School-Based Intensive Exposure Therapy for School Refusal Behavior

Although previous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of intensive exposure therapy for school refusal behavior, there have been few recent case studies on this subject. This article discusses the successful treatment of a 14-year-old student with school refusal behavior using intensive exposure therapy. In consultation sessions, the school counselor provided psychoeducation about the mechanism of school refusal behavior from a behavioral point of view, and developed the plan for intensive exposure therapy. The parents, school officials, and school counselor consecutively escorted the school refusal child from home to school. Through a series of treatments, the student was able to return to classes on a daily basis. This case study suggests that intensive exposure might be applied as an effective school-based approach for treating school refusal behavior.