Therapy for Anxiety in Childhood and Adolescence

Is your child or teen worrying more than they used to? Do they seem tense, restless, or easily overwhelmed? Are you noticing that fear or worry is beginning to shape how they move through their days?

You may notice things like:

• Frequent worries that feel hard to reassure

• Avoidance of school, activities, or social situations

• Trouble sleeping or relaxing

• Strong emotional reactions that seem to come out of nowhere

• Physical complaints like stomachaches or headaches

• A need for constant reassurance, or the opposite — quiet withdrawal

When experiences like these linger, they may be signs that anxiety is taking up more space than it should. Anxiety in children and adolescents does not always look like fear. It can show up as irritability, perfectionism, shutdown, or a sense of being constantly on edge.

At Little River Psychological Services, we understand that anxiety does not exist in isolation. It is shaped by development, relationships, school demands, family dynamics, and a young person’s inner world. Our work is to help children and adolescents feel safer with their emotions and more confident navigating what feels frightening or overwhelming.

Therapy offers young people a space where they do not need to have the right words or explain themselves perfectly. Healing happens gradually, through relationship, patience, and learning that feelings can be held without taking over.

Caregiver involvement is approached thoughtfully, with respect for both the child or adolescent’s need for privacy and the caregiver’s role in providing support and stability.

If anxiety is beginning to limit your child or teen’s sense of ease, curiosity, or confidence, we invite you to reach out to schedule a consultation.