SCHOOL ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
AT THE VERUS BONIFATIUS KLINIKSchool anxiety is a condition in which children and young people develop strong feelings of anxiety about school, which can range from mild nervousness to intense fear of going to school. This anxiety can have various causes, including pressure to perform, bullying or social isolation. School anxiety is a serious emotional challenge that can have a significant impact on the well-being and academic performance of those affected.
TREATMENT OF SCHOOL ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
At the Verus Bonifatius Clinic, we support children and young people with school anxiety and their families by showing them ways to overcome this anxiety while applying the highest quality standards. Our approach takes into account the totality of the young patient’s well-being and aims to create an environment characterized by attentiveness, respect and care. Trust, honesty, respect, integrity and dedication form the foundation of our care. The specialized staff at the Verus Bonifatius Clinic attaches great importance to the individual care of children and adolescents with school anxiety. The combination of different therapeutic approaches, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, systemic therapy and depth psychological methods, relaxation techniques and intensive parent work/family therapy, has proven to be particularly effective. These methods are used in addition to any necessary support to help young patients and their families to develop strategies for coping with anxiety and to strengthen the self-confidence of children and young people in the school context.
THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES FOR SCHOOL ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
The treatment of school anxiety requires an individually tailored therapeutic approach, as the causes and manifestations of this anxiety can be very different in children and adolescents. Psychotherapeutic methods, in particular cognitive behavioral therapy, have proven to be particularly effective. These approaches can be used in both individual and group settings, depending on what is most helpful for the child or young person concerned. It is crucial that therapists can build an empathic relationship with the young patient to create an environment of trust that enables children and young people to actively work on overcoming their anxiety. Our aim is to work with the respective schools of origin and outpatient support systems to enable reintegration into everyday school life.
SYMPTOMS OF SCHOOL ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Children and young people with school anxiety often show a wide range of symptoms, which can be both psychological and physical. Typical signs may include:
- Pronounced fear of going to school
- Abdominal pain, headaches and other somatic complaints without a medical cause after somatic clarification of the symptoms
- Sleep problems, especially before school
- Avoidance of school activities and events
- Problems building and maintaining social relationships at school
- Low self-esteem and self-confidence in terms of academic performance
- Difficulty concentrating and declining school performance
DIAGNOSIS OF SCHOOL ANXIETY IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
The diagnosis of school anxiety requires careful observation and assessment of the reported symptoms by specialist staff. Close collaboration with parents or guardians is essential in order to develop a comprehensive understanding of the emotional and behavioral challenges of the child or adolescent. During the diagnostic phase, it is important to rule out physical causes for the symptoms described and at the same time gain a deep understanding of the school and social contexts that contribute to the development of anxiety. A specific and effective treatment plan can then be drawn up on the basis of this holistic approach.
TRUANCY/SCHOOL ABSENTEEISM
The persistent refusal to go to school can have many different illness-related causes in children and adolescents. For example, children can be affected by an emotional disorder with separation anxiety, but this can also affect adolescents. Other causes can be pronounced social phobias, excessive demands, underchallenge, bullying experiences, depression and other illnesses. In some cases, this can lead to considerable restrictions for those affected, making it impossible for them to attend school or even just leave their home and leading to considerable social withdrawal and isolation. In such cases, where children and young people are no longer able to attend school for a long period of time, inpatient therapy is often recommended by doctors and therapists. However, those affected are often unable to attend this treatment without their parents due to their illness, which means that in such cases a court-ordered placement in the relevant child and adolescent psychiatric clinic is recommended and must then initially take place against the child’s will. The Verus Bonifatius Clinic offers an alternative here: Admission with parent(s) is possible in order to avoid unnecessary coercive measures and also to give severely impaired children and adolescents the opportunity to undergo necessary inpatient treatment on a voluntary basis with the support of the parents and our therapeutic staff. We take into account the child’s personal resources and carry out a careful diagnosis at the start of treatment in order to precisely define and treat the causes and clinical picture. In these cases, we are guided by the individual capabilities of those affected and thus avoid overburdening situations that can lead to treatment being discontinued. We do not use coercive measures in any way, as we rely on our open and individual therapeutic concept, with which we can achieve very good treatment results.
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