Compassionate Support for Anxious Teens

Compassionate Support for Anxious Teens

Is your teen overwhelmed by worry, stress, or fear? I can help.

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health challenges facing teenagers today. It is a recognized mental health condition that can impact daily functioning. Between academic pressure, social media, peer relationships, and the uncertainty of the future, teens in Silicon Valley face unique stressors that can trigger or worsen anxiety symptoms. While it is normal to feel anxious in certain situations, persistent or excessive anxiety may indicate a more serious issue. If your teen is avoiding school, experiencing panic attacks, or constantly worried about performance and judgment, specialized anxiety therapy can provide the tools and support they need to thrive.

Signs Your Teen May Be Struggling with Anxiety

• Excessive worry about school performance, social situations, or the future
• Constant “what if” thinking and catastrophizing
• Difficulty concentrating or mind going blank
• Perfectionism and fear of making mistakes
• Irritability, restlessness, or feeling on edge
• Avoidance of challenging situations or new experiences

• Frequent stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause
• Difficulty falling or staying asleep
• Muscle tension, jaw clenching, or restlessness
• Rapid heartbeat or shortness of breath
• Fatigue despite adequate rest
• Changes in appetite

• Avoiding school, social events, or activities they once enjoyed
• Procrastination or difficulty starting tasks due to worry
• Excessive reassurance-seeking from parents or teachers
• School refusal or frequent requests to stay home
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Overuse of phone or gaming as escape mechanisms

If your teen is experiencing several of these symptoms and they’re interfering with school, relationships, or daily functioning, anxiety therapy can help them develop healthier coping strategies and reduce distress.

Types of Anxiety Disorders in Teens

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Persistent, excessive worry about multiple areas of life—school, family, health, future, and world events. Teens with GAD often describe feeling like their brain “won’t turn off” and struggle to control their worry even when they know it’s excessive.

Social Anxiety Disorder
Intense fear of judgment, embarrassment, or humiliation in social situations. Socially anxious teens may avoid presentations, group projects, parties, or even everyday interactions like ordering food or asking questions in class. Social anxiety often worsens during adolescence when peer relationships become central to identity development.

Panic Disorder
Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks characterized by sudden, intense physical symptoms like racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, and fear of losing control or dying are common in panic disorder, where anxiety and panic symptoms often occur together. Many teens with panic disorder develop anxiety about having another panic attack, leading to avoidance of places or situations where attacks have occurred.

Performance Anxiety
Excessive anxiety related to academic performance, tests, athletic competitions, or artistic performances. Performance anxiety can lead to procrastination, perfectionism, and self-sabotage despite genuine desire to succeed.

Health Anxiety
Persistent worry about having or developing serious illness, often accompanied by frequent checking of symptoms or seeking medical reassurance. Health anxiety increased significantly among teens during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Separation Anxiety
While more common in younger children, some teens experience excessive anxiety when separated from parents or home. This may manifest as school refusal, difficulty with sleepovers, or reluctance to attend college or work.

Each type of anxiety benefits from specialized therapeutic approaches, and I tailor treatment to your teen’s specific symptoms and circumstances.

My Approach to Teen Anxiety Treatment

With more than 30 years of experience treating anxious adolescents in Los Gatos, San Jose, Saratoga, and surrounding communities, I understand that effective anxiety therapy must address both the negative thoughts that fuel anxiety and the behaviors that maintain it. My approach is collaborative, practical, and grounded in what research shows actually works for people with anxiety. It is important to discuss treatment options with mental health professionals to find which treatments work best for each individual, as the goal is always to reduce anxiety in a way that fits their unique needs.

Ready to Help Your Teen Thrive Again?
As a licensed psychologist specializing in teen and college student depression in Los Gatos, I provide compassionate, evidence-based treatment that addresses your teen’s unique challenges. Let’s work together to help them rediscover hope and build lasting resilience.

Evidence-Based Treatment Methods

Exposure Therapy: For teens avoiding anxiety-triggering situations, gradual, supported exposure helps them build confidence and realize that feared outcomes rarely occur. We create a step-by-step plan that respects your teen’s pace while encouraging growth beyond their comfort zone.

Mindfulness & Relaxation Techniques: I teach practical skills for managing the physical symptoms of anxiety, including diaphragmatic breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, and mindfulness exercises that help teens stay grounded in the present moment rather than lost in anxious thoughts about the future.

Skills-Based Coaching: Anxious teens benefit from concrete strategies for managing academic stress, improving organization, and developing healthy routines. I help teens create systems that reduce overwhelm and build confidence through small, achievable wins.

Understanding the Mind-Body Connection
Anxiety isn’t just “in your head”—it creates real physical sensations that can be frightening and uncomfortable. I help teens understand how their nervous system responds to perceived threats and teach them to recognize early warning signs of mounting anxiety. By learning to identify physical cues like muscle tension, rapid heartbeat, or shallow breathing, teens can intervene early and prevent full-blown anxiety episodes.

