Child Anxiety Therapy
Helping Young Children and Their Families Feel Calm, Safe, and Confident Again
- Anxiety counseling for every age, and EMDR with our EMDR-trained therapist
- In-person in New Lenox and telehealth across Illinois
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- No waiting list, and we reply within 24 hours
Reviewed by Sidra Shoaib, LPC, Anxiety & Emotional Regulation Counselor · Updated October 2026
Understanding Child Anxiety and
Why It Needs Real Support
Child anxiety therapy is gentle, age-appropriate counseling that helps young children understand their big feelings, face the things that scare them, and feel safe in their own bodies again. At Davis-Smith Mental Health in New Lenox, IL, we work with children who cry at drop-off, melt down over small changes, ask the same worried question again and again, or come home from school completely depleted. If that sounds like your child, you are in the right place.
Anxiety in young children is easy to miss because it rarely looks like worry. It looks like tummy aches with no medical cause, tears at bedtime, clinginess, refusing to try new things, or sudden anger that seems to come from nowhere. It is not bad behavior, and it is not something they will simply grow out of on their own. It is one of the most common and most treatable challenges children face. We are here to help. We serve families throughout Will County, including Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, and Lockport, with telehealth available across Illinois.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions in childhood, and they often begin earlier than parents expect. The good news is that young children respond beautifully to the right support. Their brains are still developing, which means the coping skills they learn now can shape how they handle stress for the rest of their lives. Child anxiety therapy gives your child the words, tools, and confidence to face worry instead of running from it, and it gives you a clear plan for helping at home. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 9.4% of children ages 3 to 17 have been diagnosed with anxiety.
“You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”
– A.A. Milne
In-network with
- Aetna PPO
- Cigna / Evernorth
- BCBS PPO
- UnitedHealthcare
- UMR
- Initial assessment $200
- Ongoing sessions $150
Insurance and rates
Insurance Accepted
Davis-Smith Mental Health is in network with Aetna PPO, Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO, Cigna and Evernorth, UnitedHealthcare, and UMR. Not every therapist is in every network, so we check your plan with you before your first session. If you’d rather pay privately, we can give you a Superbill to use with your out-of-network benefits.
WHEN TO REACH OUT
Signs Your Child May Need Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety in young children often hides behind everyday behavior. If several of these sound familiar and have lasted more than a few weeks, child anxiety therapy may help:
Clinginess and Separation Distress
Crying, panic, or physical complaints at drop-off, refusing to be in a different room from you, or struggling at sleepovers, school, and birthday parties.
Tummy Aches and Headaches With No Medical Cause
Frequent stomachaches, headaches, or feeling sick, especially on school mornings or before anything new or stressful.
Big Meltdowns Over Small Things
Tantrums, tears, or shutdowns that feel much bigger than the situation. In young children, anxiety very often comes out as anger or overwhelm.
Bedtime Fears and Trouble Sleeping
Fear of the dark, refusing to sleep alone, nightmares, or needing a parent to stay until they fall asleep night after night.
Constant ‘What If’ Questions
Asking the same worried questions over and over and needing repeated reassurance before they can settle or move on.
Avoiding New or Unfamiliar Things
Hanging back from activities, people, or places other children handle easily, or refusing to try anything they might not do perfectly.
Perfectionism and Fear of Mistakes
Erasing schoolwork until the paper tears, giving up when something feels hard, or becoming very upset over small errors.
Going Backwards (Regression)
Returning to younger behaviors such as baby talk, thumb sucking, bedwetting, or extra clinginess when feeling overwhelmed.
Withdrawing From Friends and Play
Pulling away from friends, playdates, or activities they used to love because anxiety makes them feel exhausting or scary.
You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone
Parenting an anxious young child is exhausting in a way that is hard to explain to anyone who has not lived it. You comfort, you reassure, you bend your whole day around their fears, and still nothing seems to stick. You wonder whether you are coddling them or not protecting them enough. You feel it in your own body every time they cry.
Reaching out for child anxiety therapy is not a sign that you have done something wrong. It is one of the most loving things a parent can do. Our therapists work with anxious children and the parents who love them, and we meet every family exactly where they are. You do not need the perfect words or a tidy explanation of what is going wrong. You just need to take one step. We will help you with the rest, including what to do at home.
The Power of Child Anxiety Therapy
How Child Anxiety Therapy Can Help
Child anxiety therapy gives your child more than calm-down tricks. It helps them understand their feelings and trust that they can handle hard moments. Here is the difference it can make:
Naming Big Feelings
Helping your child put words to worry and fear so the feelings become something they can talk about instead of something that takes over.
Braver, One Step at a Time
Gently facing feared situations in small, doable steps so your child builds real courage instead of avoiding more and more.
