Helping Your Child Overcome Separation Anxiety or School Refusal: A Step-By-Step Guide for Parents

by Andrew R. Eisen and Linda B. Engler

Book Overview

Effective Tools for Parents

Does your child cling to you whenever you try to leave? Does he or she react strongly to the thought of being left alone? Psychologists call this kind of behavior separation anxiety, and it's usually a normal part of your child's developmental process -- one that they outgrow. Sometimes, though, extreme or persistent kinds of separation anxiety can make life difficult for both you and your child. In some cases,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1572244313
• ISBN13: 9781572244313
• Release Date: June 2006
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.9" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Help for understanding

I felt like this book helped me better understand the reasons behind the anxiety and some of the methods did bring some relief. However I think with younger children it's always a challenge to really cure serios anxiety.

Invaluable

When my son was four my husband and I left him for 5 days with some family members so we could go on a cruise with my sister and her husband. It was the first time we had been apart for more than an overnight stay. Needless to say the experience was not a good one for him, and since that time he has been cautious about being apart from us. No matter how much we reassured him, or tried to comfort and address his insecurities, it seemed the problem gradually got worse instead of better. He would go to Pre-K without much fuss, but spending time with a sitter, or the night with family members began to be more and more of a challenge. He started Kindergarten this year and every morning was a struggle. He'd be crying to stay with me and I would try to ensure his safety and the importance of school, all while struggling with my own tears. It was a horrible way to start the day and by 9am I was completely emotionally drained. With no clear reason for this down slide and being at my wits end, I sought the advice of a dear friend who happens to be a Psychology Professor. He sent me this book and I have never been more grateful for any gift. At first I was concerned that the book wasn't going to help as it didn't seem to be geared towards my son's specific issues. He doesn't fall into any one category; he is more of an inconsistent combination of the case samples they have compiled. But I read the book, highlighted the things that applied to my son and began to work with my husband on getting our life back. The most helpful thing about this book was getting my husband and me on the same page. His approach to dealing with our son was vastly different from mine, and it turns out neither of us were correct. It has been a long hard road and the book had forewarned us that once we started implementing what we learned it would get worse before it got better, they weren't kidding. But with the help of this book, and the support of my family and his teacher, we are going on two weeks of not one tear before school. He also spent the night at my moms last weekend without any fight or fuss, without any need for reassurances. I thought this book was written in a manner that was easy to understand and follow along. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who has a child suffering from school refusal or separation anxiety. Cherise Everhard, March 2009

Highly recommended, but use along with a therapist.

Helping Your Child Overcome Seperation Anxiety or Shcool Refusal is a sound, practical book for helping parents learn to help their children overcome seperation anxiety in many different forms and settings. I will enjoy implementing the techniques with my clients. I gave this book only four stars because while it is easy for a clinician to read and fill in the behavior modification and coping skill gaps they left out, it will not be so easy for many parents. Parents who have anxious children are advised to get this book, but share it with a trained clinician/therapist. It is helpful in that it gives you an idea of what your child's anxious situations and behaviors are, how you have been handling them as a parent (personality type) and what safety situations your children prefer. It will be easier to implement with a trained person who can give you even further techniques, feedback and moral support when you need it.