You’re Not Alone in This

Children do not always tell us they are anxious. More often, parents notice that something has changed.

Your child may worry repeatedly about school, friendships, separation, mistakes, or situations that other children seem able to manage. Anxiety may also look like irritability, avoidance, stomachaches, difficulty sleeping, or needing frequent reassurance.

For emotionally intense children, the challenge may be less about worry and more about what happens when feelings become too big. A disappointment, transition, correction, or unexpected change can quickly become an outburst that seems much larger than the situation itself.

Parents often understand that their child is struggling while simultaneously feeling unsure about what will actually help.

“Learning how to regulate feelings in childhood is what allows our kids to cope with anything life throws their way in adulthood.”

— Dr. Becky Kennedy, Clinical Psychologist and author of Good Inside

What This Often Looks Like

• Frequent worry or reassurance-seeking
• Emotional outbursts or meltdowns
• Difficulty calming down after becoming upset
• Fear of mistakes or disappointing others
• Avoidance of school, activities, or unfamiliar situations
• Strong reactions to transitions or changes in plans
• Physical complaints associated with worry
• Conflict at home surrounding emotions or behavior

Why This Happens

Children are still developing the ability to identify emotions, communicate what they need, and regulate themselves when feelings become intense. Anxiety can overwhelm those developing skills, while temperament, sensitivity, developmental differences, and environmental stress can make regulation more difficult.

These challenges can naturally create broader parenting challenges, particularly when parents are unsure whether to comfort, set a limit, encourage independence, or give their child space.

How Therapy Helps Children Manage Anxiety and Strong Emotions

Effective treatment begins with understanding what is contributing to a child's distress. Anxiety, emotional outbursts, avoidance, and difficulty managing frustration may look similar on the surface, but they do not always have the same underlying causes.

At Insight Therapy Group, Kristin Coggin, LPC, RPT™ works with children and parents to identify patterns, understand emotional and developmental needs, and develop an individualized approach to treatment.

Depending on the child, therapy may focus on reducing anxious avoidance, increasing frustration tolerance, improving emotional awareness, and developing healthier ways of responding to difficult situations.

Kristin integrates developmentally appropriate clinical methods, including play therapy and cognitive behavioral strategies when indicated, while collaborating with parents to reinforce progress in everyday situations.

For more information about her specialized treatment methods and credentials, explore our Play Therapy for Children in Sandy Springs page.

Insight Therapy Group provides child therapy and play therapy in Sandy Springs, serving families from Dunwoody, Brookhaven, Buckhead, and surrounding North Atlanta communities. Our Central Perimeter location is easily accessible from GA-400 and I-285.