our adult friends and eventually family members (in which he used to)
We researched a bit more and came across Anna and her masterclasses after considering that he may have selective mutism. As with us at home he was very chatty but in social settings he was not.
We really did feel helpless and it was a relief to have discovered Anna’s ‘brave steps to talking’ masterclass. We found the information invaluable in the portal and the masterclasses were super helpful in following up with any examples or clarity on how to implement advice. Although we now believe our son has social anxiety, (diagnosis)I do believe that selective mutism is partly at play here and regardless the advice still fits the scenarios we have been facing. Simple but effective techniques such as not saving your child (in the nicest way) or giving them a choice has helped amongst lots of other tips. He now talks to his teachers, talks to family again, can speak with some familiar adults when feeling comfortable. We still have a lot of work to do making him feeling comfortable in uncomfortable situations but he told me today.
“I talked to a new teacher today, I didn’t even whisper I just spoke” it’s great to know that he can do it, it just might take a bit of time. He’s not been one to explain why or talk to us about this issue but when he gives us these little nuggets of information it feels so reassuring and that he gets what’s going on and that it is a fear of his. Patience is the key. It’s hard as I do feel lots of people don’t understand or judge or think your child is rude (even family). Anna’s masterclasses helped reassure as we were not alone and many in the same boat as us. Self esteem I think has been a massive issue and a technique of talking about their superpowers ie brilliant swimmer/really funny etc really helped his confidence and opening up to friends more with his humour and realising he was good at things. That was definitely a bit of a turning point for us. As he did retreat with his friends too in the early stages. He’s come a long way when we look at where we started. We still have a long way to go but I do believe Anna helped us get a few things in place to support him through this part of his life that was holding him back whilst other friends and friends children seemed to care free and happy. It really has been invaluable and I’d recommend this course to use as a support aid for your child. Simple strategies will eventually make a big difference.
We noticed concerns at 4.5 years, started the course at 5.5 years and he is currently 6.5 years old.
I hope Anna’s course is what you’re looking for! It has certainly helped us.				
Tartan Spaniel
 

					I've known Anna for many years, and I am always in awe of her passion for selective mutism (SM). Anna's dedication to SM shines through in how she dives deep... read more into the topic and connects with empathy. She's not just knowledgeable; she's a great teacher. If you want real insights and practical strategies for your child, Anna's course is a great choice! She not only works with the child, but supports the whole family dynamic! I will continue to recommend her course for families needing support with Selective Mutism!
If you are a therapist and want supervision in the area of SM, I highly recommend Anna! She really knows this area inside out and back to front!				
Michelle McCauley
 

					Anna is an excellent speech therapist and was immensely helpful with our daughter between the age of 2.5-3.5 when she had a speech delay that involved using very few consonants... read more and mostly vowels. As usual, the NHS was dismissive, but Anna assessed the situation and was able to quickly advise on what changes to implement to promote speech improvements. Our daughter improved very quickly following these changes, and it was really impressive to learn from how Anna communicated with her and taught her to overcome hurdles. Some people are just excellent at their job, and Anna is the perfect example of this.				
Valerie
 

					Anna is absolutely incredible both for the parents and the children. She has healed our 6year old daughter from SM after a 2- year mute period in school. We cannot... read more thank her enough and warmely recommend her services.				
rotem biton
 
					Anna is absolutely incredible both for the parents and the children. She has healed our 6year old daughter from SM after a 2- year mute period in school. We cannot... read more thank her enough and warmely recommend her services.				
rotem biton
 
					Anna was a wonderful speech therapist for my son. She was endlessly patient and always had a treasure of fun activities for him to do. He really enjoyed all her... read more sessions and his speech problems improved a lot. Thank you Anna!				
Tabea Busch

					I took my six year old grandson to see Anna as he had a problem pronouncing certain letters.  Anna quickly established there was no physical problem for this and... read more set in motion a lesson plan to help him overcome this.  She is a lovely lady who is clearly knowledgeable in her field and has such a lovely way with the children that my grandson did not have a problem going to see Anna and indeed looked forward to it.  Her lessons have helped immensely and gave me the tools to continue her good work.  I am happy to recommend her.				
Sandra M
 
					Anna was a wonderful speech therapist for my son. She was endlessly patient and always had a treasure of fun activities for him to do. He really enjoyed all her... read more sessions and his speech problems improved a lot. Thank you Anna!				
Tabea Busch
 
					I took my six year old grandson to see Anna as he had a problem pronouncing certain letters.  Anna quickly established there was no physical problem for this and... read more set in motion a lesson plan to help him overcome this.  She is a lovely lady who is clearly knowledgeable in her field and has such a lovely way with the children that my grandson did not have a problem going to see Anna and indeed looked forward to it.  Her lessons have helped immensely and gave me the tools to continue her good work.  I am happy to recommend her.				
Sandra M

					Anna has worked with my son for over 2 years and has been an absolute pleasure to have. She has become a friend and a confidant as well as an... read more incredible speech therapist. She goes above and beyond to ensure everyone's comfort and happiness and is a true professional. She helped my son overcome his selective mutism through working with us as a family to help us understand the condition and how to help, as well as with the school to help them adapt to his plan and understand his condition. She provided all parties with a tailored program and I can honestly say that without her generous, patient spirit he would not have made it. She is kind, supportive and truly lovely and her program has made this the best journey possible.				
Amira Aburaid
 
					I have just completed the SM video course online for parents proposed by Anna. This is an amazing piece of work that has already been so useful to us on... read more a daily basis and that I recommend to any parent of child with SM.  The video format is really good, I personally feel that watching videos is much easier, pleasant and understandable than reading a book. In addition, if I had already heard about most topics / tools, I did not know all of them and above all, I really appreciated having everything in one place with some structure around the different topics. I feel that I now understand much better how each part is related to another and ultimately feel much more empowered to support my daughter in overcoming SM.				
Juliette Legros
 
					Anna has worked with my son for over 2 years and has been an absolute pleasure to have. She has become a friend and a confidant as well as an... read more incredible speech therapist. She goes above and beyond to ensure everyone's comfort and happiness and is a true professional. She helped my son overcome his selective mutism through working with us as a family to help us understand the condition and how to help, as well as with the school to help them adapt to his plan and understand his condition. She provided all parties with a tailored program and I can honestly say that without her generous, patient spirit he would not have made it. She is kind, supportive and truly lovely and her program has made this the best journey possible.				
Amira Aburaid