Anxiety and anger cause our body to react in very similar ways. Adults know how to take a step back - but how can we teach our children to do the same?

You wish your teen talked to you more, or joined in family dinner, but because they're doing so well with school and extracurricular activities, you wonder if you should even worry. Maybe you should. Some teens, even when academically successful, are struggling to manage symptoms of their anxiety. 

You can feel helpless when your child is out of control. The first step is to help them build a language for what's going on - is it nerves, anger, frustration? Then, build skills one at a time to help them manage these strong emotions - and ensure that you're being proactive, practicing skills before the freak out occurs.

What is anxiety? We know the classic signs, but many people miss important clues that they are dealing with their own anxiety. Frustration, depression, and isolation may also indicate that you need some support for managing your own anxiety. What are your next steps?

Counseling is all about making connections and figuring out goals. I work one-on-one with children and teens to make real change happen, but it's also important to take the time and see if your goals for your child or teen are the same as their goals for themselves.

How to Teach Mindfulness Like a Therapist. Mindfulness is the act of being aware and present within each moment. It's a pretty buzz-y word right now - almost any classroom teacher, dance instructor, or coach is going to talk a little bit about incorporating mindfulness. Why? Because research has shown that mindfulness helps decrease stress, increase focus, and even helps improve relationships. 

Anxiety in children is difficult to deal with, but anxiety is designed to be a helpful tool. Learn a quick tip to help with your child's anxiety here.