As the school supplies fill the shelves and calendars begin to fill with orientation dates, many parents notice a shift in their student. Sleep becomes more difficult. Stomachaches appear. Conversations about school become shorter—or more emotional. Some teens withdraw. Others become irritable. A few begin asking if they really have to go back. For families who have experienced school refusal, these signs can feel terrifying. As a therapist specializing in adolescents, I want