In this episode, I’m breaking down school avoidance and school refusal in teens, including why it’s on the rise, what’s happening underneath the behavior, and practical, compassionate ways parents can support their teen without escalating conflict.

If your teen is melting down in the mornings, complaining of feeling sick, shutting down, or outright refusing to go to school, this episode will help you understand what’s driving the behavior and how to move forward without shame or fear.

In this episode, I cover:

• What school avoidance and school refusal really mean (and why it’s not laziness)
• The main drivers: anxiety, social stress, academic overwhelm, and burnout
• Why morning power struggles make avoidance worse
• A clear 3-step plan: calm, clarify, and coordinate
• How to support your teen without reinforcing avoidance
• Dr. Lisa Damour’s shame-free “compulsory buffet” reframe
• Practical ways to make school more manageable without lowering expectations

If your teen is struggling with anxiety or school avoidance, get support through my Rise Up and Ignite coaching programs to help them build confidence, take action, and thrive.

✅ Book a free discovery call to learn more and see if Rise or Ignite is a fit.

Sources Referenced in This Episode

1. Stony Brook Medicine – “What is School Avoidance and School Refusal? A Parent’s Guide” (Aug 1, 2025)
2. Kids Mental Health Foundation – “New Survey Reveals Top Reasons Why Kids Avoid Going to School” (Press Release)
3. Children’s Hospital Colorado – “Treating School Refusal in Youth” (Primary Care Article)
4. Children’s Hospital Colorado – “How to Handle School Refusal” (Just Ask Children’s)
5. TIME Magazine – Lisa Damour, “How to Help Teenagers Stay Motivated at School” (Mar 8, 2023)
6. Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) – “4 Strategies When Your Child Refuses to Go to School” (Sep 19, 2024)

In this episode, I’m sharing one of the biggest truths of my life: our children are some of our greatest teachers. I walk you through five lessons my kids have taught me so far, and how these lessons have shaped the way I show up in motherhood, especially in the teen years.

In this episode, I cover:

• Regulate: learning how to stay grounded when I’m triggered or overwhelmed
• Surrender: practicing trust and letting go, one layer at a time
• Service: showing up with devotion while remembering I matter too
• Humility: owning my mistakes, repairing, and learning in real time
• Capacity: expanding what I can hold and handle without collapsing into overwhelm

If this episode resonated, I’d love for you to share it with a friend raising teens, and leave a review on Apple or Spotify. It helps more parents find this support.

Connect with me

Instagram: @jasmyne.guidedpassages

Teen confidence isn’t something your kid either “has” or doesn’t have; it’s something we can build. In today’s episode, I’m sharing 5 core skills I teach teens and young adults to help them move from anxiety and avoidance into real self-trust and forward motion.

I also share a story about a young adult I worked with who felt stuck after Covid, isolated, anxious, and disconnected from her life, until she found a pathway back to herself through creativity, new friendships, and small steps that created real momentum (including college planning and financial aid).

In this episode, I cover:

• Why confidence starts with identity and values (not approval, grades, or social pressure)
• How to help teens build believable positive self-talk (no fake affirmations)
• The simple language shift that helps teens stop identifying with negative labels like “I’m anxious” or “I’m a procrastinator”
• Why doing hard, uncomfortable things regularly is one of the fastest ways to build self-belief
• How friendships, media, and environment shape confidence, and how to help teens choose better inputs

Want support for your teen?

If your teen is struggling with anxiety, self-doubt, low motivation, procrastination, or feeling stuck, 1:1 coaching can be one of the fastest ways to create real change. My coaching programs Ignite and Rise Up support teens and young adults (ages 12–24) with tools, accountability, and mentorship.

✅ Book a free discovery call to learn more and see if Rise Up or Ignite is a fit.

🌿 Learn more about Guided Passages: https://guided-passages.com