A Lifeline For Parents
Navigating A Silent Crisis
Is your child suddenly refusing-or struggling to go to school? You're not alone. Every day, more families face the growing challenge of school avoidance, a misunderstood behavior often rooted in anxiety, emotional distress, or mental health issues-not defiance.
A transformative guide to one of today's fastest-growing parenting challenges.
Real stories, expert insights, and actionable strategies to help you build confidence, advocate effectively, and support your child’s return to school, while finding strength and clarity in the process.
A Lifeline For Parents
Navigating A Silent Crisis
Is your child suddenly refusing-or struggling to go to school? You're not alone. Every day, more families face the growing challenge of school avoidance, a misunderstood behavior often rooted in anxiety, emotional distress, or mental health issues-not defiance.
A transformative approach to one of today's fastest-growing parenting challenges.
Real stories, expert insights, and practical strategies to help you build confidence, advocate effectively, and support your child's return to school while finding strength and clarity in the process.
A transformative approach to one of today's fastest-growing parenting challenges.
Real stories, expert insights, and practical strategies to help you build confidence, advocate effectively, and support your child's return to school while finding strength and clarity in the process.
FEATURED IN
About The Book
Who Is It For?
Parents of children or teens refusing school or missing days due to emotional distress.
Families feeling unsupported, judged, or confused about where to turn.
Caregivers looking for more than just discipline-based advice seeking real, compassionate strategies.
Educators and mental health professionals who want to better understand and help school-avoidant kids.
What You'll Discover Inside:
Proven strategies to support your child's return to school -without power struggles.
How to collaborate with school staff and advocate effectively for your child's needs.
Guidance on navigating truancy laws and education systems that may not "get it".
Insights from mental health professionals and a thriving parent community.
Clear, compassionate advice on balancing structure with emotional support.
Contributing Experts
Dr. Rebecca Etkin
Dr. Rebecca Etkin is a licensed clinical psychologist and postdoctoral associate at the Yale Child Study Center’s Anxiety and Mood Disorders Program. She specializes in treating anxiety and related challenges in children and adolescents. A leading clinician, trainer, and supervisor in the SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) program, Dr. Etkin has worked with over a hundred families using this approach.
Dr. Christopher Kearney
Dr. Christopher Kearney is a clinical child psychologist, distinguished professor, and department chair at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He directs the UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Disorders Clinic and is the creator of the School Refusal Assessment Scale (SRAS). His work focuses on problematic school absenteeism, and he is the author of several books, including Helping School Refusing Children and Their Parents.
Dr. Daniel P. Villiers
Dr. Daniel P. Villiers is a counseling psychologist and the co-founder of Mountain Valley Treatment Center and Anxiety Institute. Drawing from his own experiences with anxiety, he has spent over two decades developing and leading programs for youth with anxiety, OCD, and school avoidance. His areas of expertise include family-based exposure therapy, ERP for OCD, and the psychological impacts of perfectionism and avoidance.
Dr. Rebecca Sachs
Dr. Rebecca Sachs is a board-certified clinical psychologist in behavioral and cognitive psychology. She is the founder of CBT Spectrum and co-director of Successful School Transitions, a program addressing school refusal. Dr. Sachs specializes in evidence-based treatment for anxiety, autism, and OCD, and she is also a parent to a young child and a teenager.
Dr. Mona Potter
Dr. Mona Potter is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist and the co-founder and chief medical officer of InStride Health. She previously served as medical director of McLean Hospital’s Child and Adolescent Outpatient Services, where she co-developed programs such as the McLean Anxiety Mastery Program. Her clinical focus is on pediatric anxiety, OCD, and school avoidance.
Penny Williams
Penny Williams is a parenting coach, speaker, and author who supports families raising neurodivergent children. She draws on neuroscience to help parents navigate ADHD and related challenges. Penny has written four award-winning books, including Boy Without Instructions, and hosts the Beautifully Complex podcast. She also co-created the Survival to Success Accelerator™ parent training program.
Willow Williams
Willow Williams is a 21-year-old advocate with autism and lived experience of school avoidance. She is exploring diverse career paths, including music, puppeteering, voice acting, nursing, elder care, and construction. Willow lives in Asheville, North Carolina, with her parents and two dogs.
Dr. Erica Miller
Dr. Erica Miller is a licensed clinical psychologist in New York and New Jersey and the founder of Connected Minds NYC. She specializes in neuropsychological assessment and evidence-based therapy. Dr. Miller co-founded Successful School Transitions and serves as an adjunct associate professor at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Dr. Tammy Moscrip
Dr. Tammy Moscrip is a licensed clinical social worker and the executive director of The Spire School, a therapeutic day school in Connecticut for emotionally and academically struggling students in Grades 8–12. She holds a doctorate in psychology and has dedicated her career to supporting children and families in educational settings.
Dr. Dina Nunziato
Dr. Dina Nunziato is the chief clinical officer at the Anxiety Institute in Greenwich, Connecticut, which offers intensive outpatient services for youth with anxiety, OCD, and school avoidance. With over two decades of experience, she specializes in cognitive-behavioral therapy and has published research on mindfulness and academic success.
Anonymous
Anonymous is a seasoned special education attorney who represents school districts. Due to professional obligations, they have chosen to remain unnamed. Their insights provide a unique perspective on the complex intersection of advocacy, legal responsibility, and educational access
JAYNE DEMSKY
Jayne Demsky-founder of the School Avoidance Alliance-knows what parents are up against. She's walked in your shoes, and this book
reflects her years of experience as an advocate and educator.
Whether you're just starting to see the signs or deep in the struggle, this book gives you the tools
-and hope you need.
ABOUT JAYNE
Founder & CEO, School
Avoidance Alliance
When her son began struggling with school avoidance in 2009, there was little information available and even less understanding from schools. Like many families, Jayne faced stigma, confusion, and a steep learning curve as she tried to support her child through severe anxiety and depression. Despite encountering unhelpful school responses and limited professional guidance, Jayne persisted. After years of research, advocacy, and working with experienced mental health providers, her son was finally able to return to a stable and fulfilling life. But she never forgot how isolating and overwhelming the journey had been.
In response, Jayne launched her first support site, School Refusal Hope, to connect with other parents. That grassroots effort grew into the School Avoidance Alliance, a national movement dedicated to bridging the gap between families, schools, and mental health professionals. Today, Jayne works hand in hand with educators, clinicians, and policymakers to raise awareness, offer training, and empower families facing this increasingly common crisis.
Jayne is a leading voice in the field of improving school avoidance outcomes and is a founding member of Attendance USA, a national group of educators, reserachers, advocates and other stakeholders dedicated to improving attendance in elementary and secondary schools across the nation.
“No family should have to go through what we did—uninformed, unsupported, and misunderstood. That’s why I built the School Avoidance Alliance: to bring hope, solutions, and connection to others.”
— Jayne Demsky
BUY NOW!
Ready To Take The First Step?
Buy Overcoming School Avoidance today and help your child return to
a healthy, fulfilling school life-with you as their strongest ally.
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