Anxiety Therapy for Teens in St. Louis: Relief for Perfectionism, Panic, and the Hidden Sadness

What Anxiety Therapy for Teens Looks Like

Relief and practice.

In session we make space for feelings and teach your nervous system how to settle. Out of session you try short, realistic strategies that fit your day.

We plan for the moments that spike anxiety, the test days, the group project, the social invite, the family argument. Then you report back so we can refine what works. Therapy becomes a weekly place to breathe, reset, and move forward.

Privacy for Teens, Partnership for Parents

Teens need privacy to open up. I share patterns, progress, and safety plans with parents. I protect session details unless a safety concern is present.

Parents receive guidance on how to support skills at home without pushing too hard. And if something is concerning, I will tell you clearly and quickly. The goal is a team approach that respects teen autonomy and keeps everyone safe.

Skills That Work At School And Home

• Name and tolerate emotions so they feel manageable, not overwhelming

• Use relaxation through grounding, paced breathing, and body based skills to ride out waves of panic

• Practice flexible perfectionism to reduce all or nothing thinking

• Build self talk that is kind and believable

• Prepare for tests and social stressors with simple plans

• Strengthen communication with parents, teachers, and friends

• Reconnect with rest, joy, and self respect.

Teen Perfectionism AND Pressure

You can keep your high standards without the constant pressure to be perfect. We turn rigid rules into flexible goals. We notice the signals that say you need a break. We practice taking that break without spiraling. You learn how to switch from survival mode to steady mode, so the way you feel on the inside can finally match how you look on the outside.

What To Expect

First session. We get to know each other, set goals, and review confidentiality so everyone understands how we work together.

Weekly sessions. Some weeks are skill focused. Other weeks we sit with the quiet sadness under the anxiety so it does not run the show.

Parent check ins. Short updates keep parents in the loop about progress and themes. Teen consent guides the level of detail. Safety concerns are always shared.

Length of therapy. Many teens feel relief in the first few weeks as skills click. Deeper changes, like self compassion and flexible perfectionism, tend to build over a few months. We plan on starting with 12 weeks to get things on track, and then we can take it from there!

Ready For Your Teen To Breathe Again

If you are tired of white knuckling it through every week, anxiety therapy for teens in St. Louis can help. Reach out to schedule a consultation. Your teen deserves a steady place to talk honestly, learn tools that work, and feel more like themselves.