Is Anxiety Taking Over Family Life?

As a parent or caregiver, you may feel like your child's anxiety has begun to take over family life. Maybe they're refusing to go to school, avoiding sports or other activities they once enjoyed, or only feeling comfortable at home. You may find yourself constantly reassuring them or allowing them to avoid situations because you're worried they'll become overwhelmed.

If this sounds familiar, you're not alone. Childhood anxiety is highly treatable, and with the right support, children can learn to face their fears while parents gain practical tools to help them build confidence and independence. I use three evidence-based treatments to help children and families overcome anxiety.

How I treat childhood anxiety

I use three evidenced based treatments to help with childhood anxiety.

• I help children and teens (ages 7+) learn strategies to help cope better with anxiety using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

  • CBT is one of the most well-researched treatments for childhood anxiety and is considered the gold standard.

• I also work directly with parents to reduce childhood anxiety and OCD symptoms through (ages 4-18) through an evidenced based program called Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE).

  • Unlike traditional child-focused therapy, SPACE focuses on helping parents change the ways they respond to anxiety. As parents reduce accommodations and respond differently to anxious behaviors, children often become more confident and less anxious.

  • SPACE can be especially helpful when: 

    • A child has not benefited from individual therapy

    • A child is reluctant to attend therapy

    • A child is too young for CBT

    • Anxiety makes it difficult for the child to participate in treatment

• For younger children (ages 3-7), I use PCIT-CALM, a specialized adaptation of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy designed for anxiety. During sessions, parents receive live coaching while interacting with their child, learning how to support their child in gradually facing fears and building confidence.

Every child experiences anxiety differently. That's why I tailor treatment to each family's needs, using approaches that have been shown through research to help children become more confident, more independent, and better able to manage anxiety over time.

What to expect:

• Every family is different, but the treatment process typically follows these steps:

  • Initial parent appointment: We will meet to discuss your concerns, your child's history, and your goals for treatment.

  • Child appointment: I typically meet with your child to better understand their anxiety and determine which treatment approach is the best fit. If your child is unwilling or unable to participate, that's okay! We can still move forward with a parent-focused approach, such as SPACE.

  • Feedback and treatment planning: After the parent and child appointments we’ll review my recommendations and develop a treatment plan together.

    • If SPACE is the best fit, follow-up appointments are with parents. Your child does not need to attend treatment sessions.

    • In some cases, combining SPACE with individual CBT provides the greatest benefit. If we choose this approach, we'll discuss whether it makes sense to complete one program first or alternate between parent and child sessions.

    • CBT, SPACE, and PCIT-CALM are structured, goal-oriented treatments. While every family is different, most treatment plans last approximately 10 to 20 sessions.

    • The best treatment depends on your child's age, developmental level, and your family's needs.

Which Treatment Is Right for My Child?

• CBT is ideal for children and teens who are ready to actively learn coping skills and practice managing anxiety.

• SPACE is ideal for parents who want to take an active role in reducing their child's anxiety, especially if their child is reluctant to attend therapy.

• PCIT-CALM is designed for young children and their parents, using live coaching to help children gradually face fears while strengthening parent-child interactions.

During your initial appointments, we'll discuss your family's goals and determine which treatment approach is most likely to help your child succeed.

Contact me at (216) 245-2421

for a free 15-minute phone consultation

I know it can feel like a big step to reach out to a psychologist and start treatment, but I try to make it easy. We’ll spend 15-minutes on the phone and I’ll let you know how or if I can help. If I am not the right person, I’ll do my best to get you to the right person

Have questions about my other services in Westlake, OH? Learn about me here, or check out the FAQs about therapy.