Treatment for Children (6-12)
Proven Treatments to Help Children (ages 6-12) Overcome Anxiety
Anxiety, phobias, and chronic worry can be extremely overwhelming for children. That’s why we offer compassionate, personalized care to help children find emotional balance.
If you’ve ever thought, “How can I help my daughter/son with anxiety?” you’re not alone.
Anxiety affects nearly one in three children. Many parents feel helpless and unsure of what steps to take. Parenting a child with anxiety can feel overwhelming. You may wonder if there was something you could have done differently. The truth is anxiety is a complex condition influenced by many factors, including biology, environment, and life experiences. What matters most is taking the next step to get your child the help they need.
Our team specializes in evidence-based care to meet your child’s unique needs. From understanding their fears to creating a personalized treatment plan, we’re here to guide your family every step of the way.
Forms of Anxiety We Treat in Children
Social Anxiety (Social Anxiety Disorder)
Children with social anxiety feel nervous or scared about being judged by others. They may find it hard to talk in front of groups, make friends, or join activities. Social anxiety in adolescence can make school, playtime, and making new friends harder. With early help, children can learn to manage their fears and build confidence.
Fears and Phobias (Specific Phobias)
Some children fear specific things, like dogs, the dark, or doctor visits. These fears can make them avoid certain situations, affecting their daily life. We help children face their fears with pediatric anxiety therapy so they can feel braver and learn to cope with their fears.
Chronic Worry (Generalized Anxiety Disorder - GAD)
Some kids worry a lot about school, friends, or family. This worry can feel overwhelming and make it hard to concentrate or sleep. With pediatric anxiety therapy tailored to them, children can learn to cope with worry and feel more in control of their thoughts and emotions.
Treatments We Offer for Kids
Assessment
Every treatment journey begins with understanding. Our 80-minute comprehensive evaluation is designed to ensure we fully grasp your child’s needs and challenges. During this session, we:
- Conduct a structured diagnostic interview.
- Spend time with the child, as well as their parents or family members.
- Work together to create an initial treatment plan that feels right for your family.
Within 10 days of this evaluation, a patient care manager will follow up to share the treatment plan and help schedule your child’s first therapy session.
Standard Treatment
Standard treatment is the backbone of our care and provides a steady, thoughtful approach to your child’s needs. Sessions are held weekly or bi-weekly, lasting 50-80 minutes each. Whether in-person, over the phone, or via secure teleconferencing, these sessions are tailored specifically to your child’s goals. Most treatment plans include 5-20 sessions, but we’re here for booster sessions anytime you need extra support.
Intensive Treatment
We are one of few practices that can provide intensive outpatient services to children. Our IOP program is ideal for those with more complex challenges, like severe anxiety, OCD, or school refusal. This personalized program is available both in-person and virtually, making it accessible no matter where you’re located. Whether your family is local or coming from across the country, we’re here to help with care that’s designed to create meaningful, lasting progress in a shorter amount of time.
One-Day Treatment
Sometimes, big changes can happen in just one day! For specific phobias, we offer a unique 3-6 hour intensive exposure therapy session. It’s a focused, results-driven approach that’s highly effective and creates lasting benefits.
Parenting Sessions
We know parenting can feel overwhelming, especially when your child is struggling. That’s why we offer sessions just for parents, designed to:
- Help you better understand your child’s behaviors.
- Teach you practical strategies to respond calmly and effectively.
- Strengthen your relationship with your child.
These sessions can stand alone or complement your child’s therapy, and we’ll work with you to create a schedule that fits your family’s needs.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is all about empowering your child to take control of their thoughts and emotions. Through this evidence-based approach, they’ll learn to:
- Recognize and change negative thought patterns.
- Build practical tools to manage anxiety and stress.
- Improve their emotional regulation and confidence.
Sessions are available both in-person and online, giving your family the flexibility to find what works best for you.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Managing emotions can be tough for anyone, but especially for kids and teens. Our DBT program teaches life-changing skills to help your child:
- Regulate their emotions.
- Build healthier relationships.
- Overcome chronic worrying or social anxiety.
We’re proud to offer a DBT Skills Group for ages 11-17, available both in-person and online. Whether your child prefers one-on-one sessions or learning alongside peers, we have options to help them thrive.
FAQs
How can I help my daughter or son with anxiety? Will therapy really work?
Yes, anxiety is highly treatable through therapy. For example, consistent evidence suggests that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is highly effective, and recent research suggests that its effects are long-lasting with continued practice. After an initial course of treatment, some patients come back for “booster” sessions as needed and/or decide to continue in treatment to target additional concerns. Many patients, however, don’t have any further need for treatment at all.
What if my child doesn’t want to go to therapy?
It’s common for kids to feel apprehensive about starting therapy, and you may feel lost on how to help your child with anxiety. Our compassionate approach helps children and parents feel at ease, and we involve your child in their treatment plan to ensure they feel heard and supported.
What if therapy makes them feel like there’s something wrong with them?
This is a natural concern, and we address it by framing therapy as a tool for growth, not a sign of weakness or a problem. We emphasize that seeking support is a positive and empowering choice—much like getting help from a coach or tutor to improve a skill. Therapy provides tools and strategies to help your child better understand themselves, manage their feelings, and build confidence. We also avoid stigmatizing language and work to create a safe, accepting space!
I’ve tried therapy before, but it didn’t seem to help. Is it worth trying again?
In our experience, yes. Not all therapy approaches or therapists are the right fit for every child. In addition to taking extra care in matching your child with a therapist who suits their needs and personality, we personalize our evidence-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help your child make real progress.
10,000+ Individuals Served
Over 90% of our surveyed patients would recommend us to a friend
More than a decade of experience helping our community
Pediatric Anxiety Treatment Cost
Like most local providers, we do not accept insurance. However, we aim to make care as accessible as we can.
- Patients may receive up to 100% reimbursement depending on their out-of-network mental health benefits. Our team can provide documentation to assist with reimbursement. We recommend checking with your insurance company to determine the exact reimbursement amount.
- Our focused, short-term treatment approach generally costs a fraction of other settings. Treatment is only as long as necessary, and our assessment tool helps reduce the length of therapy, lowering overall costs.
- No surprise fees or charges. We provide a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) before services to break down anticipated costs, and the duration of individual sessions is scheduled in advance based on each patient’s treatment plan.
Our Locations
Speak with a Patient Care Manager
You can start the intake process today by scheduling a time to speak with a Patient Care Manager. To contact us for general inquiries please click here.