Child Anxiety Therapist: How We Help Kids Overcome Fear and Worry
Is your child's anxiety taking over their life?
Maybe they refuse to go to school because they can't bear being away from you. Or they ask the same worried questions over and over, no matter how many times you reassure them. Perhaps they avoid birthday parties, playdates, or trying new things because the anxiety feels too big.
You're not imagining it (and your child isn't just being difficult).
Anxiety in children can look a little different in children, but just like adults, it can significantly impact their daily life. But here's the good news: with the right support from a child anxiety therapist, kids can learn to manage their fears and feel confident again.
Understanding Child Anxiety
Anxiety is Normal, Until It's Not
Everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, including children. Feeling nervous about the first day of school or studying hard for a big test is totally normal.
Anxiety becomes a problem when it prevents your child from doing the things they need or want to do.
The main reaction to anxiety is avoidance. While avoiding something scary might reduce anxiety in the short term, it actually makes the fear stronger over time.
This is helpful when we're in real danger (like seeing a wild animal), but it becomes a problem when everyday situations–like going to school or sleeping in their own bed–feel dangerous when they're actually safe.
What Causes Anxiety in Children?
Anxiety can be genetic, environmental, or a combination of both.
Important to know: Anxiety is not your fault as a parent, and it's not your child's fault either.
However, the way caregivers respond to a child's anxiety can either help reduce it or accidentally make it worse. With the right strategies, you can help your child face their fears and feel more confident.
How a Child Anxiety Therapist Can Help
The Goal of Anxiety Therapy
As a child anxiety therapist, my goal isn't to eliminate anxiety completely (that would be impossible and actually unhealthy). Instead, I help children:
Understand what anxiety is and why it happens
Recognize their anxiety triggers and physical sensations
Learn that they can handle uncomfortable feelings
Slowly face their fears in a supported way
Build confidence in their ability to cope
The key to anxiety: Helping kids slowly face their fears (rather than avoid them).
My Approach to Treating Child Anxiety
I specialize in evidence-based approaches that have been proven effective for childhood anxiety, including:
Parent coaching and support. Because you play a crucial role in helping your child overcome anxiety, I provide live coaching on how to respond to anxious behaviors in the moment.
Gradual exposure. We create a plan to help your child face their fears step-by-step, starting with easier situations and building up to harder ones.
Skill building. Children learn practical coping strategies they can use when anxiety shows up.
In-the-moment practice. Rather than just talking about anxiety, we practice managing it during our sessions so your child gains real confidence.
What Does Child Anxiety Look Like?
Anxiety can show up differently in every child. Your child might be experiencing anxiety if they:
Refuse to go to school
Have trouble separating from you
Constantly ask for reassurance about the same worries
Avoid social situations (like sleepovers, playdates, activities, etc.)
Complain of stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause
Have difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
Show extreme perfectionism or fear of making mistakes
Worry about everyday things
Have specific fears
Common types of childhood anxiety I treat:
Separation anxiety
Social anxiety
Excessive worrying (aka, Generalized Anxiety)
Phobias
Performance anxiety
Selective mutism (aka, failure to speak in certain situations)
Panic attacks
When to Seek a Child Anxiety Therapist
You might consider therapy for your child if the anxiety...
Interferes with school, friendships, or family life
Prevents your child from doing activities
Persists despite giving them support at home
Causes significant distress for them or your family
Feels overwhelming and you're unsure how to help
You don't have to wait until things are "bad enough."
Early intervention can prevent anxiety from becoming more severe and help your child develop healthy coping skills.
What to Expect from Therapy
How We Work Together
In our sessions, I provide a space where your child feels safe enough to be brave.
For parents: You'll learn specific strategies to help your child manage anxiety at home and receive in-the-moment coaching during sessions.
For children: They'll learn that anxiety is manageable, practice facing fears in a gradual way, and discover they're capable of more than they thought.
Timeline
Every situation, child and family is different, but many times we start to see improvements within 4-8 weeks of consistent therapy.
With practice and support, children can:
Feel more confident and independent
Participate in activities they previously avoided
Experience less intense anxiety symptoms
Develop lifelong coping skills
Enjoy childhood more fully
Ways to Support Your Anxious Child at Home
While working with a child anxiety therapist is incredibly valuable, here are a few things you can start doing at home:
Model calm behavior. Your child looks to you to gauge if a situation is safe. When you stay calm, it sends the message that they can handle the situation.
Avoid accommodation. As hard as it is, try not to let your child avoid feared situations entirely. Instead, help them face fears gradually with support.
Praise brave behavior. Notice and specifically praise any time your child does something that makes them anxious, even small steps.
Limit reassurance. Instead of answering the same worried question repeatedly, gently redirect and express confidence in your child's ability to cope.
Ready to Help Your Child Feel More Confident?
If your child is struggling with anxiety, you don't have to figure this out alone. As a child anxiety therapist specializing in evidence-based approaches, I'm here to guide both you and your child toward feeling more confident and capable.
Together, we'll help your child move from being controlled by anxiety to managing it effectively, so they can just enjoy being a kid.
Get Started Today
Step 1: Schedule your free 15-minute phone consultation. You can self-schedule here or contact me directly.
Step 2: In our consultation, you'll share what you're experiencing, ask questions, and we'll determine if we're the right fit.
Step 3: We'll schedule our first appointment and begin working together to help your child feel more like themselves again.
About Alexis Landa, LMHC
Alexis Landa is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor specializing in child anxiety therapy in Miami, Florida. She is certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for Anxiety and Selective Mutism and provides online therapy throughout Florida.
Serving families throughout Florida via online therapy
