Anxiety and Depression

Recent studies have documented a rise in the rates of anxiety and depression in kids and teens, and these rates are now at an all time high. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a research-based approach to treatment and first line treatment for both anxiety and depression. CBT is a type of talk-therapy that focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors; identifying unhelpful thinking patterns that are contributing to the anxiety/depressive symptoms; and shifting unhelpful thinking patterns while also developing active coping skills.

Another important component to the treatment for anxiety is the use of exposures or anxiety challenges. Because the feeling of anxiety can be so uncomfortable, individuals often try to avoid the situations that make them feel anxious. In the short-term, the avoidance typically leads to the immediate relief from the anxiety; however, in the long-term, the avoidance only serves to perpetuate and even exacerbate the anxiety. Working with Dr. Lily, you will develop a step-ladder of anxiety challenges (starting out small and gradually increasing the challenge), that will help your child learn that their fear will likely never occur, help them tolerate the anxiety they experience, and have them see that in the face of the fear, the anxiety will always decrease.

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