Our Services

School Refusal Clinic provides specialised support to young people of all backgrounds, abilities, and ages who are experiencing school attendance difficulties. We use a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to work with students, parents, and schools to develop individualised return-to-school plans that resolve underlying issues preventing young people from engaging in their learning.

Underlying issues that impact on school refusal include:

Our clinic has a unique model of practice where we believe that the best treatment outcomes arise when students are engaged and having fun in each session. That's why we provide many of our consultations outside and with the help of our therapy dog Max. We have found this approach to benefit students with school attendance difficulties, those resisting traditional treatment options, and for our neurodiverse students for whom therapy has not worked in the past.

Our practice incorporates a unique combination of the following approaches: Clinic based and outdoor 'Walk and Talk' therapy, dog-assisted therapy with Max, child-focused parent support, School liason and exercise group therapy, as appropriate. We also offer a variety of professional development training for schools, and secondary consultations for education specialists, allied health practitioners, medical professionals and more.

Our Approach:

An initial 90-minute assessment session for parent/s and child to attend at the clinic.
Walk and Talk outdoor exposure therapy sessions with our therapy dog Max.
Child-focused parent support.
Return to school planning meetings onsite with parent/s, your child, and key staff.
Ongoing Review and Adjustment
Plus: Group exercise training to build physical strength, confidence and resilience.