Therapy for Child and Teen Anxiety in San Marino

When kids and teens struggle with anxiety…

It doesn’t just show up in their minds; it’s present in your whole household. Worry, panic, school stress, and perfectionism can affect grades, sleep, friendships, and family life. As a parent, it’s painful to watch your child overwhelmed and not know how to help.

But as struggling as anxiety can be for your child and the entire family, there is hope: anxiety is common, well understood, and treatable. With the right support, kids and teens can learn to face fears, build confidence, and get back to being themselves.

What child and teen anxiety looks like…

• Constant worry or “what if” thinking

• Trouble sleeping or physical complaints (stomachaches, headaches)

• Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes

• Panic attacks or meltdowns before school

• Avoidance of friends, activities, or responsibilities

These signs don’t mean something is “wrong” with your child. They mean your child’s brain is doing exactly what it learned to do: protect them from danger, even when there isn’t one. With support, those patterns can change.

How Therapy can help…

Therapy with me isn’t just about talking—it’s about helping your child practice new skills in ways that are achievable, collaborative, and supportive. Together, we focus on:

• Learning tools to manage anxious thoughts and emotions

• Building coping strategies for school, friendships, and everyday challenges

• Practicing gradual exposure work informed by ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy)

• Supporting parents with practical strategies you can use at home

Over time, kids and teens learn that anxiety doesn’t have to control them—and parents gain relief from constant battles and accommodations.

For some kids, anxiety shows up as constant worries. For others, it can look more like rituals, compulsions, or obsessive thoughts tied to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Learn more about how I help with OCD here.

My Approach

I combine evidence-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), ACT, and parent-focused models such as SPACE with emerging, neuroscience-informed methods that help kids and teens calm their bodies and retrain anxious brain patterns.

My graduate research focused on the role of parental support in the treatment of childhood anxiety, and that passion continues to guide my work today. I also trained directly with Dr. Eli Lebowitz from the Yale Child Study Center in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), a leading parent-based treatment for child anxiety.

This means my approach is both research-driven and family-centered. Your child won’t just be learning skills in sessions, but actually practicing them at home, at school, and in daily life.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re interested in working with me — or simply want to learn more about how therapy could help — I invite you to schedule a free 30-minute consultation.