How to treat school phobia in a 16-year-old child

Generally, the treatment methods for school phobia in 16-year-old children mainly include psychotherapy, family therapy, medication, behavioral interventions, and environmental adjustments. Specific analyses are as follows:

1. Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is the core approach, with cognitive-behavioral therapy being commonly used. Through communication with a psychologist, this method helps the child identify and correct negative thoughts about attending school, fostering a positive thinking pattern. It also guides the child in learning emotional regulation techniques to alleviate anxiety, fear, and other adverse emotions, thereby enhancing psychological resilience to cope with school-related stress.

2. Family Therapy

Parents need to actively participate in the treatment process and adjust their parenting styles. They should avoid overprotection or harsh criticism and instead create a tolerant and supportive family environment. Parents should discuss with the child the underlying causes of school fear, listen empathetically to their feelings, strengthen the child’s sense of security through positive parent-child interactions, and collaborate with the school to establish effective communication mechanisms, jointly providing comprehensive support.

3. Medication

If the child's symptoms are significant, medication may be administered under medical supervision. Commonly prescribed medications include sertraline hydrochloride tablets, escitalopram oxalate tablets, and paroxetine hydrochloride tablets. These are all approved drugs registered with the drug regulatory authorities and must be used strictly according to medical instructions.

4. Behavioral Intervention

Gradual exposure therapy is applied, starting with short visits to school and progressively increasing the duration of stay to help the child adapt to the school environment. A reward system should also be established—when the child makes progress in school-related behaviors, positive reinforcement should be provided to encourage desirable actions and reduce avoidance of school attendance.

5. Environmental Adjustment

Schools should cooperate in improving the campus environment. Homeroom teachers can facilitate friendly peer relationships by encouraging classmates to interact positively with the child, thus reducing negative factors such as bullying. Teachers should adapt their teaching methods according to the child’s needs, reduce academic pressure, and help the child develop a sense of belonging and achievement at school.

During treatment, close collaboration between family and school is essential, with regular updates on the child’s progress. If symptoms fail to improve or worsen, timely medical consultation is necessary to adjust the treatment plan.