School Refusal

School refusal is on the rise. Increasing numbers of children and teens are refusing to go to school. It is very challenging for families to manage, and it is often a sign of a deeper issue with anxiety or learning challenges. Our counsellors will help your child better understand the origin of this anxiety and build strategies to help them face this fear and move past the obstacle of attending school. Building confidence and resilience is the underpinning of this therapy. Some signs of school refusal are less obvious than others, like:

• Refusing to get out of bed, get dressed, or leave the house on school mornings
• Frequently asking to be picked up early or spending prolonged periods in the school nurse’s office
• Physical symptoms miraculously improve as soon as the child is granted permission to stay home
• Consistently missing school only on specific days: such as on test days, presentation days, or physical education classes
• Severe emotional outbursts when pressured to go to school or during virtual learning/homework times