Child & Teen Anxiety Therapy in San Diego
When Your Child's Anxiety Is Affecting School, Sleep, or Family Life - Help Is Available
Licensed Psychologist with in-person appointments in Cardiff, San Diego and virtual in CA, CO & UT
As a parent, it’s an incredibly helpless feeling to watch your child struggle with anxiety
Therapy gives kids the tools to manage anxiety for their entire lives while giving you a roadmap for how to help.
How Anxiety Shows Up in Kids & Teens
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Can't turn their brain off
Their mind is always running, replaying, or worrying.
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Emotional meltdowns
Big feelings over what seems like “small things.”
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Trouble sleeping
Falling asleep, staying asleep or frequent night wakings.
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Irritability or defiance
Quick to anger or push back for no clear reason.
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Avoidance
School, sports, friends, family, or activities.
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Physical Complaints
Stomachaches, headaches and other body symptoms.
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Perfectionism
Fear of making mistakes or never feeling “good enough.”
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Reassurance-seeking
Constant “what ifs” and needing repeated reassurance.
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Shuts down or explodes
Withdraw, shutdown, or seem emotionally flooded.
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Clinginess
Hard time being apart from parents or loved ones.
Why anxiety can look like meltdowns, anger, avoidance, or shutdowns
Anxiety isn’t bad behavior - it’s an overwhelmed nervous system. When we don’t have the tools to calm it down, we avoid. Avoidance makes anxiety worse. Anxiety isn’t something that goes away on it’s own and reassurance and logic rarely solve the problem. What works is helping your child’s brain learn it can handle hard things.
Dr. Lindsay gives kids, teens, and parents the tools and understanding to take back control.
I wrote an article for parents about how to spot anxiety signs in your child. Read it here.
What Actually Changes in Therapy
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Make sense of what's happening
Understand their anxiety instead of being overwhelmed by it
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Calm their body in the moment
Simple, age-appropriate tools that actually work at home and at school
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Manage their anxious thoughts
Recognize worry spirals and build more realistic, confident thinking
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Face their fears step by step
Build tolerance and confidence gradually instead of staying stuck in avoidance
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Increase Your Child’s Self-Esteem
Shift from the mindset of "something is wrong with me" to "I can handle this"
How I help anxious kids, teens, and overwhelmed parents
Therapy is tailored to your child - with real strategies your family can actually use.
I help with:
Coaching parents on how to respond more effectively at home.
Reducing avoidance and reassurance-seeking.
Strengthening communication and family connection.
The goal is to help your child handle hard things with more confidence - and help your family feel less stuck.
Why San Diego parents choose Dr. Lindsay O'Shea
You’ve tried everything. You’re still stuck. You need support that actually works in real life.
Families choose to work with me because they want therapy that feels:
Warm and down-to-earth, not cold or overly clinical
Practical tools, not just insight
Specialized support for kids, teens, and parent-child dynamics
Looks at the full picture, not just surface behavior
Parent support built in, not left out
Lasting change, not quick fixes
You do not have to figure this out alone, and you do not need to wait until things get worse to reach out.
Learn more about Dr. Lindsay here.
Ready to Get Started?
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Free 20-minute parent consultation
Share what's happening, ask questions, see if it's the right fit.
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We build a plan together
Based on your child's age, symptoms, and family needs.
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Your child builds real skills
And you feel more supported.
Questions You Might Have
If your question isn’t answered here, you’re always welcome to book a free parent consultation - no question is too big or too small, and we’ll figure out together what your child needs.
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Therapy teaches kids practical skills to calm their body, manage worried thoughts, and face fears gradually instead of avoiding them.
Parents also learn how to respond in ways that reduce anxiety long-term rather than accidentally feeding it. Most kids see improvement within 8-12 sessions.
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Anxiety shows up as meltdowns, school refusal, stomachaches, trouble sleeping, constant reassurance-seeking, perfectionism, or avoiding activities they used to enjoy. It can also look like irritability, clinginess, or anger. If anxiety is affecting school, friendships, or daily routines, support can help.
You can learn more about signs of anxiety in kids and teens here.
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Most families see meaningful progress in 10-15 sessions, though this varies based on severity and consistency. Therapy isn't about 'fixing' anxiety forever - it's about building skills your child can use for life. Some families continue periodically for check-ins and skill-building as new challenges arise.
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Yes, both. I offer in-person child, teen, and parent anxiety therapy in Cardiff-by-the-Sea (Encinitas, San Diego area) and virtual therapy for families throughout California, Colorado, and Utah. Many families choose virtual therapy for convenience and consistency.
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Most kids warm up once they realize therapy isn't scary or 'getting in trouble.' I use age-appropriate approaches - not just talking. Younger kids might use play, drawing, or games. Teens often open up more when therapy feels collaborative, not judgmental. Hesitation at first is completely normal.
You can learn more about my approach here.
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Normal worry is temporary and doesn't interfere with daily life. Anxiety sticks around, gets worse over time, and leads to avoidance - like refusing school, quitting activities, or needing constant reassurance. If worry is causing distress or limiting your child's life, it's worth getting support.
I wrote an article for parents about how to spot anxiety signs in your child. Read it here.
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Anxiety rarely goes away on its own - it typically gets worse without intervention because avoidance feeds the cycle. Therapy gives kids tools to manage anxiety for life. Research shows that early treatment prevents anxiety from becoming more severe in adolescence and adulthood.
I wrote a blog for parents to share some strategies that may help. You can read it here.
Stop Guessing. Start Helping.
A free parent consultation can help you get clarity on what is happening and what next steps may help.
In-person in Cardiff (Encinitas, San Diego) | Virtual in CA, CO, and UT