I saw a year 7 boy who was really struggling with school and on the verge of becoming a school refuser as his absenteeism was increasing and his parents admitted struggling to get him to school. He was very emotional and upset in our first session as he was finding the move from primary to secondary school overwhelming and felt it was all too much.
Using the Solution Focus principle that it is never all bad we focused on things that were good / ok for him and over a couple of weeks he realised there were lessons and teachers he did like and was good at, that he had made some good friendships, that there were places he could go if he needed quiet at school, that he enjoyed a few extra curricular clubs etc and gradually his mindset shifted to see all that he had done and was doing to settle in. After our 6 weeks he admitted he felt totally different and was actually enjoying school and looking forward positively to all secondary had to offer.