A boy with a backpack sitting on the front steps with his father

Therapy

Help for School Anxiety and School Refusal

Stomach aches every Monday, tears in the car line, calls from the nurse. When a child dreads school, the whole family feels it, and the longer it lasts the harder it gets.

Request an Appointment

More than not wanting to go

Most kids complain about school sometimes. School refusal is when anxiety or distress is strong enough that a child misses class, leaves early, or goes only after a long struggle. It is not laziness, and it usually is not simple defiance.

Signs to watch for

Headaches or stomach aches on school mornings that ease on weekends
Crying, clinging or panic at drop-off
Frequent trips to the nurse
Begging to stay home or be picked up early
Worry about tests, friends, a teacher or being away from a parent
Falling behind, which adds more worry

Why it builds

Every day at home brings relief, and also makes the next day harder. Schoolwork piles up and friendships drift. The goal is a steady return to school, paced so your child can manage it.

How we help

1.
Understand the cause
Separation worry, social stress, bullying, learning struggles or depression each call for a different plan.
2.
Teach coping skills
Your child learns ways to calm their body and talk back to worried thoughts.
3.
Plan the return
A gradual schedule back to full days, agreed with your child.
4.
Coach parents
Calm, firm mornings and how to respond to pleas to stay home.

A young girl drawing with crayons in a bright playroom

Working with the school

With your written permission, your child's therapist can share ideas with the school counselor, such as a quiet place to reset or a check-in person. If learning problems or ADHD may be part of the picture, our testing team can evaluate that as well.

Who we see

Nikki Holmes, a former school counselor with 19 years of experience, and Naim Karabanoff, who offers evening and weekend times, both work with children and teens. Michelle Mitchell sees children from age 4.