Anxiety in Children and Adolescents

It is normal for children to experience fears and worries, but when anxiety becomes excessive, it can negatively impact their learning, social development, and family life. In some cases, the effects can be severe, and if left untreated, it can be a strong predictor of anxiety and depression in adulthood.

What a child worries about is less critical than understanding the +patterns of anxiety within the family+—how parents and children may unknowingly contribute to it, making anxiety more entrenched. During a time when a child’s life should be filled with curiosity and discovery, anxious children and teens often get caught in cycles of avoidance and withdrawal.

Common Anxiety Issues in Children and Adolescents:

• Social anxiety

• Generalized anxiety

• Fears and phobias

• Panic disorder and agoraphobia

• Selective mutism

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

• Separation anxiety

When families learn how to manage anxiety, everyday life improves as parents and children learn to:

• Understand and respond to the body’s physical stress signals

• Break free from the “worry cycle” that unintentionally strengthens anxiety

• Face challenging situations instead of avoiding them

• Set clear goals, problem-solve, and make adjustments without being driven by anxiety

Treating childhood anxiety therefore often requires family involvement. My approach includes clinical pediatric hypnosis, cognitive-based methods, exposure therapy, and emotional-focused techniques, depending on your child’s needs. I actively engage parents in the treatment process, providing practical, consistent homework assignments for both you and your child to complete between sessions.