CONDITIONS WE TREAT
Anxiety
What is anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal response to a stressor or a threat, but sometimes it becomes excessive fear, worry, or nervousness that interferes with daily activities. In children, adolescents, and young adults, this can manifest as physical symptoms, avoidance behaviors, or emotional distress.
Anxiety disorders, including generalized anxiety, social anxiety, and separation anxiety, are the most prevalent psychiatric conditions among children and adolescents. Early recognition and intervention are key to effective management and improving the quality of life of anxious children.
Signs and symptoms of anxiety in children
Anxiety in children and adolescents can present through a range of emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms. These signs can vary by age and the type of anxiety disorder present.
Emotional symptoms
Excessive worry or fear
Irritability or moodiness
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling overwhelmed or out of control
Behavioral symptoms
Avoidance of people, places, or activities
Frequent reassurance-seeking
Clinginess (especially in younger children)
School refusal or drop in performance
Outbursts or tantrums
Physical symptoms
Stomachaches or headaches
Fatigue or restlessness
Muscle tension
Trouble sleeping or nightmares
Rapid heartbeat or sweating
of patients with Anxiety also have another condition like ADHD, Autism or a mood disorder.
THE BLACKBIRD HEALTH DIFFERENCE
“It’s important to seek professional support when anxiety becomes persistent, severe, and interferes with daily life. Anxiety can mean other conditions are present, so parents seek support and a comprehensive evaluationtion for their children.”
— Caitlin Kolba, LCSW, Certified Clinical Trauma
Diagnosis and understanding
Anxiety is often a co-occurring condition, which means it frequently occurs alongside other mental health conditions like ADHD, depression, learning differences, or speech and language disorders. Addressing anxiety by itself may be insufficient if other co-occurring conditions are contributing to symptoms.
Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners investigate all potential factors using our whole-child diagnostic approach. This comprehensive anxiety treatment for children is proven to effectively manage anxiety and any related symptoms.
Here are the factors we consider.
Developmental
Cognitive
Behavioral
Physical
Genetic
Psychosocial
GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scoring
Frequency and Duration of Symptoms
Interference/Impact on daily life
Evidence-Based Anxiety Therapy for Kids
Depending on the child’s diagnosis, significant symptom improvement in children with anxiety can be achieved through a combination of therapeutic, behavioral, and sometimes medical approaches. Here are some of the most widely used.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - The gold standard for child anxiety counseling
Exposure Therapy - Gradual, supported exposure to feared situations
Exposure Response Prevention - Used for patients with OCD
Mindfulness, grounding and stress management techniques
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy - Strengthening parent-child relationships
Family Therapy - Addressing family dynamics that contribute to anxiety
Medication Management - When appropriate and carefully monitored
Individualized Treatment Goals
Goals for anxiety treatment vary for each child and family, but may include:
Reducing symptoms
Learning new coping skills
Increasing confidence and independence
Enhancing emotional awareness
Improving functioning at school and at home
Reducing avoidance behaviors
““We have been impressed with Blackbird Health’s services. It’s so rare to find comprehensive care like this—from testing to therapy to med management (and more)—all in one place. In addition, the school advocacy support we receive is unprecedented. We no longer feel like we are managing things alone. We feel cared for and continue to learn so much from Blackbird. And they take insurance, too!”
—Shannon W, Vienna, Virginia
School Refusal and Anxiety
How to help your child through the tears, tantrums, and dread