Easier Separations
Building the security and skills your child needs to handle drop-offs, school, and time apart from you without panic.
Calmer Bedtimes and Better Sleep
Practical, child-friendly tools for settling a worried mind so bedtime stops being a battle and your child can actually rest.
Fewer Meltdowns
Teaching your child to notice big feelings before they boil over, and giving them ways to calm their body down.
Confidence to Try New Things
Loosening the grip of perfectionism and fear of mistakes so your child can take healthy risks and enjoy being a kid.
Tools You Can Use at Home
Coaching you, the parent, so you know exactly how to respond to worry in a way that helps rather than accidentally feeds it.
A Stronger, More Confident Child
Building the kind of early resilience that helps your child feel capable now and handle stress for years to come.
How Child Anxiety Impacts Daily Life
Child anxiety rarely announces itself. It shows up as the morning stomachache before school, the meltdown after a long day of holding it together, the refusal to go to a friend’s house, or the endless ‘are you sure?’ questions. Many young children do not yet have the words to say ‘I feel anxious,’ so the worry comes out through their bodies and their behavior instead. Over time, untreated anxiety can shrink a child’s world, affecting friendships, school, sleep, and how they feel about themselves.
Home, School, and Friendships
Anxiety can make ordinary parts of childhood feel huge. Getting out the door becomes a struggle. Playdates and parties get declined. Schoolwork takes far longer than it should. Some children cling and cry, while others lash out or shut down because they do not know what else to do with the feeling. With the right support, these everyday moments get easier, for your child and for your whole family.
Child anxiety therapy helps young children feel braver, calmer, and more like themselves, at home, at school, and with friends.
New Client
How getting started works
It can be overwhelming coming to counseling. Here’s every step, from your first call to the sessions that follow.
Step 1
Reach out
Request a session online or call (815) 409-5940 to schedule your first appointment.
Step 2
Fill out your intake forms
Your welcome email has everything. Finish the forms at least 48 hours before your appointment, on a phone, tablet or computer, and share your preferred times and therapist.
Step 3
We check your benefits
If you’re using insurance, we check your benefits before confirming your appointment, so you have a good idea of your cost before your first visit.
Step 4
Your first session
Check in on the iPad in our waiting room. Your therapist walks you through confidentiality, answers your questions, and gets to know you and your goals.
Step 5
Plan next steps together
Most people start with weekly sessions, at least three to build a connection, then adjust together as things improve.
Warm, Real, and Built Around You
Our Approach to Child Anxiety Therapy
At Davis-Smith Mental Health, we know that an anxious child needs to feel safe before any real work can happen, so we start by building trust. With young children, that often means therapy looks like play. Through games, drawing, stories, and activities, we help children explore their worries in a way that feels natural and even fun, because that is how children process the world.
As part of our anxiety therapy, we use approaches adapted for young children, including child-friendly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, to help them recognize worried thoughts, calm their bodies, and face fears step by step. Just as importantly, we partner with you. Parents are central to a young child’s progress, so we coach you on how to respond to anxiety at home in ways that build confidence rather than reinforce avoidance. We also keep an eye on related struggles such as depression and emotional regulation, which often travel alongside childhood anxiety. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most studied treatments for childhood anxiety disorders, and we weave it into play so practicing new coping and social skills feels natural to your child.
Our goal is not only to ease your child’s anxiety now. It is to help them build early confidence and resilience that will serve them for years. We believe every anxious child is braver than they realize. Sometimes they just need the right support, and the right people in their corner, to find it.
We proudly serve families in New Lenox, Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, and Lockport, with telehealth available throughout Illinois.
Learn more about what to expect when you get started.
Personalized care
Licensed, caring therapists
Every therapist on our team works with anxiety. We will match you with the right person for your child.
Anxiety at the center
Anxiety is the foundation of everything we do.
EMDR-trained care
EMDR helps clients process what talk therapy alone can’t reach.
Every age and stage
From children and teens to young adults and adults.
In-person and telehealth
Our New Lenox office or secure online therapy for clients in Illinois.
Frequently Asked Questions About
Child Anxiety Therapy
Find the Support Your Family Needs
Tell us a little about what is going on. We will match you with the right therapist and reach out to schedule.
Trouble seeing the form? Open it in a new window or call us at (815) 409-5940.
What People Are Saying About Us
5.0 Based on 6 Google reviews
“Davis-Smith Mental Health truly cares about their clients. The therapists are compassionate, skilled, and genuinely committed to helping you grow and heal. It’s clear that Jessica has built a team that shares her values and dedication. Highly recommend to anyone looking for meaningful support and real results.”
