Olivia’s story
Overview:
At 11, Olivia had just moved to a new school in rural Victoria with 540 students. She had been attending only half a day a week for nine months due to severe anxiety, having never shown signs of school refusal before.
Her symptoms included morning panic, running away, hiding under her bed, and seeking refuge in the school sickbay upon arrival. She also developed an eating disorder during this time. However, extreme though this seems, when an appropriate intervention was designed, Olivia responded.
Intervention:
Olivia and her mother joined six one-hour online consultations. Together, we:
Outcome:
Olivia gradually began to feel safe at school. She bonded with a supportive teacher and, over three months, increased her attendance from half a day per week to full-time. Her confidence and attendance grew as her anxiety decreased.