Our Values
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We are compassionate
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We are collaborative
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We are curious
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We are courageous
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At Selective Mutism WA, we work closely with children, teens, parents, caregivers and schools to support confident communication across all areas of life. Our approach is fun, evidence-based and tailored to the unique needs of every child and family. We believe in creating safe and supportive environments where children can build confidence and reduce anxiety around communication.
We understand that Selective Mutism can impact school, friendships, learning and everyday family life. We collaborate closely with families, schools, and individuals to build comfort and confidence in communication through exploration of interests, development of language skills, and the creation of safe, engaging environments. Our approach is grounded in teamwork, often involving other allied health professionals, and draws upon a range of therapeutic frameworks to support the diverse communication profiles that accompany SM.
As a niche, family-focused service, we offer flexible therapy, training and support options to help families access practical strategies as early as possible. Alongside Selective Mutism support, we also provide assistance with speech, language, social communication, mealtimes and emotional regulation to ensure a holistic approach to each child’s development.
We are passionate about raising awareness and understanding around Selective Mutism and helping children become confident communicators in all their environments. Learn more about Key Factors to Consider First, Shyness, Commonly Co-occurring Conditions and Examples of SM through our dedicated resource pages.
Together, we can create trusting communication environments that meet children and young people where they are — in the knowledge that comfort will always precede confident communication.
About Us
Our Team
Danielle Cottam.
Danielle is passionate about education, training and advocacy surrounding speech, communication and mealtime needs and has presented at conferences, universities and professional events across Australia on Selective Mutism, multidisciplinary intervention and mealtime management.
Media Articles:
Language Delay: https://www.perthnow.com.au/lifestyle/family-life/spotting-delayed-development-signs-for-parents-and-teachers-ng-b88744879z
Selective Mutism: https://www.news.com.au/national/western-australia/rare-condition-selective-mutism-makes-children-so-panicked-they-cannot-speak/news-story/f352d0f1804fa4af7bc9c3cf3a030410
Conferences:
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2026 Western Australia Teaching Assistant Conference – Selective Mutism in Schools
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2026 Western Australian Autism Diagnosticians Forum (WAADF) - Selective Mutism and Autism
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2026 Perth Hills Allied Health - Selective Mutism and Speech Confident Difficulties for Professionals
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2018 Paediatric Interagency Conference – A transdisciplinary approach to mealtime intervention in the disability sector
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2018 Curtin University – Undergraduate lecture: Dysphagia Across the Lifespan an Ethical Perspective
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2016 Speech Pathology Australia Conference – Transdisciplinary Management of Dysphagia and Mealtime Needs in the Disability Sector
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2016 Western Australia Teaching Assistant Conference – Selective Mutism in Schools
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2015 National Disability Service WA Conference – Differential Diagnosis in Mealtime Management
Danielle is a Certified Practicing Speech Pathologist (CPSP) and a member of Speech Pathology Australia.
Principal Therapist | Senior Speech Pathologist
BSc (Hons) MSPA CPSP
Danielle is a Speech Pathologist with almost twenty years of experience supporting children and families across Australia and the UK. As the founder of SMWA, Danielle has become a trusted professional in the field of SM through provision of trainings, public speaking events and through partnering with schools and therapy organisations to support as many young people as possible across Western Australia.
Danielle was trained to Advanced Level in specialist SM supports by Maggie Johnson (author of Selective Mutism Resource Manual) whilst in the UK and holds a certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. She has since continued to devote her learning to understanding and supporting individuals with SM through a commitment to ongoing education in the areas of anxiety, neurodiversity and language supports. She is passionate about translating this learning into evidence-based, fun, and functional interventions within homes, schools, and community settings.
Having worked across a range of settings including the NHS in the UK, a large Not for Profit in Western Australia and within schools, Danielle has experience in supporting individuals with a wide range of communication difficulties and developmental differences. Therapy services provided by SMWA are individualised to the needs of each child. Taking into account their communication profile, neurotype and environments. Intervention is informed through assessment and targeted first at building relational safety across settings so that children and young people grow their capacity for confident communication. This can encompass a range of supports including: education/school training, parent coaching, speech and language supports, regulation and anxiety tools, advocacy for school-based accommodations, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC), graded exposure (sliding-in) and communication practice in real-life situations.
As a mother herself, Danielle understands that therapy must be manageable and enjoyable for the whole family. She is a strong advocate for multidisciplinary care, frequently collaborating with Occupational Therapist's, Play Therapists, Paediatricians, Psychiatrists, Dieticians, and Clinical Psychologists to create holistic treatment plans tailored to the "whole child." Her work is defined by a passion for empowering parents and educators, ensuring that, through the creation of safe spaces, children become confident communicators in every aspect of their lives.
Danielle has a special interest in Selective/Situational Mutism following extensive post-graduate training and clinical experience in this area. She has played a key role in the development and management of specialist services across both Australia and the UK, including involvement in the Bolton NHS Selective Mutism Care Pathway, Western Australia’s first Selective Mutism Support Group and WA’s first community-based multidisciplinary mealtime team within the Not for Profit sector.