Anxiety and Worry in Children
Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in children and adolescents. It is characterized by fear, excessive worrying, or intrusive thoughts. Anxiety can be hard to recognize because it can show up in many different ways, including nervousness, headaches and stomachaches, nausea, avoidance, extreme shyness, and even behavioral difficulties. There are many types of anxiety and your child may suffer from one specific phobia or experience more generalized anxiety.
What is Anxiety?
If your child’s fears or worries interfere with their daily life and affect their relationships with peers, school life and the activities that would have otherwise been pleasurable, it might be time to look for help.
When should you worry
Support your child by listening and talking about the fear or worry. Our goal isn’t to eliminate the fear, or avoid the situation the child is scared of. We want to help children confront their worries rather than avoiding the things they are afraid of. At Play Therapy Brooklyn, we will create an individualized plan for you and your family to help you understand your child’s fear, manage their behaviors around the anxiety, and help you as a parent to encourage and support your child through their difficulties. In individual sessions with the child, the therapist will support the child in managing their anxiety, now and in the future. We will use Evidence-Based Techniques to reduce symptoms, and find tools and coping mechanisms for managing anxiety on a daily basis.
How to help your child
