Overcoming School Refusal: A practical guide for teachers, counsellors, caseworkers and parents
While it can be challenge getting kids to perform at school, for some the challenge is getting them there in the first place.
School refusal affects up to 5% of children and is a complex and stressful issue for the child, their family and school.
The more time a child is away from school, the more difficult it is for the child to resume normal school life. If school refusal becomes an ongoing issue it can negatively impact the child’s social and educational development.
Psychologist Joanne Garfi spends most of her working life assisting parents, teachers, school counsellors, caseworkers, and community policing officers on how best to deal with school refusal. Now her experiences and expertise are available in this easy-to-read practical book.
Her book Overcoming School Refusal helps readers understand this complex issue by explaining exactly what school refusal is and provides them with a range of strategies they can use to assist children in returning to school. Areas covered include:
- Types of school refusers
- Why children refuse to go to school
- Symptoms
- Short term and long term consequences
- Accurate assessment
- Treatment options
- What parents can do
- What schools can do
- Dealing with anxious high achievers
- How to help children on the autism spectrum with school refusal
Garfi has 30 years of experience and expertise in child and adolescent issues, including as a school psychologist, working in both primary and secondary schools providing specialised training to teachers. She has a special interest in the treatment of anxiety and panic disorder and is known for her work with childhood anxiety, behavioural disorders and developmental issues. She currently conducts workshops on school refusal around Australia.
She uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), mindfulness and skills development and prefers to take a whole person approach to treatment. Her emphasis when working with children is to have families and schools working together to bring about change.