Stress and Anxiety
Anxiety corresponds to the expectation of a danger or a problem to come. Anxiety is a normal phenomenon, present in all people, even children. However, it can become excessive and interfere with your child’s daily life. Learn more about treatment options at the Kids Clinic.
How anxiety affects children
Children, like adults, experience anxiety in a variety of ways. Anxiety can be a useful phenomenon when it draws attention to real dangers or risky situations. However, too much anxiety can have a long-lasting effect on your child’s thinking patterns and daily functioning at home, school and in social settings.
An anxious child may dislike taking risks or trying new things, fear school and social interactions, ask for help with things they can do for themselves, and more. There are many forms of anxiety disorders in children, from phobias to separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and posttraumatic stress disorder. Further, the manifestations are just as varied: irritability, lack of confidence, sleeping issues, stomach aches and pains, avoidance of things, etc.
At the Kids Clinic, we can work with you and your child to identify what is holding them back, and develop new ways of managing these difficult emotions, so they don’t interfere with their everyday life.
We can help you
Our therapists meet your child where they are and tailor the therapy to their specific goals and needs. That’s why we use a wide range of interventions, methods and strategies: CBT, graded exposure, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (particularly with adolescents), social skills building, parent coaching, etc.
- Helping your child challenge the scary thoughts and set mini-goals to slowly build their confidence
- Learning self-regulation skills to help your child recognise the signs of their growing anxiety and explore a range of coping skills designed to defuse their fear
- Incorporating mindfulness, such as breathing techniques which can help children feel a greater sense of calm
- Developing your child’s social skills to help them feeling confident in diverse social interactions, such as talking to new people, speaking up in class or performing in public
As their anxiety grows, children often begin to withdraw – their world shrinks! Therapy can assist in widening their experiences and supporting them in the process of tackling their anxiety and participating in life more fully.
What to expect
Making your first appointment
Once you’ve decided to try therapy, call our kind and caring admin team on (02) 9139 0126 to discuss what you are having difficulty with and book your first appointment.
Attending the initial consultation
In the initial consultation, your therapist is looking to build a picture of how you’ve come to where you are today and what you are looking to get out of therapy. Your therapist will do their best to address any questions or concerns you may have about the process.
Creating a treatment plan together
Over the first three sessions, your therapist will work collaboratively with you to establish goals for therapy. They are designed to be specific, realistic, and tailored to your needs.
Undergoing therapy
As your therapy goes on, you will continue the process of building a trusting relationship with your therapist. You will work with them to find alternative ways of thinking and behaving, build resilience and learn new skills that will help to see yourself and the world differently, and promote helpful actions in life.
Make a booking today
Not sure where to start or have a question?
There can be lots of questions that come up when you’re trying to make a decision about whether to see a psychologist. If you have a question that we haven’t answered in our FAQ, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.