Building Emotional Resilience
Beyond reducing immediate anxiety symptoms, my goal is to help teens develop lasting resilience. This includes:

• Strengthening distress tolerance skills
• Building confidence through mastery experiences
• Developing problem-solving abilities
• Improving self-compassion and reducing perfectionism
• Creating sustainable self-care practices
• Establishing healthy sleep, exercise, and nutrition habits

Self-Help Strategies for Teen Anxiety

Anxiety disorders—such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder—can make daily life feel overwhelming for teens. While working with a mental health professional is often the most effective way to treat anxiety disorders, there are also practical self-help strategies that can help manage anxiety symptoms and support overall mental health.

1. Practice Cognitive Behaviour Techniques: Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) is widely recognized by the American Psychiatric Association as a leading treatment for anxiety disorders. Teens can start by identifying negative or anxiety-provoking thoughts and challenging them with more balanced, realistic perspectives. Keeping a thought journal or using CBT-based apps can help teens track patterns and practice cognitive restructuring on their own.

2. Gradual Exposure to Fears: Exposure therapy, a key component of behaviour therapy, involves gradually facing anxiety-provoking situations in a safe and controlled way. Teens can create a list of situations that trigger anxiety and, with support, slowly work through them—starting with the least distressing and gradually increasing the challenge. This approach helps reduce avoidance and builds confidence over time.

3. Develop Healthy Daily Routines: Regular sleep, balanced nutrition, and physical activity are essential for managing anxiety symptoms. Establishing predictable routines can help teens feel more in control and reduce overall stress.

4. Learn Relaxation Techniques: Simple relaxation strategies, such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness exercises, can help calm the body’s physical response to anxiety. Practicing these techniques daily—even when not feeling anxious—can make them more effective during stressful moments.

5. Stay Connected and Seek Support: Talking to trusted friends, family members, or joining a support group can help teens feel less isolated and more understood. Sharing experiences with others who face similar challenges can provide encouragement and practical tips for managing anxiety.

6. Limit Avoidance and Safety Behaviors: While it’s natural to want to avoid situations that trigger anxiety, avoidance can make anxiety worse in the long run. Encourage gradual participation in activities that feel challenging, and celebrate small steps forward.

Remember, self-help strategies are most effective when used alongside professional support, especially for teens experiencing severe anxiety or when anxiety symptoms significantly interfere with daily life. If anxiety persists or worsens, reaching out to a mental health provider for a personalized treatment plan is an important next step. With the right tools and support, teens can learn to manage anxiety and regain confidence in their daily lives.

Parent Involvement in Teen Anxiety Treatment

Understand anxiety accommodation patterns: Well-meaning parents often unintentionally reinforce anxiety by helping teens avoid anxiety-provoking situations. I’ll help you recognize when you’re accommodating anxiety versus supporting healthy coping, and how to gradually encourage brave behavior.

Improve family communication: Anxious teens need validation without over-reassurance. I teach parents how to acknowledge their teen’s feelings while encouraging problem-solving and independence rather than getting stuck in repetitive worry cycles.

Create a supportive home environment: Reducing family stress, establishing predictable routines, and modeling healthy anxiety management all contribute to your teen’s recovery. I provide practical strategies for creating a calmer home atmosphere.

Navigate school challenges: Whether your teen needs accommodations through a 504 plan or IEP, or you need to communicate with teachers about anxiety-related absences or performance issues, I can guide you through these conversations and help advocate for your teen’s needs.

Recognize when to push and when to support: One of the hardest challenges parents face is knowing when to encourage their anxious teen to face challenges versus when to offer support and patience. We’ll work together to find this balance.

I offer parent consultation sessions and periodic parent-teen sessions to strengthen communication and reinforce therapeutic progress at home. Research consistently shows that family involvement improves treatment outcomes for anxious adolescents.

What to Expect in Teen Anxiety Therapy

We begin with a comprehensive evaluation where I meet with you and your teen together, then speak with your teen individually. The assessment includes questions about your teen’s life experiences and considers criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. I’ll assess:

• Specific anxiety symptoms and triggers
• Impact on school, relationships, and daily functioning
• Family history and environmental factors
• Current coping strategies (helpful and unhelpful)
• Previous treatment experiences
• Strengths and resources your teen brings to therapy

During this process, I also screen for other mental health conditions and a range of anxiety problems to ensure a thorough understanding of your teen’s needs.

Following the assessment, I’ll share my diagnostic impressions and recommend a treatment approach tailored to your teen’s needs.

Most teens attend weekly 50-minute sessions, though frequency may be adjusted based on symptom severity and treatment progress. Sessions typically include:

• Check-ins about the previous week and homework practice
• Learning new coping skills and anxiety management techniques
• Processing challenging experiences and emotions
• Practicing skills through role-play or in-session exercises
• Setting goals and homework for continued progress between sessions

I create a relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere where teens feel comfortable sharing their experiences. Many anxious teens worry about “doing therapy wrong”—I assure them there’s no wrong way to engage, and we move at a pace that feels manageable.

