Therapy for Your Utah Teen: Tips for Dealing with School Anxiety Post-COVID

Is your teen struggling to return to school post-pandemic? Do they feel anxious about integrating back into their old school habits and social routines? Sometimes it can be difficult for a teenager to embrace change. It can be hard for anyone! Change can be really hard to cope with alone. These struggles can be hard to live with and manage without help. This is where therapy can aid you (Related Article: Therapy For Your Utah Teen: Why Teens Struggle).

If your teenager is dealing with this anxiety, therapy for teens can be beneficial. In some situations therapy can even be essential for an anxious teenager trying to adapt to significant change. It is important to understand that the parent plays a principal role in helping the teenager navigate returning to school. The parent can also be a major help in the therapy process as well!

Practice Separation 

Sometimes an issue for anxious children returning to school is being separated from certain family members. It can be helpful for parents to practice separation. One way this can be done is by slowly building your teenager’s tolerance level of separation. You can start out by leaving your teenager alone or with someone else for a small amount of time and then extend it the next time and so on. Doing this simple task can help your teen understand that they can be independent and are not reliant on you.

The best way to support your child during this tumultuous process is to be honest and understanding throughout. Improving anxiety can take some work, but one great step is to practice getting used to separation. (source)

Establish a Routine

Establishing a routine can provide consistency and reliability to a teen’s life. This is very important when trying to relieve anxiety because a significant reason people suffer from anxiety is fearing the unknown (Related Article: Moody Teen? Here’s How Therapy Can Help). When you have set a consistent routine that your teen can rely on they become more trusting and confident. This can help diminish the anxiety of going back to school because they can trust and rely on the routine. 

Change can be hard for anyone, but especially someone who is dealing with a lot on their plate. Teenagers can struggle with adapting to change and that is okay. Everyone struggles dealing with large changes at some point, and teens are no different.

It is essential to try to help them get used to change. Establishing your routine can be a support when trying to provide some consistency that will help your child cope with the anxiety of returning to school. 

Ease Back into Socializing 

When your teen is struggling with anxiety about social pressures and expectations it can be hard! It may be helpful for you and your teen to practice socializing at an exponential curve. You can start out small and work your way forward. It is important to be mindful of your teen and their pace with socializing. Letting them dictate what they are comfortable with is a great first step. Taking baby steps is okay and even necessary in some situations.

You and your teen should work together when trying to ease back into socializing. Sometimes it will be vital for you, the parent, to nudge your kid in the right direction. Encouragement is key! It is important to be patient and to be their top cheerleader (source). 

Getting Help

An important thing to consider when helping your child overcome back-to-school anxiety is that everyone will have different circumstances and situations. It is important to realize that you may have to try multiple things to help your child. It can be frustrating and if it ever becomes overwhelming it may be time to look at getting help.

You should not have to face this alone. If you are ever experiencing the feeling of being overwhelmed with the task of helping your child overcome anxiety concerning returning to school, then reach out! (Related Article: Parenting: Understanding & Reconnecting With Your Teenager). 

Therapy for your teenager’s school anxiety can help. You can start individual, couples, or family therapy in Orem, South Jordan, or Spanish Fork, or via Telehealth for anyone in Utah.

Written by Henry Scoville