You're right Ana, but if the diagnosis is still as hard to get I don't think such parents would have much success. The difficulty with school phobia is that the professionals may have to accept parents' word for the child's response, if they are unable to get the child into school and the child can't or won't talk about it. I think the professionals at one stage thought we were exaggerating or making excuses. Then came a day when we carried an eight year old in to the school entrance, him kicking and screaming all the way and my husband and I looking as if we had done ten rounds with Mike Tyson. We deposited him on the floor in front of the head teacher who looked down at this extremely distressed child and said 'I see what you're up against now' before walking away!
I am not proud of that moment. Up until then we had accepted the received wisdom that we had to be firm and eventually our son would settle in school. I think that was the point at which we recognised that this was not the way and we gave ourselves permission to stop forcing a terrified child into doing the very thing that terrified him.
Anyway, enough about my son. I'm not sure that my experiences are of any help to those of you struggling with this problem now, other than to say that against all the odds my son has turned out to be a quirky, sociable, intelligent, well educated, interesting and loving man. I am more proud of him than I can say, not because of what he has achieved, but because he turned his life around all by himself and is happy! Please believe it can happen for your children and grandchildren as well.