School can become very difficult when a child no longer feels socially safe. Friendship problems, bullying, exclusion, peer conflict, shame, social anxiety or feeling different can make school feel frightening or unbearable.

Some children speak openly about what is happening. Others hide it for a long time, especially if they feel embarrassed, worried about making things worse, or afraid that adults will not understand. A child may begin to avoid school, withdraw socially, become irritable at home, lose confidence, develop physical symptoms, or say they do not know why they cannot go in.

For neurodivergent children and teenagers, friendship difficulties can be especially complex. A young person may be masking at school, missing social cues, feeling excluded, or trying very hard to fit in while becoming increasingly exhausted.

I work with children and teenagers to understand what has happened socially and emotionally, and how this may be affecting school attendance, confidence, identity and relationships. The work may involve individual psychotherapy, parent consultation, or liaison with school where this is helpful and agreed.

The aim is not simply to get a child back into school at any cost. It is to understand why school feels unsafe, what has been lost or damaged, and what kind of support is needed for the child to feel more secure, understood and able to participate again.

A parent consultation can be useful if you are unsure whether the issue is bullying, social anxiety, neurodivergence, low mood, school avoidance or a combination of factors.