Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

Eps 526: School avoidance and school refusal with Jenell Kheriaty


Listen Later

My guest today is Jenell Kheriaty, and we’re talking about school avoidance & school refusal. We discuss what school refusal is and if there’s certain “types” of kids who are predisposed to school avoidance or school refusal. Both Jenell and I share how we support families who are struggling with their teens not going to school, some specific questions you can ask your teen about school, and how and why parents need to stay curious about their teen’s school experience.,


We talk about how to handle our own feelings when changes are not happening as fast as we want. We get into figuring out if your child’s school is a good fit, finding alternative options to your neighborhood high school, and checking our own assumptions about our teen’s journey in school. 


Takeaways from the show

  • School refusal is typically not a case of defiance, it’s an act of protection 
  • All kids, even successful high-achievers, can struggle with school avoidance  
  • School refusal is a symptom of something else going on
  • “Be curious, not judgmental” 
  • When our timeline doesn’t line up with their timeline 
  • When your teen has a different temperament and stress tolerance than you do 
  • Alternative schooling options 
  • Trusting the process, trusting the journey 
  • Maintaining relationship during the bumpy times 

  • For more show notes, including transcripts, visit our website here.

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Joyful Courage for Parenting TeensBy Casey O'Roarty

    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8
    • 4.8

    4.8

    246 ratings


    More shows like Joyful Courage for Parenting Teens

    View all
    ADHD Experts Podcast by ADDitude

    ADHD Experts Podcast

    1,303 Listeners

    Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space by Christine Koh

    Edit Your Life | Simplify + Declutter Your Home, Time, and Mental Space

    513 Listeners

    Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children by Debbie Reber

    Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

    958 Listeners

    Beautifully Complex by Penny Williams

    Beautifully Complex

    352 Listeners

    For The Love With Jen Hatmaker Podcast by Jen Hatmaker

    For The Love With Jen Hatmaker Podcast

    6,417 Listeners

    Neurodiversity Podcast by Emily Kircher-Morris

    Neurodiversity Podcast

    414 Listeners

    Raising Good Humans by Dear Media, Aliza Pressman

    Raising Good Humans

    1,853 Listeners

    Unlocking Us with Brené Brown by Vox Media Podcast Network

    Unlocking Us with Brené Brown

    23,599 Listeners

    Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons: For Parents Who Worry by Lynn Lyons LICSW, Robin Hutson

    Flusterclux With Lynn Lyons: For Parents Who Worry

    446 Listeners

    Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam by Dr. Cam

    Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam

    62 Listeners

    Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens by Dr. Lisa Damour/Reena Ninan

    Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Raising Tweens & Teens

    85 Listeners

    Good Inside with Dr. Becky by Dr. Becky Kennedy

    Good Inside with Dr. Becky

    4,407 Listeners

    We Can Do Hard Things by Glennon Doyle and Audacy

    We Can Do Hard Things

    41,407 Listeners

    This Is So Awkward by Peoples Media, This Is So Awkward

    This Is So Awkward

    315 Listeners

    Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen by Elise Loehnen

    Pulling The Thread with Elise Loehnen

    1,051 Listeners