Expert Recommendations: School Refusal

Expert Recommendations: School Refusal

Five Helpful Resources From Jonathan Dalton, PhD

Jonathan Dalton, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist and expert in the assessment and treatment of school-based anxiety and school refusal. He directs the Center for Anxiety and Behavioral Change, where he oversees specialized clinical services for school refusal. Dr. Dalton is also highly active in presenting to and consulting with schools, mental health professionals and community agencies on the topics of anxiety and school refusal. He regularly presents on these topics at conferences organized by the Anxiety and Depression Association of American (ADAA) and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT).

As the “honeymoon” period of the school year ends, we asked Dr. Dalton to provide some helpful resources to support the treatment of school refusal. Here is his list:

1. Getting Your Child to Say “Yes” to School: A Guide for Parents of Youth with School Refusal Behavior by Christopher A. Kearney (Book)
2. Education for families considering home-based instruction for students experiencing anxiety-based school refusal by Jonathan Dalton, PhD (Video)
3. Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD by Eli Lebowitz, PhD (Book)
4. How to Use Exposure Therapy to Overcome Phobias by Ali Mattu, PhD (an engaging video description (and first-hand account) of exposure therapy)
5. What to Do, and Not Do, When Your Child Won’t Go to School by Washington Post journalist Elizabeth Chang (a recent Washington Post article outlining helpful strategies to address school refusal)