Support for
School refusal is rarely about school alone. Therapy for the whole picture.
Psychological support for children and adolescents struggling to attend school — and the parents and carers walking alongside them.
Key information you should know
- School refusal is usually a sign that something underneath is overwhelming — anxiety, neurodivergence, bullying, trauma, or family stress.
- Early support significantly improves outcomes — the longer avoidance continues, the harder return becomes.
- We work with the child, the parents, and (where helpful) the school — because lasting change usually needs everyone on board.
Signs you might benefit from school refusal support
- Persistent distress on school mornings — tears, tummy aches, headaches, meltdowns
- Increasing absenteeism, late starts, or leaving early
- Refusal to discuss school or visible anxiety when it's mentioned
- Sleep changes — bedtime resistance, broken sleep, exhaustion that doesn't lift
- Withdrawal from friends or activities they used to enjoy
- Reports of bullying, social difficulties, or feeling 'different' from peers
- A pattern that's worsening rather than easing with time
How therapy can help with school refusal
School refusal is distressing for children and families. Anxiety, bullying, learning difficulties, autism, family stress, or school environment factors can all play a part.
Therapy often involves parents and schools where appropriate, with gradual exposure plans and skills for anxiety. Early intervention usually improves attendance and reduces conflict at home.
Psychologists who support school refusal
4 psychologists with experience in school refusal.
Accepting new clientsBook with BeauDr Beau Gamble
Psychologist & Clinic Manager
Beau is a warm, thoughtful, and experienced psychologist. He brings genuine curiosity to the people he works with, and takes a patient, collaborative approach to therapy.
Works from Succoris Joondalup
Accepting new clientsBook with MaiaraMaiara Kunzler
Psychologist
Maiara is passionate about creating a safe, warm, and collaborative space where clients feel supported, respected, and empowered throughout the therapeutic process.
2 clinics
Melanie Shannon
Child & Adolescent Psychologist
Melanie is a child and adolescent psychologist specialising in early intervention. With experience across schools, hospitals, and private practice, she enjoys working collaboratively with children, their families, and the wider network of care.
Works from Succoris Bendigo
Accepting new clientsBook with SumairaSumaira Yousaf
Psychologist
Sumaira Yousaf is a registered General Psychologist with extensive international clinical experience across Australia and the UAE. She works with children, adolescents, adults, and families with a warm, strengths-focused approach.
Works from Succoris Sunbury
Common questions about school refusal
What is school refusal?
School refusal is when a child or teenager finds it very difficult or distressing to attend school, often driven by anxiety rather than defiance. It is usually a sign that something underneath feels overwhelming, such as anxiety, bullying, learning difficulties, neurodivergence, or family stress. Understanding it as distress, rather than misbehaviour, is the first step toward helping.
How do I know if it is school refusal or ordinary reluctance?
Most children grumble about school sometimes. School refusal is more persistent and distressing, and may include frequent absences, physical complaints like stomach aches on school mornings, intense anxiety, or emotional meltdowns about attending. If getting your child to school is a regular struggle and causing distress for them or the family, it is worth seeking support sooner rather than later.
How is school refusal addressed?
Support usually works best when it involves the child, the parents, and where helpful the school. A psychologist can help identify what is driving the avoidance, address the underlying anxiety or other factors, and build a gradual, supported plan for returning to school, often using a step-by-step approach alongside skills for managing anxiety. Early intervention matters, because the longer avoidance continues, the harder return can become.
Should I get help early, and how do I start?
Yes. Early support significantly improves outcomes, so it is best not to wait for the pattern to become entrenched. You can contact us directly, as no referral is needed to book. A GP Mental Health Treatment Plan may provide Medicare rebates on individual sessions. Get in touch and we can match your child with a psychologist experienced in anxiety and school refusal.
What is the difference between school refusal and truancy?
The two can both mean missed school but are quite different. School refusal is driven by distress, usually anxiety, and the child typically wants to meet expectations but finds attending overwhelming, with parents generally aware of the absences. Truancy tends to involve choosing to avoid school without that anxiety, and is often hidden from parents. The distinction matters, because school refusal calls for support with the underlying distress rather than discipline.
Prefer to reach out directly? We're happy to help.