When worry is running the show, your family doesn't have to figure it out alone.

Maybe bedtime has turned into an hour of "what ifs." Maybe your child gets a stomachache every school morning, or your teen has stopped going to things they used to love. You might be asking yourself, "Is this normal? Am I making it worse? Why is this so hard?"

You're not doing anything wrong, and you're not alone. Anxiety is one of the most common reasons families reach out for help, and it's very treatable. At SageMind Psychology, our team helps kids, teens, and parents understand what's going on and learn practical skills that make everyday life feel easier again.

What anxiety can look like in kids and teens

Anxiety doesn't always look like worry. In kids especially, it often shows up in the body or in behavior. Parents tell us things like:

• "My son melts down every morning before school."
• "She has a stomachache or headache almost every day, but the doctor says she's fine."
• "He can't fall asleep unless I stay in the room."
• "My daughter asks me the same reassuring questions over and over."
• "My teen won't order food, make a phone call, or talk to new people."
• "He freaks out when plans change, and I don't know how to calm him down."
• "They’re a perfectionist. One mistake on homework and they fall apart."
• "My kid avoids parties, sleepovers, or sports they used to enjoy."
• "He gets angry or shuts down, and I think it's really fear underneath."

Anxiety can also look like repetitive habits or rituals, panic attacks, or constant worry about getting sick, bad things happening, or being away from a parent. These are all things our team works with every day.

Is this normal worry, or is it time to get help?

Every child feels nervous sometimes. It may be time to reach out when anxiety:

• Keeps your child from school, friends, activities, or sleep
• Takes up a lot of your family's time, energy, or routines
• Has lasted for weeks or months, or seems to be growing
• Leads to meltdowns, anger, or shutting down that you can't explain
• Makes you feel like you're walking on eggshells or constantly reassuring

You don't need to wait until things are "bad enough." Getting support early can help kids build confidence faster and keep anxiety from spreading into other parts of life.

How we help kids and teens with anxiety

Anxiety gets smaller when kids learn to face it, and parents know how to help.

Our team uses evidence-based therapies with strong research support for childhood anxiety. We tailor treatment to your child's age, personality, and goals, and we keep sessions engaging so kids actually want to come back.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Kids learn to notice anxious thoughts, test them out, and practice coping skills. For younger children, we use games, activities, and play to make skills stick.

• Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): A gentle, step-by-step way to help kids face fears and let go of rituals or constant reassurance, at a pace that feels doable.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): For kids and teens whose anxiety comes with big emotions, meltdowns, or overwhelm, DBT teaches skills for calming down and handling hard moments.

• Parent coaching: You know your child best. We give you tools for responding to worry and meltdowns, reducing reassurance cycles, and supporting bravery at home.

Support for every kind of anxiety.

Anxiety can look very different from one child to the next. Here are some of the most common types we treat, and how we help:

• Generalized anxiety: Constant "what if" worries about school, friends, health, family, or the future, often with trouble sleeping or relaxing. We use CBT to help kids notice their worries, put them to the test, and practice calming and problem-solving skills. Parent coaching helps families step out of the reassurance cycle.

• Separation anxiety: Intense distress about being away from a parent, which can show up as hard school drop-offs, avoiding sleepovers, or not being able to sleep alone. We use CBT with gradual, planned practice being apart, and we coach parents on supporting independence at a pace that works for their child.

• Social anxiety: Fear of being judged or embarrassed that leads kids to avoid speaking up in class, ordering food, joining activities, or meeting new people. CBT helps kids challenge thoughts like "Everyone will laugh at me" and take small, brave social steps that build real confidence.

• Specific phobias: Strong fears of particular things or situations, such as dogs, needles, vomiting, storms, the dark, or elevators. Exposure therapy helps kids face their fear one small step at a time, so it gradually loses its power.

• Panic attacks: Sudden waves of a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a feeling that something terrible is happening. CBT teaches kids and teens what is happening in their body during panic and helps them practice with those sensations until they feel less frightening.

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): Unwanted, upsetting thoughts paired with rituals like washing, checking, counting, redoing, or asking the same questions over and over. Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is the most well-researched treatment for OCD, and it helps kids resist rituals and learn they can handle uncertainty.

• Health and illness anxiety: Frequent worry about getting sick, checking the body for signs that something is wrong, or needing repeated reassurance from parents or doctors. CBT and exposure-based strategies help kids loosen the grip of these worries.

• Anxiety around school: Stomachaches on school mornings, frequent calls to come home, or avoiding school altogether. Along with CBT and parent coaching, our School Refusal Program (DBT-SR) offers focused support for kids who are struggling to get to school.

Many kids experience more than one type of anxiety, and anxiety often shows up alongside ADHD, depression, or big emotions. Our clinicians look at the full picture and build a treatment plan around your child.

Programs for extra support. For some families, a more specialized program can help:

• Kids who are neurodivergent, including autistic, ADHD, and twice-exceptional (2E) kids: our neurodivergent-informed therapy and ADHD and executive functioning support

• Teens who want to practice skills alongside peers: our DBT skills groups

• Kids who need more support than weekly therapy: our Intensive Outpatient DBT Program for children and teens

• Families who want a clearer picture of what's going on: our psychological assessments

A team behind every family. Our clinicians work together, receive ongoing supervision, and consult on cases, so your child benefits from the experience of the whole team. We are LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodiversity-informed. Meet our clinical team.

Getting started is simple

Your child's first step toward feeling brave starts with a 15-minute call.

1. Book a free 15-minute consultation. Tell us what's going on, ask questions, and get a feel for how we work.

2. Get matched with the right clinician. We'll pair your family with the team member best suited to your child's needs.

3. Start therapy. After an intake session, your child begins building skills, and you get support too.

We offer therapy in person at our Brooklyn Heights office and online (telehealth) in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Vermont, plus 40+ additional PSYPACT states. 

SageMind Psychology is an out-of-network practice. Many families use out-of-network benefits, and we provide superbills to help you seek reimbursement. Learn about rates and insurance.

Book your free consultation or contact us with questions.

Questions parents ask us

How do I know if my child's worry is anxiety or just a phase?

Most kids go through worried stretches. If the worry lasts for weeks, keeps your child from things they need or want to do, or takes over your family's routines, it's worth talking to a professional. A free consultation is a low-pressure way to find out.

Why does my kid melt down or get angry when they're anxious?

For many kids, anxiety feels like danger, and the body reacts with fight, flight, or freeze. That can look like tantrums, anger, or shutting down. Therapy helps kids recognize the feeling underneath and gives parents calmer ways to respond.

Am I making my child's anxiety worse by reassuring them?

Reassurance comes from love, and it's a natural response. Sometimes, though, it can keep anxiety going in the long run. Parent coaching helps you find ways to support your child that build their confidence over time.

What age do you work with?

We work with children, tweens, and teens, and we include parents in treatment. Our approaches are adapted for each age, from play-based strategies for younger kids to skills-focused sessions for teens.

How long does anxiety therapy take?

It depends on your child and their goals. Many families notice changes as their child starts practicing new skills. Your clinician will check in on progress with you along the way.

Can my child do therapy online?

Yes. We offer telehealth in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, and 40+ additional PSYPACT states, as well as in-person sessions in Brooklyn Heights.

Do you take insurance?

We are an out-of-network practice. We provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement, and we can help you check your out-of-network benefits. Reimbursement depends on your plan.

My child's anxiety is making it hard to go to school. Can you help?

Yes. Our School Refusal Program (DBT-SR) is designed for kids and teens who are struggling to get to school because of anxiety or overwhelm.