Helping Kids with Anxiety Through Exposure Therapy: Insights from Mayo Clinic
!Dr. Stephen Whiteside talks with a child, exposure therapy
It’s common for children to experience anxiety. When these feelings become overwhelming, experts often recommend cognitive behavioral therapy. However, a recent study at Mayo Clinic suggests that parent-coached exposure therapy can be even more effective.
Dr. Stephen Whiteside, a psychologist at the Mayo Clinic Children’s Center and the study’s lead author, explains that exposure therapy helps children confront their fears more effectively than traditional talk therapy, often requiring fewer sessions.
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“One of the most common fears we encounter is social anxiety disorder,” says Dr. Whiteside. He clarifies that this goes beyond shyness; children may fear being judged if they make mistakes.
“It makes it very hard for them to meet new kids and make friends. They’re very nervous to talk in class or ask for help when they need it. They don’t want to join activities because they’re just so shy and afraid that something bad is going to happen,” he adds.
When Exposure Therapy is Appropriate
If anxiety affects daily life, exposure therapy might be beneficial.
“The treatment involves helping kids learn through their own experience that what they’re afraid of is not as dangerous or as bad as they think it’s going to be,” explains Dr. Whiteside. He emphasizes that children are more successful when they have support, typically from a parent.
“Parent-coach exposure therapy is simply working with kids and parents together to help them learn how to help the child face their fears,” Dr. Whiteside says.
The ultimate goal of exposure therapy is straightforward.
“We help kids face their fears very early in treatment so that we can help them get better as quickly as possible,” says Dr. Whiteside.
!Anxiety Coach book by Dr. Stephen Whiteside
Dr. Stephen Whiteside is the director of the Mayo Clinic Pediatric Anxiety Disorders Clinic and author of Anxiety Coach: A Parent’s Guide to Treating Childhood Anxiety and OCD.
The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Helping kids with anxiety through exposure therapy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.