When Children Refuse School: A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach Parent Workbook (Treatments That Work)

About this book

School refusal behavior is a common and difficult problem facing parents of children and teenagers. The behavior can have severe consequences by contributing to a childs academic social and psychological problems. A childs absence from school can also significantly increase family conflict. If your child experiences anxiety or noncompliance about attending school and has trouble remaining in classes for an entire day this workbook and the corresponding Therapist Guide can help. This Parent Workbook is designed to help you work with a qualified therapist to resolve your childs school refusal behavior. The Workbook outlines four possible treatment procedures that may be prescribed by a therapist depending on your childs reasons for refusing school. Scientific evidence has shown these programs to be highly effective in treating youth 5-17 years old who exhibit school refusal behavior. Regardless of whether your child refuses school to relieve school-related distress to avoid negative social situations at school to receive attention from you or another family member or to obtain tangible rewards outside of school the flexible treatments described in this book will help you and your child overcome school refusal behavior. The Workbook describes what you can expect during your childs assessment and treatment and provides answers to questions you may have about the process. It also provides instructions for continuing certain aspects of the program at home including relaxation and breathing techniques as well as exposure exercises to decrease your childs anxiety. Instructions are also given for completing daily logbooks with your child to track progress creating a morning routine to keep you both on schedule and developing written contracts to enhance attendance and discourage nonattendance. With this user-friendly manual you can take an active role in your childs successful return to school.