Davidson Child Anxiety Counseling

05/24/2026

Here’s an example of how social anxiety manifests in children: Your child loves school and learning, but absolutely dreads class presentations. He gets flushed and visibly anxious when he has to read aloud, and stumbles over his words. You have noticed he avoids these projects at all costs, even in classes where he excels. In fact, he always seems to get sick on presentation days.

05/23/2026

You may have heard that a chemical imbalance is to blame for depression. Many of us have heard of serotonin, and how a lack of it might lead people of all ages to feel depressed. While serotonin and other chemicals in the brain are a part of the puzzle, the causes of depression are much more complicated. Many parts of the brain are involved in depression. In fact, researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what happens in our brains and nervous systems that makes some of us more vulnerable to feeling depressed. There isn’t usually a “smoking gun” that we can point to as a cause of a child’s depression. It’s more common that several factors have built on each other over the course of months or years and eventually led to a depressed mood.

05/16/2026

Therapists use a manual called the DSM-5 to diagnose children with Social Anxiety Disorder and other mental health problems. It tells us how many symptoms a child needs to have, and gives us a handy bullet point list of what exactly those symptoms are. In order to qualify as social anxiety, these symptoms need to last for at least 6 months. There also can’t be a better reason for the anxiety, such as a physical problem or the side effect of a medication.

05/09/2026

Just as social anxiety can look like normal shyness, depression can look like an innocuous low mood. It’s normal (and natural and human) for any of us to feel a little down—kids included. But if you are like many of the parents I know, you may be trying to figure out where the line is between normal sadness and clinical depression when it comes to your child. How can you recognize when a typical reaction to a stressful situation is becoming something more? Any childhood mental health struggle is cause for concern, but depression can feel extra scary due to the highly publicized rise in su***de rates over the last decade for young people ages 10-24. Most children and teens with depression won’t experience the serious suicidal thoughts that put them at risk. However, it’s helpful to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of depression and take them seriously when they arise. (And just because a child doesn’t fully meet criteria for MDD doesn’t mean they aren’t depressed! There are several other forms of depression that may not be as severe or dramatic as MDD, but can still really get in the way of enjoying life.)

05/03/2026

Sometimes social anxiety can look similar to plain old shyness. Here’s how to tell the difference. Kids who are shy have trouble meeting new people. While their shyness may pop up with close friends and family, it’s usually the most noticeable when talking to an unfamiliar person. Shy kids may have a hard time initiating conversations, or responding when an adult says hello. However, after spending some time with a new person, many shy kids are able to warm up and interact more comfortably. Kids who are shy may appear soft-spoken or socially awkward at times, but their troubles are usually mild or fleeting. Shyness doesn’t usually cause major problems in a child’s life, or keep them from making at least a few good friends. Over time, many children may outgrow their shyness altogether.

On the flip side, kids who have social anxiety fear judgment from others. They worry about embarrassing themselves or making a mistake in front of friends, teachers, and even strangers. You may hear a socially anxious child worrying aloud about doing something wrong. This fear can be paralyzing, and it doesn’t usually get better on its own. Because socially anxious kids fear judgment, they can definitely have a hard time talking to friends or meeting new people. However, they can have a hard time with other public activities, too. The “social” in social anxiety refers not just to friendships, but any activities that involve being observed by others. This can include things like reading out loud in class, participating in gym class, or even eating in restaurants or using public restrooms.

05/03/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of mental-health issues, share resources to help deal with them, and support those who experience them – at every age. With that in mind, we’ll be sharing some basics this month about two mental-health issues that often impact children and teens: depression and anxiety.

04/26/2026

There’s often a lot left unsaid when a loved one dies, especially without a chance to say goodbye. Children may wish they could apologize for a past argument, share an update about their lives, or simply thank their loved one for the lasting impact they’ve left behind.

Writing a letter gives children a chance to voice all these unexpressed thoughts and feelings. Even though they can’t be directly shared with the deceased loved one, a letter can be read aloud to another supportive adult, like a parent or caregiver. Once your child has finished the letter, listen attentively as they share it with you. They can then choose a way to “send” their letter to their loved one, such as bringing it to the gravesite or burning the paper and watching the smoke travel upwards toward the sky.

