Child Anxiety Therapy in San Diego
Helping kids manage worries and build emotional regulation skills
What anxiety looks like in children and teens
Anxiety in children doesn’t always look like worry—it often shows up as behavior.
Kids may not say “I feel anxious.” Instead, you might see:
Meltdowns over small things
Avoidance (school, activities, social situations)
Clinginess or separation struggles
Irritability or defiance
Physical complaints like stomachaches or headaches
👉 What looks like “bad behavior” is often a child who feels overwhelmed and doesn’t yet have the tools to regulate.
Common signs of child anxiety
School refusal or difficulty getting out the door
Trouble sleeping or frequent nightmares
Perfectionism or fear of making mistakes
Constant reassurance-seeking
Emotional outbursts that seem disproportionate
Why anxiety develops in kids
Child anxiety is not random—it’s a mix of:
Temperament (some kids are more sensitive)
Life stressors (school, social, family changes)
Nervous system sensitivity
Learned patterns of coping
👉 Anxiety is the nervous system trying to protect
—not a flaw in your child.
How Therapy Helps
Anxiety in kids and teens doesn’t just “go away” with time—it often shows up as meltdowns, avoidance, perfectionism, irritability, or constant worry. Therapy gives children and teens the tools they need to understand what’s happening in their brain and body—and what to do about it.
In therapy, your child will learn how to:
Understand anxiety
Make sense of what they’re feeling (instead of feeling “out of control”)Regulate big emotions
Learn simple, age-appropriate tools to calm their body and mind in the momentManage anxious thoughts
Recognize worry patterns and build more balanced, realistic thinkingFace fears gradually
Build confidence step-by-step instead of avoiding what feels scaryImprove self-esteem
Shift from “something is wrong with me” to “I can handle this”
Dr. Lindsay offers in-person therapy in Cardiff, CA (San Diego) or virtual appointments in CA, UT, and CO.