The length of anxiety therapy varies based on symptom severity, complexity, and individual progress. Some teens experience significant improvement within 12-16 sessions, while others benefit from longer-term support, particularly if anxiety is complicated by depression, ADHD, or family stress. We’ll regularly review progress and adjust treatment as needed.

I use standardized anxiety assessments and regular check-ins to track symptom reduction and functional improvement. Success isn’t just about feeling less anxious—it’s about your teen engaging more fully in life, taking on appropriate challenges, and feeling confident in their ability to handle uncertainty.

Teen Anxiety and Academic Success

Manage test anxiety and performance pressure: Learn strategies to stay calm during exams, reduce catastrophic thinking about grades, and perform closer to their actual ability level rather than being undermined by anxiety.

Overcome procrastination driven by anxiety: Many anxious teens procrastinate because starting feels overwhelming or because they fear not doing work perfectly. I help teens break this cycle through graduated exposure and cognitive restructuring.

Navigate college application stress: The college admissions process can intensify anxiety for high-achieving teens. I provide support throughout this challenging transition, helping students manage expectations, cope with uncertainty, and make decisions aligned with their values rather than anxiety.

Address school refusal: When anxiety becomes so severe that teens avoid school entirely, I work with families and school personnel to develop a gradual return-to-school plan while addressing underlying anxiety triggers.

Balance achievement and wellbeing: I help teens and families examine whether current academic demands are sustainable and healthy, and work toward balance that honors both achievement and mental health.

Anxiety and Co-Occurring Conditions

Teen depression: Chronic anxiety can lead to feelings of hopelessness and low mood. I address both conditions simultaneously, as treating anxiety often improves depressive symptoms and vice versa.

ADHD: Difficulty with focus and organization can fuel anxiety, while anxiety can worsen ADHD symptoms. I help teens develop executive function skills while managing anxiety about performance and follow-through.

Perfectionism: Many anxious teens set impossibly high standards for themselves, leading to chronic stress and fear of failure. I help teens develop more flexible, compassionate self-expectations.

Sleep problems: Anxiety frequently disrupts sleep, and poor sleep worsens anxiety. I incorporate sleep hygiene and behavioral interventions to break this cycle.

When multiple concerns or mental health conditions are present, people with anxiety disorders may experience more complex challenges. I take an integrated approach that addresses all aspects of your teen’s mental health rather than treating issues in isolation.

Virtual and In-Person Teen Anxiety Therapy

Convenience: Eliminates drive time and scheduling conflicts, making it easier to maintain consistent weekly appointments

Comfort: Some anxious teens feel more comfortable opening up from home

Accessibility: Families in San Jose, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Campbell, Saratoga, Santa Cruz, and throughout the Bay Area can access specialized anxiety treatment without geographic barriers

Continuity: If your teen leaves for college or travels, therapy can continue uninterrupted

I use a HIPAA-compliant, secure video platform that’s simple to access from any device. Many families choose a hybrid approach, alternating between in-person and virtual sessions based on schedules and needs.

Why Choose Dr. Patrice Wolters for Teen Anxiety Treatment?

• 30+ Years of Specialized Experience: I’ve helped hundreds of anxious teenagers develop the skills and confidence to manage worry and engage fully in their lives. My extensive experience means I’ve seen virtually every presentation of teen anxiety and know what works.
• Evidence-Based Treatment: I use therapeutic approaches proven effective through research, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.
• Collaborative, Strengths-Based Approach: I partner with teens and families rather than prescribing one-size-fits-all solutions. We identify your teen’s existing strengths and build on them while developing new skills.
• Deep Understanding of Local Pressures: Working in Silicon Valley for decades, I understand the unique academic, social, and cultural pressures facing teens in Los Gatos, Saratoga, and surrounding communities.
• Whole-Person Perspective: I consider the complete picture—sleep, nutrition, exercise, family dynamics, school environment, and social connections—recognizing that anxiety affects and is affected by all areas of life.
• Genuine Care and Commitment: I’m deeply invested in helping your teen move from anxiety and avoidance to confidence and engagement. This isn’t just my profession—it’s my calling.

Frequently Asked Questions About Teen Anxiety Therapy

Take the First Step Toward Reducing Your Teen’s Anxiety

If your teen is struggling with excessive worry, panic, or anxiety-related avoidance, you don’t have to navigate this alone. As an experienced teen anxiety therapist in Los Gatos, I’m here to provide the specialized support and evidence-based treatment your teen needs to feel confident, capable, and engaged in their life again.

Anxiety is highly treatable, and with the right support, your teen can learn to manage worry rather than be controlled by it. Together, we can help your teen go from anxious and overwhelmed to calm and capable.

Contact me today to schedule a free phone consultation. Let’s discuss your teen’s specific concerns and how anxiety therapy can help.