Kearney (psychology, U. of Nevada, Las Vegas) and Albano (psychology, Columbia U.) write for therapists and also clients and their caregivers in this practical guide to fixing the problem of truancy at its roots, which vary according to the individual. They find the four main causes of refusing to go to school are to relieve distress, to avoid negative social or learning evaluations, to receive attention, or to take advantage of tangible rewards outside of school. They clearly define each cause and lead readers to seek practical solutions or alternatives through thought exercises, goal-building and other cognitive-behavioral approaches. A companion parent workbook is published separately. Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Many children and teenagers refuse to attend school or have anxiety-related difficulties remaining in classes for an entire day. School refusal behavior can contribute to a child's academic, social, and psychological problems, impact a child's chances for future educational, financial, and personal success, and significantly affect family functioning. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be a highly effective treatment for youth who exhibit this behavior.
This Therapist Guide outlines four treatment protocols based on CBT principles that can be used to effectively address the main types of school refusal behavior. The Guide concentrates on four primary reasons why children typically refuse school to relieve school-related distress, to avoid negative social or evaluative situations at school, to receive attention from a parent or a significant other, and to obtain tangible rewards outside of school
This manual includes tools for assessing a child's reasons for school refusal behavior and is based on a functional, prescriptive model. It presents well-tested techniques arranged by function to tailor treatment to a child's particular characteristics. Each treatment package also contains a detailed discussion of special topics pertinent to treating youths with school refusal behavior, such as medication, panic attacks, and being teased. A corresponding workbook is also available for parents, who often play an important part in a child's recovery. This comprehensive program is an invaluable resource for clinicians treating school refusal behavior.
