Articles
New - Spring 2026 !
Signs of Anxiety in Kids and Teens Can Go Unnoticed or Can Be Misinterpreted
May 2026
As therapists with extensive training and many years of experience working with kids and teens (as well as parents and adults) with anxiety, here are some things that we’ve seen. Oftentimes, we first hear from parents who are concerned with behaviors, such as outbursts, demands, or refusal. While these behaviors might appear as the most prominent outward concerns, they can be misunderstood as purely behavior problems. These behaviors often appear with other signs that can go unnoticed, and paint a larger picture of a child struggling with anxiety. Kids and teens who are struggling with anxiety might have complaints of unexplained physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue, and they might make lots of visits to the nurses office at school. They might fidget a lot or appear tense. Anxious children might also struggle with sleep or sleep independence. Anxious kids tend to ask a lot of questions, and they tend to repeat them. There might be a lot of “what if” questions related to safety or future events. They might need to be reassured about things, and want to know exactly what to expect. While many kids express their worries and ask a lot of questions, some quietly struggle with them in their heads, which can appear as inattention or not listening. Social signs are often seen as well, including avoidance of social situations, or distress after interactions. Teens might excessively monitor messages and/or social media, and feel the need to respond rapidly; they might also avoid responding to others due to anxiety. While it is normal for people of all ages to experience some anxiety or worry, when it causes problems, such as distress (for the person or their family) or interferes with their functioning (school, work, social), it’s important to seek support, such as getting evaluated and treated by a therapist. At some point, anxiety affects 30% of children and adolescents, yet 80% never get help (1). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are evidenced based treatments for anxiety. 1) https://childmind.org/about-us/reports/2018-report/
Creating Space Can Help Parents Find Their Own Peace and Respond (vs. React)
May 2026
We wanted to discuss how as parents we can be more reactive than responsive at times, and how we can calm our own nervous systems, which can help to regulate and support our children. Imagine the following scene: After a stressful day, our children ask for a snack after school, need help finding the “correct” soccer shorts, or call out asking for help on homework. If our stress level is already high, we may have our own escalation towards the next person who calls our name. That is our nervous system feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. We will react to the situation with all emotion and no logic. In turn, this chaos in our brains and our children’s / teen’s brains are now the entire family's concern- we reacted. Now, let’s imagine the same situation. This time, as the parent, we take a step back mentally (and possibly physically), we take three deep breaths, we ground ourselves with a quick sensory exercise and we use affirmations such as, “I am overwhelmed and I can do this.” “I am feeling stressed and I will get through this.” “I have my own emotions and I will have a moment to myself, eventually,” - we responded. Brené Brown, PhD, LMSW, stated in The Gifts of Imperfect Parenting: Raising Children with Courage, Compassion, and Connection, "Imperfect parenting moments turn into gifts.” As we continue to think about what is best for our children and teens, let’s take a moment for a deep breath and remind ourselves that being a parent does not mean perfection. It does mean that we are trying our best for our children everyday, and some days we need to take a break too. This break is not only for our own mental well being, it also generates room for the “responding parent.” We often say in our own sessions, “how can we parent with intent?” If we can take a moment for ourselves, calm our own nervous systems, respond to our kids versus reacting, we can create steps to build a more peaceful home. Brown, B. (2013). The gifts of imperfect parenting: Raising children with courage, compassion, and connection [Audio CD].
Nature Nurtures Our Nervous Systems
May 2026
Spending time in nature is linked to cognitive benefits and improvements in mental health. (1) Exposure to nature can regulate the nervous system in as little as five minutes.(2) Nature walks provide the perfect opportunity for us to practice mindfulness, fully immersing ourselves in our surroundings, and engaging our senses. Here are some things that families with kids can try on nature walks: play i-spy (with my little eye) or i-hear (with my little ear); or simply have them call out the things they see and hear; they see various plants and flowers, notice colors, details of trees, animals; they might hear bird chirps and rustling leaves in the wind. They might feel the roughness of tree bark, the warmth of the sun on their skin, or the silkiness of a flower petal; they might smell the scent of a flowering bush or the freshness of morning dew. Mindful nature walks are also beneficial for older kids/teens and adults. Pausing to-do lists and mental “chatter”, and putting devices aside can help with resetting or finding a sense of peace. Connecting with nature helps us connect with ourselves. Take the time to observe what’s around you. Find a patch of nature that you can immerse yourself in or take your children to. Spend those five minutes (or hopefully more) to nurture yourselves, and your children, with nature. 1) American Psychological Association. (2025, April 8). Nurtured by nature. Monitor on Psychology, 51(3). 2) Gladwell VF, et al. The effects of views of nature on autonomic control. Eur J Appl Physiol. 2012 Sep;112(9):3379-86.