Dr. Laura Koehler

View Dr. Koehler’s slides!

Young people can feel anxious about school for many reasons. While some students may refuse to go to school on occasion, “school refusal behavior” is an extreme pattern of avoiding school that can cause significant problems for a child and their family.

This important presentation focuses on what caregivers and school staff can do when a child is experiencing anxiety at school. Participants will learn about the purpose of anxiety, the signs and symptoms of anxiety and how anxiety affects academic performance. Attendees will gain a better understanding of school refusal, develop strategies to help regulate emotions, and identify coping skills that can reduce intense anxiety in the moment.

Dr. Laura Koehler is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist at Endeavor Health Linden Oaks Behavioral Health. Her current position is the Manager of Anxiety Services, which includes partial hospitalization programs and intensive outpatient programs for adults, adolescents, and children. Koehler’s approach to treatment integrates Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) along with Exposure Therapy to provide patients with skills needed to increase their ability to regulate emotions and tolerate feelings of overwhelm.