When Children Refuse School: Therapist Gude

Many children and teenagers refuse to attend school or have anxiety-related difficulties remaining in classes for an entire day. School refusal behaviour can contribute to a child's academic, social, and psychological problems, impact a child's chances for future educational, financial, and personal success, and significantly affect family functioning. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for youth who exhibit this behaviour.

The third edition of When Children Refuse School, Therapist Guide, provides an updated multi-tiered approach model that can be used to effectively address the main types of school refusal behaviour. The Guide introduces new material on very severe and chronic cases of problematic absenteeism, including alternative educational avenues and expansion of manual procedures, for children and adults. This manual includes tools for assessing a child's reasons for school refusal behaviour and is based on a functional, prescriptive model. It presents well-tested techniques arranged by function to tailor treatment to a child's particular characteristics.

Each treatment package also contains a detailed discussion of special topics pertinent to treating youths with school refusal behaviour, such as medication, panic attacks, and being teased.

A corresponding workbook is also available for parents, who often play an important part in a child's recovery. This comprehensive program is an invaluable resource for clinicians treating school refusal behaviour.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1: Introductory Information for Therapists

CHAPTER 2: Assessment

CHAPTER 3: Consultation Session and General Treatment Session Procedures

CHAPTER 4: Children Refusing School to Avoid School-Related Stimuli That Provoke Negative Affectivity

CHAPTER 5: Children Refusing School to Escape Aversive Social and/or Evaluative Situations

CHAPTER 6: Children Refusing School for Attention

CHAPTER 7: Children Refusing School for Tangible Rewards Outside of School

CHAPTER 8: Relapse Prevention and Special Circumstances

CHAPTER 9: Tier 3 Interventions

About the Authors

"Kearney and Albano take the complicated behavior of school refusal, illustrate its differing etiologies, and present proven strategies for each of the different underlying disorders. Consistent with their clinical expertise, the manual not only outlines the interventions but addresses many co-existing issues of family management. Using clear and specific examples, this manual is a must-have for anyone who works with children who are reluctant to go to school."
- Deborah C. Beidel, PhD, ABPP, Professor of Psychiatry, Penn State College of Medicine