Joanna Fortune: My 12-year-old daughter refuses to go to school due to separation anxiety 

Separation anxiety can be defined as a lingering worry or anxiety that something bad will happen to the child (or they believe something bad will happen to their mum or dad) if they leave their parent

This anxiety is not rooted in reality but the experience is very real for the child. Picture: iStock 

Joanna Fortune

CHILD PSYCHOTHERAPIST

My 12-year-old experiences separation anxiety to such an extent she will not go to school. Also, she wants me to stand outside the bathroom when she uses it. She has sensory differences and may be neurodiverse — we are waiting on an ADHD assessment. Can you advise me on how to enable her to go back to school?