Teen Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health issues affecting people today. Fortunately, Clearfork Academy is here to help your teen overcome this condition.

Types of Treatment and Therapies for Teen Anxiety

Anxiety disorders can include different types of anxiety in teens, such as panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and social anxiety disorder, so we need to treat anxiety disorders with a tailored treatment plan. We offer a range of different treatment options and relaxation techniques, such as:

Cognitive behavioral therapy, CBT - this is a type of talk therapy where teens identify the underlying thought patterns and behaviors which may contribute to the anxiety and reprogram their brains, allowing them to handle their triggers more calmly
Family therapy - this can teach your house family the skills to work as a team to reduce anxiety symptoms in your child, remove triggers or causes of anxiety, and give you the tools to help them gain emotional regulation.
Individual and group therapies - these can include relaxation techniques, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), both of which are proven to help overcome teenage anxiety or coexisting conditions.
Pharmacological treatment - this is also used to help manage symptoms while going through anxiety treatment. The most commonly used anxiety medications are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors - SSRIs.

Our core values shape our clinical modal and ensure our care providers and our teens implement positive behaviors that will lead them to a healthy and hopeful future. These core values are Honor, Unity, Sacrifice, Transparency, Legacy, Excellence, and Fun.

Level of Care offered for Anxiety Treatment

We offer different types of treatment for children and adolescents who need help managing anxiety, from teens with mild to moderate anxiety symptoms to those with severe anxiety. Here are some of the ways we can help:

Residential Care

Inpatient treatment with us can give teens the chance to recover and learn coping skills to manage the effects of adolescent anxiety disorders in a safe, structured environment where they can focus and improve their physical health and overcome the challenges they face with their mental health.

Intensive Outpatient Program

We offer tailored outpatient programs to help combat anxiety disorders through therapeutic techniques, pharmacological treatment, or a combination of the two. It ensures that those teens who might not be ready for residential care or who need flexibility around school and extracurricular activities have access to the right treatment whilst continuing with their lives.

What Are the Symptoms of Teen Anxiety?

Anxiety disorders can present in many different ways and have many different physical symptoms, the most common being anxious feelings, stomach aches, continuous nervousness, negative thoughts, and in more extreme cases could include panic attack disorder or suicidal ideation. Sometimes there is a direct cause, but not always, and a teen's daily life can be filled with stressful situations which put them at an increased risk of anxiety disorder.

How to Help Teens with Anxiety

The most important part of helping teenagers suffering from adolescent anxiety is to make sure they have support within the family unit. If you notice that they are struggling with excessive worry, academic pressures, increased pressure with non-school activities, that they aren't getting enough sleep, or have sudden specific phobias, then it's time to encourage them to seek treatment.

Anxiety in teens can also be a condition that is present at the same time as other mental health disorders, such as an eating disorder or substance abuse, so it's important to work with our professional team to create a safe and supportive environment during and after treatment to ensure long-term recovery.

This is why each treatment plan is tailored to the individual and their family support system.

Treating Anxiety in Teenagers at Clearfork Academy

Here at Clearfork Academy, we believe in the potential of teenagers, and we know that treating anxiety in teens, and other mental disorders, must be undertaken with the awareness that their brains are still developing. This can be a huge benefit to their recovery as they are still able to make lasting, long-term changes to their brains and behaviors through their treatment and reduce the effects of anxiety for good.

We specialize in adolescent psychiatry, and we have a team of incredible care providers and licensed therapists who will ensure your teenager is surrounded with the care and support to make the most out of their tailored treatment program. We already have faith in them to recover. They just need to learn how to do it.

Benefits for Teens Receiving Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety treatment can give your teenager the tools and skills to lead a happy, hopeful life throughout their adulthood. By seeking treatment early, they are arming themselves with how to handle the pressures of everyday events in the adult world and ensuring they have a bright future.

Short Term

The treatment for anxiety can have a positive effect within several weeks. This means that academic performance can improve, they will be more comfortable in social situations, and activities that they once found triggering will become tolerable, maybe even enjoyable.

Long Term

The long-term effects of anxiety treatment, particularly in teenagers, is that they are setting themselves up for a future where they can live their life without worry or fear, particularly if anxiety is linked to coexisting conditions.

FAQ about Teen Anxiety Treatment

Below are some commonly-asked questions about Clearfork Academy and the typical teen experience during treatment. If you don’t see your question below, please click here to see all FAQs or reach out to us directly for more information.

How Do I Motivate a Teenager with Anxiety to Enter Treatment?

Start with making them feel validated and supported, let them know they are not alone and they don't have to suffer their anxiety in isolation. Building trust is important, as many teenagers feel anxious about simply expressing that they are struggling. By allowing them to trust you, you can guide them toward treatment.

How Is Teen Anxiety Diagnosed?

We use the diagnostic and statistical manual to diagnose any mental health disorder. We also ensure we use up-to-date medical research and information provided by the American Psychiatric Association and American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Medical Journal.

What Causes Anxiety in Teens?

Anxiety can be caused by all sorts of things that are present in a teenager's life. These may include academic pressure, social media overuse, societal concerns, and performance anxiety in the sporting field. Indeed, there may not even be a single cause, but a combination of things.

Can Anxiety Be Cured?

Anxiety can be easily treated through therapy and pharmacologic treatment, which can make teenage anxiety more manageable. Everyone experiences anxiety symptoms at some point, but mostly within a healthy range. Our tailored treatment plans will allow for anxiety to be felt within that healthy range, ensuring a brighter future for your teen.

What Triggers Anxiety?

Anything can be an anxiety trigger. It all depends on the individual and what caused the anxiety in the first place. Most often, it will be something related to the cause of the anxiety. For example, if the cause is academic pressure, then the trigger may be a homework deadline or an examination.

Are Parents Involved in the Treatment Process?

We encourage parents and family members to provide support and understanding to the teen we are working with. We even include regular family therapy sessions in our tailored programs to encourage the family to participate in the recovery process.

How Will Treatment Affect My Teenager's School Attendance and Academic Performance?

We have an intensive outpatient program so that treatment can be tailored around school timetables. With continued treatment, academic performance will likely improve, especially if the anxiety is present alongside another condition, such as an eating disorder or substance abuse.