Get help with your child's anxiety
If your child is struggling with anxiety it can be hard to know how best to support them. We’ll start by listening to understand what they're experiencing. Then we'll help you and your child find a personalised path forward.
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Child anxiety symptoms
Most children will experience anxiety from time to time, especially when there are unsettling changes like moving schools. Sometimes however, a child might feel anxious more often to the point where it starts to interfere with their daily lives. As well as affecting their emotions, anxiety can have physical symptoms in the body too. You might recognise some of these symptoms of anxiety in your child:
they often feel worried, fearful or nervous
they're restless and agitated, and might have problems concentrating
they wake up in the night, and perhaps have bad dreams
they seem irritable, or have angry outbursts
they avoid everyday activities
they become tearful or clingy
It can be really hard to see your child experiencing these symptoms, but all types of anxiety are treatable with the right support, and we're here to help.
Speak to us and take the next step
To see if we can help with your concerns about your child, the first step is to arrange a free initial 20-minute triage phone call. You'll speak to an Assistant Psychologist who will ask questions to:
Understand the situation
Because of the kinds of questions we need to ask, we'd recommend being in a private place for this call where you’ll feel comfortable speaking about your child’s situation.
Determine if we're the right service to support your child
The Assistant Psychologist will assess for any safety concerns and check if we're suitable to help.
Book your next appointment with the right clinician
If you're specifically interested in arranging therapy for your child and we’re able to, we can book that on this call. If you're unsure of the next step or aren't exclusively looking to arrange talk therapy for your child, the next step will be a psychiatric assessment.
You can either phone us or fill out our form to arrange an initial call.
Psychiatric assessment for anxiety in children and teenagers
If a child is experiencing signs of anxiety, a psychiatric assessment can help you understand what's happening, and give you personalised recommendations for their specific needs. Our private psychiatric assessments explore your child's unique situation in depth, and where clinically appropriate, give a formal diagnosis of a specific condition.
Before the assessment, you'll complete some questionnaires. These help the clinician prepare for the assessment appointment and make the most of the time with you and your child. The appointment lasts for up to two hours. The clinician will be experienced and compassionate in supporting children and young people, and will guide you through relevant clinical interviews. After the assessment, you'll receive a written report tailored to your child.
Our private psychiatric assessments are available for children aged 5 and above. Usually, you and your child will attend the appointment together. Part of the assessment will be between just the clinician and your child.
A young person may prefer to have the assessment without their parent present. We can consider this as long as we're sure they have the capacity to consent to treatment independently.
Our private psychiatric assessments for children cost £895.
Talking therapy for anxiety in children and teenagers
Talking therapy gives your child the chance to explore their thoughts, feelings, experiences and behaviours. It is an option without having a psychiatric assessment first. Your child might find therapy helpful if they:
are feeling anxious or overwhelmed
have school-related worries, pressures or difficulties
are having sleep difficulties
have low confidence
are experiencing challenges with friendships or communication
There are different types of talking therapy, such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT). We can guide you and your child through the options and what might be most suitable for them.
A talking therapy session generally lasts around 50 minutes. The number of sessions your child might need and how often varies from person to person and the type of therapy.
Prices range from £100 to £225, depending on the type of therapy.
Medication for anxiety in children and teenagers
After a psychiatric assessment, your clinician may recommend medication if it's clinically appropriate as a potential treatment to help manage your child’s anxiety. They will only do this if they believe the evidence supports medication as an effective treatment for your child's specific circumstances.
The goal is to support your child to find a medication and dose that is effective, whilst carefully monitoring its effects.
Generalised Anxiety Disorder
Children with GAD often experience excessive worry about everyday matters, such as school performance or family issues.
They may find it challenging to relax and may also show physical symptoms like headaches or stomach-aches.
Panic Disorder
Panic disorder is characterised by sudden and intense episodes of fear, known as panic attacks.
These can include symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, or feelings of losing control, often triggered without warning.
Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety involves an intense fear of social situations, such as speaking in class or attending social events.
Children may avoid activities involving peers or express fear of being judged or embarrassed.
Other types of anxiety disorders in children and young people
Separation anxiety: A strong fear of being away from caregivers, leading to excessive attachment or distress during drop-offs at school or other activities.
Phobias: Intense and irrational fears of specific objects or situations, such as dogs, heights, or the dark, often resulting in avoidance behaviour.
About anxiety in children and teenagers
What is the difference between fear and anxiety?
There may be overlap in your child experiencing fear or anxiety, making it harder to know when it goes beyond natural and, often helpful, responses to danger. Fear is an emotional response to a real and imminent threat or perceived danger, while anxiety is anticipation of a threat that is not yet present. Fear exists to help us, triggering a fight-or-flight response to remove us from unsafe environments or situations. Anxiety is more often seen in vigilant, cautious, anticipatory or avoidant behaviours in preparation for future danger that may or may not arise.
What causes anxiety in children?
Anxiety in children can arise from a range of factors. Many things can make children feel anxious at different ages. These worries may just stem from the normal worries associated with growing up, or they may be symptoms of an anxiety disorder that could benefit from professional help.
Younger children may experience separation anxiety or social anxiety, while older children may develop anxious feelings due to stress from academic pressures or social relationships.
Some children may be more prone to anxiety due to family history or underlying conditions such as ADHD, autism, or OCD. Identifying and understanding these causes is key to providing effective support and intervention.
How to support children with anxiety
To effectively support children who are experiencing anxiety, it's vital for parents to understand the underlying causes and to work with their child to develop effective coping strategies, which may include:
Encouraging open communication: Ask your child to express their worries and fears and to open up to you about their thoughts and feelings.
Establishing a routine: A structured routine can help children feel more secure and in control, providing stability in their daily lives.
Time to relax: Daily times that children can relax and engage in enjoyable leisure activities without judgement or external demands, for example a personal hobby.
Engaging in physical activity: Physical activity can help reduce stress and anxiety and boost self-esteem and confidence.
Seeking professional support: If your child's anxiety is causing significant distress or disruption to their life, it is important to seek the support of a mental health professional. This may include therapy, an assessment, or medication.
If you are interested in exploring private services with us or want to learn more about the support we can offer, you can request more information below.
Or, call us today: 0203 326 9160
We work with several leading medical insurance providers, subject to policy terms and eligibility.
We also offer NHS Right to Choose services for adults and for children.
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