Educational outlook through a clinical approach: The contributions of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and of Functional Analytic Psychotherapy in the case of a boy with social anxiety

Contextual behavioral science has applications both with educational and therapeutic fields, but rarely they are used together. Students who fail to acquire appropriate social and emotional skills have a lower probability of completing school, becoming employed, and becoming well-adjusted adults. The study describes the case history of a 12-year-old male with a severe school refusual and learning disabilities. Over a period of 2 month, the participant had either not attended school or had attended under duress and fled for home. Procedures included gradual exposure, in vivo desensitization, positive reinforcements, social and study skills training. After 14 sessions (three weeks), the participant was able to attend school without anxiety. Gains were maintained at one-year follow-up.