About the Author
Eliza Ward
Eliza is a compassionate and skilled therapist with over 15 years experience helping children, families, and adults navigate anxiety, trauma, and life transitions. Inspired by her own experiences with anxiety and school avoidance, as well as supporting her children through similar challenges, she blends empathy with practical, creative strategies.
Trained in Cognitive Hypnotherapy, NLP, advanced EMDR, mindfulness, and somatic therapies, Eliza works across schools, family settings, and private practice, creating a safe and empowering space where individuals can feel understood, regain confidence, and thrive.
What is EBSA?
Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
Known as school refusal, school anxiety, or school non-attendance, EBSA happens when a child feels so worried, scared, or overwhelmed about school that their body and mind try to protect them by saying “No.” This isn’t about being naughty or lazy, it’s a real emotional response to feeling unsafe or pressured.
Children with EBSA need understanding, kindness, and support to help their feelings settle, and to slowly find ways to feel safe at school again. This book helps children and families understand these deep feelings and shows that it’s okay to take things one gentle step at a time.
Available Now
When Harry’s Feet Say No
A book and learning tool for children, parents and educators navigating school refusal.
This heartfelt story about school worries, simple neuroscience, and somatic connection is written by a qualified therapist and parent with lived experience of neurodiversity, who understands school avoidance from both professional training and personal experience.
