School Refusal Counselling

Take the first step towards overcoming school refusal,

Our Process

we employ a comprehensive process that includes evaluating your child's school refusal behaviors, developing a tailored action plan, collaborating closely with school staff, and providing ongoing support to ensure a smooth transition back to regular school attendance.

STEP 1.

Assessment

Our assessment process involves carefully gathering information through discussion with parents and child in addition to structured school refusal assessment tools. This allows us to understand the child's school refusal patterns, including their intensity, frequency, triggers, and impacts.

Collaboration

School refusal is best addressed using a collaborative approach. This requires active involvement of parents, teachers, and school staff, as their support, expertise, and collaboration play a pivotal role in addressing the root causes and ensuring your child's well-being and academic progress.

Individualised Therapy for the Child

Equipped with these valuable insights, we create a personalised, evidence-based plan designed specifically to address these challenges, with the ultimate goal being a successful return to school. In addition, our assessment may uncover any co-existing mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression. This step may includes therapeutic approaches like cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), exercise therapy, pet-assisted therapy, or social skills group participation, depending on the child's needs and interests.

Family Engagement

Engaging the family is vital to address any contributing familial issues and to ensure the child's home environment supports their return to school. This can also include parent training to enable parents to more effectively support their child's return to school.

Collaboration with School

We collaborate closely with your school with the aim of facilitating your child's smooth return to school and ensuring that the school environment supports their ongoing attendance

By making sure everyone is aligned regarding the child's progress and needs, we are able to implement practical strategies that can guide your child in overcoming school refusal behaviours.

This approach not only aids your child but also promotes a supportive dialogue between the home and school environment.

Follow-Up & Adjustment

Once therapy has commenced, regular follow-up is essential to assess progress, address any new issues that may arise, and adjust the treatment plan as necessary.

Extra Assistance: Group Therapy

In addition to or instead of individual therapy, group therapy may be employed to help the child develop social skills, gain peer support, and learn effective strategies from others experiencing similar issues.

This could include our exercise based groups, social skills groups specifically designed for neurodiverse children or our frequent holiday programs.

Telehealth

Accessibility and Flexibility: Worried about distance or tight schedules? Telehealth brings therapy to your doorstep, fitting around your routines.

Therapy anywhere, anytime
Overcomes geographical and time barriers

Comfort and Familiarity: Telehealth allows your child to engage in therapy from the safety and comfort of home.

Therapy in a familiar, safe environment
May ease anxiety and stress

Consistency: Telehealth ensures uninterrupted therapy, supporting steady progress and success.

Regular, consistent therapy
Unaffected by external circumstances

Involvement: Join in, discuss progress, and learn strategies to support your child through telehealth.

Active participation in your child's therapy
Convenient parental involvement

Privacy and Lower Stigma: Telehealth provides confidential and non-judgmental support from your home, reducing stigma.

Confidential, private sessions
Alleviates concerns of judgement

Is Telehealth Right for You?
Consider if telehealth is a good fit for your child. We're here to guide you through this decision.

Suitable for diverse needs
Personalised guidance available

If you're interested in explore telehealth with us, consider booking a consultation

Walk & Talk Counselling

Engagement and Relaxation: Finding traditional therapy settings intimidating? 'Walk and talk' therapy provides a relaxed, engaging setting outdoors.

Engaging and relaxed setting
Alleviates traditional therapy anxieties

Stimulation and Creativity: Walking in nature can stimulate thought and conversation, fostering creativity and new insights.

Stimulates thought and conversation
Encourages creativity and insights

Physical Activity and Mental Health: Physical activity is linked to improved mental health. Walking while talking combines these benefits.

Combines physical and mental health benefits
Promotes holistic wellness

Connection with Nature: Being in nature can have therapeutic effects, adding another layer to your child's therapy

Therapeutic effects of nature
Fosters a connection with the natural world

Privacy and Safety: Our 'walk and talk' sessions are conducted in safe, private outdoor settings.

Safe and private sessions
Prioritises your child's comfort and security

Is Walk and Talk Right for You?: Every child is unique. We're here to help decide if 'walk and talk' therapy is the right fit for your child.

Individualised approach
Guidance available to make informed decisions

If Walk & Talk therapy sounds like it will be helpful for your child, consider booking a consultation.

Book a consultation

Home Visits

Home Visit Therapy: Bringing Therapy to Your Doorstep

Convenience and Comfort Struggling with travel or prefer a familiar environment? Our therapists come to you with home visit therapy.

Therapy at your convenience
Comfort of your own home

Personalised Engagement: Home visits allow our therapists to engage with your child in their natural environment, fostering personalised understanding and interventions.

Tailored, contextual understanding
Personalised therapeutic interventions

Parental Involvement: Home visits offer an opportunity for in-depth parent discussions, collaboration and strategy planning.

Enhances parent-therapist collaboration
Enables detailed strategy planning

Reaching the Child: If your child is finding it difficult to leave the house, we can reach them through home visits.

Ensures therapy reaches your child
Overcomes barriers to clinic visits

Safety and Privacy: Our home visits are conducted with utmost respect for your privacy and comfort.

Respectful of your privacy
Prioritises comfort and safety

Is Home Visit Therapy Right for You? Every family's needs are different. We can help determine if home visit therapy is the best choice for your child.

Addresses unique needs
Personalised guidance for your decision

If our Home Visit service sounds like it will be helpful for you and your child, consider booking a consultation.

School Visits

School Visits: Taking Therapy to the Schoolyard

Coordinated Approach Concerned about a disconnect between therapy and school? Our therapists visit schools for coordinated, comprehensive support.

Enhances coordination of care
Comprehensive support system

Developing and Implementing Treatment Plans: School visits allow for on-site development and implementation of school refusal treatment plans.

Facilitates effective treatment plans
Allows direct implementation at school

Collaboration with School Staff: Our therapists collaborate directly with principals, teachers, and wellbeing staff to ensure an understanding of your child's needs.

Collaboration with school staff
Promotes understanding of your child's needs

Enabling Return to School: By working directly within the school environment, we can facilitate your child's gradual return to school.

Supports gradual return to school
Addresses barriers within the school environment

Confidentiality and Respect: Our school visits are conducted with respect for your child's privacy and wellbeing.

Maintains confidentiality
Prioritises your child's wellbeing

Is School Visit Therapy Right for You? We can help you decide if school visit therapy is the right choice for your child's unique circumstances.

Suitable for diverse needs
Guidance available for decision making

If our a School Visit sounds like it will be helpful for you and your child, consider booking a consultation.