Talking to oneself is a habit - something someone does without a lot of consciousness. One helpful technique for helping someone stop a habit is to make them aware of when they are doing it and then ask them to do it consciously (on purpose). I don't know how old this youngster is, but if this is appropriate you could have a discussion with her letting her know that you want to help her stop this habit (give her your reasons). Then tell her that if someone does a habit on purpose, it can help them stop doing it all together. Ask her if she is willing to let you help her this way (because one thing you DON'T want, is to be fighting with her about this). If she is agreeable, then wait until you notice she is talking to herself. Point it out to her ("Honey, you are talking out loud now.") Then ask her to continue talking out loud on purpose, encouraging her to speak even a little louder than she was speaking before. It will probably be hard for her to do this, but gently urge her to do so because the actual doing of it is what can help break the unconscious habit. Experiment with this technique for a week or two and see whether this behavior seems to be occurring less often than it was before you started the program. If it is, just continue in this way until it is no longer an issue. If it isn't working, you might consult a mental health professional or your child's doctor for some further suggestions.  Sarah Chana