04/25/2026

A loved one’s death can change the way a child sees the world. This is especially true when a loved one’s death was sudden or traumatic, such as a death from an accident. Suddenly, the world no longer seems as safe as it used to. Something terrible and unexpected has happened, which makes life feel less predictable.

This can lead to a lot of worries for bereaved kids. They may worry about the health and safety of other loved ones, or about their own risk of dying. Some children may even feel less hopeful about the future, or have a sense that things just won’t turn out well for them in life. In big and small ways, their experience with grief can color a child’s thoughts.

We can help a child to pay attention to their thoughts and not take them at face value. Kids can act like detectives, gently questioning their worries to see how accurate or true they really are. Oftentimes, worries are not based on very much good evidence—they’re just guesses about what might happen in the future.

You can help your child by asking questions like “Do you have any proof that is true?” and “Even if this scary thing did happen, would it be as bad as it seems?” Remind your child of their own strengths and ability to problem-solve, as well as the network of supportive people who could help them in a true emergency.

04/19/2026

Social media opens up a new, private world for your child where they might encounter all kinds of uncomfortable stuff. It requires a certain level of mutual trust between parents and kids. Chris McKenna at WaitUntil8th.com wisely points out that you should make sure you’ve had “the talk” and all other potentially awkward conversations with your child before letting them loose on social media. Even kids who are not looking for trouble are likely to stumble across explicit material on any of the major platforms. You want your child to be prepared when that happens, not confused or embarrassed.

Being on social media also makes your child more vulnerable to sexual predators, which means you need to talk about safety and go beyond simple stranger danger. Your child should know how to recognize signs of grooming, and have a plan for what to do if someone makes them feel uncomfortable. You’ll also want to talk about what to do if that uncomfortable pressure is coming from someone your child knows—for example, a friend or classmate asking for inappropriate photos.

As a parent, you’ll want to know that your child is responsible and makes good decisions. However, your child also needs to trust that they can come to you with problems, and you won’t immediately panic or ground them for the rest of time. If something inappropriate happens online, your child should feel safe coming to you for help, which will go a long way toward keeping them out of harm’s way.

04/18/2026

There are many good reasons to be angry when a loved one dies. As a kid, it can feel so unfair to see other children enjoying time with their grandparents or other family members when your own time was suddenly cut short. Kids may also be angry at parents, doctors, or emergency workers who had to make medical decisions on behalf of their loved one who died.

Angry children need support for their feelings just like sad children. We can provide kids with safe ways to vent anger that don’t hurt people or damage belongings. Drawing a picture and ripping it up can help children release emotion. Other children may enjoy stomping on egg cartons, tearing cardboard, popping bubble wrap, or finding other materials that are safe to destroy.

Anger gives kids a lot of energy, so physical activity can be a big help, too. Any activity that increases a child’s heart rate can help them to discharge angry feelings. Jumping rope, riding a bike, or running laps are quick and easy ways to burn off some extra adrenaline. This also gives them a healthy coping mechanism for dealing with anger as they go through life.

04/15/2026

I’m excited to share that my practice has a new look and a new name: Davidson Child Anxiety Counseling!

This change reflects something that’s been true of my work for a long time: helping kids get a handle on anxiety and OCD is what I most love to do.

Over the years, I've seen how powerful the right support can be for anxious kids, who tend to have so many strengths: they're bright, creative, quirky individuals who often just need the structure and skills to learn how to manage their feelings better.

My goal with this rebrand is to make it easier for families (and referral partners) to find specialized care when they need it.

We’ve also recently expanded the practice and now have immediate openings for new clients, including with a new therapist on our team. If your child is struggling with anxiety issues like, social anxiety, school avoidance, emetophobia, or OCD, we’d love to help.

You can learn more or get started here:

Child anxiety and OCD therapy in Davidson, NC for kids and teens. CBT, ERP, and creative approaches from a specialized group practice. In-person & online.