Kasia Budyn · Posted on Google
“Jessica provides a safe and welcoming environment for all the teens she sees. She tailors treatment to each teen and is incredibly patient and open to their needs. I have seen first hand the work she does and the connection she has with kids. I cannot recommend her enough as someone who will care for your teen and your family!”
Google User · Posted on Google
“Davis-Smith Mental Health is a trusted resource for providing compassionate, high-quality therapy for teens and emerging adults. I know confidently that clients are supported with empathy, professionalism, and respect. Jessica leads her team with integrity and intention. She clearly prioritizes the well-being of her staff, which allows them to show up fully for the clients they serve. Their commitment to the healing journey is evident in every interaction. I’m grateful to have them as a referral partner and deeply value their work in the mental health community.”
Sherri Wick · Posted on Google
“Jessica is a dedicated therapist and absolutely loves working with teens. You are able to feel the love from the moment you walk through the door. She and her staff will provide a safe and private environment for that one on one attention you deserve.”
Melanie K. Hall · Posted on Google
“Jessica and her team are so passionate and helpful! I would recommend this practice to anyone looking!”
Biljana Krzywinski · Posted on Google
More ways we can help
Other Ways We Help
Anxiety Therapy
Anxiety is the most common reason families come to us, and it’s the foundation of everything we do. Whether your teen is avoiding school, your young adult can’t stop overthinking, or worry has taken over your daily life, we can help. Our therapists use CBT and EMDR to help clients understand what’s driving their anxiety and build real tools to manage it.
Teen Anxiety Counseling
The teen years are when anxiety tends to hit the hardest. School pressure, social stress, comparison, and the weight of figuring out who they are can leave teens feeling overwhelmed and stuck. We work with teens to understand what’s behind the anxiety and give them real skills they can actually use, at school, at home, and in the moments that feel like too much.
EMDR Therapy
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a well-researched approach for trauma, and it’s also used for anxiety. It works by helping the brain reprocess difficult memories and experiences that are keeping you stuck. Our EMDR-trained therapist works with teens, young adults, and adults.
Depression Therapy
Depression and anxiety often show up together. If your teen has lost interest in things they used to enjoy, is sleeping too much or too little, or seems hopeless about the future, therapy can help. We work with clients to find what’s underneath the depression and build a path forward that actually feels possible.
Trauma Counseling
Trauma is one of the most common drivers of anxiety in teenagers and young adults. It doesn’t always look like what you’d expect. It can show up as constant worry, anger, trouble concentrating, or emotional shutdown. Our therapists help clients work through trauma at their own pace, in a space where they feel safe.
Emotional Regulation
When anxiety runs high, emotions feel unmanageable. Some children, teens, and adults feel everything. Small frustrations become explosions. Sadness becomes despair. We help clients understand their patterns and develop strategies for handling intense feelings without shutting down or lashing out.
Relationship Counseling
Anxiety doesn’t just affect the person experiencing it. It changes how they show up in every relationship. We help teens, young adults, and adults work through the ways anxiety and other challenges are impacting their connections with family, friends, and partners.
Life Transitions
Starting high school. Leaving for college. A new job, a divorce, a move. Life transitions can trigger anxiety, depression, and self-doubt, even when the change is something you wanted. We help clients work through the uncertainty and build confidence in who they’re becoming.
Young Adult Counseling
The years between 18 and 30 come with a unique kind of pressure. A lot of young adults are dealing with anxiety they’ve carried since their teenage years but never had the chance to address. We help them get unstuck and start building a life that feels like theirs.
Learn More About Child Anxiety
How to Handle Tantrums: 3 Tips Every Parent Needs
Updated October 10, 2026
Learning how to handle tantrums is one of the most challenging parts of parenting, and if you are in the thick of it right now, you…
Read More about How to Handle Tantrums: 3 Tips Every Parent Needs
Tension in the Home: 5 Caring Ways to Calm Things Down
Updated October 10, 2026
Tension in the home can make you dread walking through your own front door. Have you ever felt like you just don't want to go home?…
Read More about Tension in the Home: 5 Caring Ways to Calm Things Down
Coping Skills for Teens: Essential Tools for Real Life
Updated October 10, 2026
Learning real coping skills for teens is one of the most important things a young person can do, but most teens have never been taught how…
Read More about Coping Skills for Teens: Essential Tools for Real Life
You don’t have to figure this out alone
If something told you to keep reading this far, trust that feeling. Whether it’s for yourself, your teen, or your young adult, the hardest part is deciding to start. We are here when you are ready.
there is courage in change ♥
- Anxiety counseling for children, teens and adults
- Rated 5.0 on Google
- In-network with Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare and UMR
- Telehealth for clients in Illinois
- In-person in New Lenox
- EMDR therapy for anxiety and trauma
- We truly care about every client
- There is courage in change