Child Anxiety Therapy for Young Children

Anxiety can look different in young children.

Sometimes it's obvious: “What if something happens?” or “I don't want to go.”

Other times, anxiety looks like clinginess, avoidance, frequent reassurance-seeking, stomachaches, tears, shutdowns, difficulty separating, or refusing things that used to feel manageable.

I work with children ages 2–10 and their parents to understand what's underneath the anxiety and build greater confidence, flexibility, and emotional safety.

I have a special passion for working with children navigating anxiety, informed by my own childhood experiences with selective mutism and social anxiety. I know firsthand how isolating and overwhelming these challenges can feel, and how meaningful it can be to have an adult who truly understands.

Anxiety can show up as:

Separation anxiety or difficulty separating from parents
Excessive worrying or reassurance-seeking
Fear of new situations
Avoiding activities, school, people, or places
School refusal
Clinginess
Frequent “what if?” questions
Shutdown or freezing
Big emotional reactions around feared situations
Physical complaints when anxious
Difficulty with changes or uncertainty

How I help

Young children don't always have the words to explain anxiety. Play can give them another way to communicate, explore difficult experiences, and practise new ways of responding.

For children: play-based, developmentally appropriate therapy to help them express feelings, build emotional awareness, develop regulation skills, and experience themselves as capable.

For parents: support understanding your child's anxiety, responding during difficult moments, and bringing what we learn in therapy into everyday life.

Parent involvement is a core part of my approach

Because anxiety doesn't only happen during therapy sessions, parents are an important part of the process. I'll help you feel confident in responding when anxiety shows up in real life.

To learn more about parent involvement, click here.

In-clinic or on-site

Services are available in-clinic, in your home, or on site at your child's daycare/private school. This allows you to choose in clinic services, or in home services if your child might be most comfortable in their own environment.

Learn more about service options here. Mobile services are available in Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and surrounding communities.