Why is my kid so anxious?

Despite childhood being 'the most magical time of our lives,' being a kid can be hard. Kids with anxiety often hide their struggles from others, which makes life even more difficult. You might notice a child who once excelled becoming fearful, or a child who was once outgoing and engaged becoming withdrawn. You might even notice your relationship struggling.

What does anxiety in kids look like?

You might observe your child having strong reactions to situations that seem relatively unthreatening. They might be having big bursts of behavior that are getting in the way of school participation, family relationships, and social interactions. They might be hard on themselves and struggle with making mistakes. You might see your child disappointed by their grades, shutting down when they get feedback from you or another adult, or developing stomach aches at school drop-offs. You might wonder, “Is this my fault? Did I say or do something wrong?” Or you know or suspect something has gone wrong: your kid is recovering from a trauma or life change, and you notice your child is not quite themselves.

Children are natural problem solvers

We know that anxiety in kids usually has a genetic component, and kids learn from their family systems. Therapy for children is a team effort: parents need to participate just as much as the kids do. Kids are kids. They need a safe adult to be in this process with, someone who will help them remember everything they've learned in therapy.

Parenting can be both hard and joyful. You are probably already doing a great job as a parent (I suspect that is true if you are reaching out for help). I support caregivers in building stronger relationships that are safe, understanding, and loving so that families can face whatever challenge comes next after therapy is complete. We do this one step at a time, knowing that each small change builds into something monumental. If you are asking "but what if my kid or my family can’t change?" I want you to know: kids innately want to be happy and productive, with a deep sense of belonging to their families. The motivation to change is baked in.

My approach to therapy for kids

To start therapy, we’ll conduct an intake meeting with just the adults. You’ll provide as much information as you can about your child’s development and experiences. We’ll identify other appropriate adults to collect information from, like medical providers, your child’s teachers, or other caregivers. I’ll meet with your child 1-1 (or with you there until they warm up) to get to know them and hear their thoughts on their experiences. Kids are smart and they want to be well, so I’m willing to bet your child already has some ideas on how things can change in their life. We’ll decide if we want to play in our sessions, make art, or sit around and chat. We can consider using EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) if appropriate. Children ages 3-10 years old will typically be provided with a combination of family sessions and parent consultation meetings. Kids 10 years old and up will typically have a combination of individual sessions, family therapy, and parent consultation meetings. Telehealth is an effective treatment option for children that can make it easier to keep appointments while juggling a busy schedule.

Start therapy in Pennsylvania or California for anxiety today

Our goal is to build up what is already going well in your family, make necessary changes to ease pain points, and then witness your child flourish. Children do not need to be fearful of school, friends, family members, or themselves. They can move past challenging or traumatic experiences. When this happens, kids and parents get to discover the joy of being themselves with one another and in the world.

Start therapy in Pennsylvania or California.