How Is School Avoidance Treated?
The first step in treating school avoidance is to help the student get back to school right away. The longer a student avoids school, the harder it is to return. Students with anxiety usually need reassurance that they are in good health. Students and their parents are helped by taking a “yes but” approach. The symptoms are real, but are not cause to miss school. Parents are guided about what symptoms are grounds to stay home, and find ways to help a student attend school despite discomfort caused by aches and pains. The treatment often includes a plan for what to do when the student begins to feel ill at school. The plan may be for the student to go to the nurse’s office to lie down for 5 to 10 minutes and then return to class, but not to go home. Medications to treat anxiety may be helpful in some cases. Another important part of treatment may involve working with school personnel to solve problems that are causing anxiety, such as bullying or lack of privacy in bathrooms. Students w
