Teen Anxiety Counseling
Helping Teens and Young Adults Break Free From Worry and Fear
- Anxiety counseling for teens and young adults
- 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 teen anxiety
Understanding Teen Anxiety and
Why It Needs Real Support
Teen anxiety counseling at Davis-Smith Mental Health in New Lenox, IL, helps teens and young adults who are tired of letting worry run their lives. In counseling, your teen learns what sets off their anxiety, builds coping skills that work in real life, and starts to worry less. Maybe your teen avoids school because the thought of it makes them sick. Maybe they lie awake at night with racing thoughts they cannot turn off. Perhaps they hold it together all day and completely fall apart at home.
Anxiety in teens is not a phase and it is not a weakness. It is one of the most common and treatable mental health challenges young people face today. We are here to help. Serving clients throughout Will County, including Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, Lockport, Manhattan, and Peotone. Telehealth is available throughout Illinois.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health conditions affecting adolescents, with nearly 1 in 3 teens (31.9%) experiencing an anxiety disorder at some point, including 38% of girls and 26% of boys, according to the National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement. Our teen anxiety statistics page has the latest numbers, including Illinois data. Teen anxiety looks different than adult anxiety. It often shows up as avoidance, irritability, physical complaints like stomachaches, or perfectionism. Teen anxiety counseling gives teens and young adults the tools to understand their anxiety, identify their triggers, and build real coping skills that work in their actual lives.
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.
Explore Our Teen Anxiety Services
Anxiety shows up differently for every teen. Explore the area that fits your teen best, or reach out, and we will help you find the right starting point.
Social Anxiety
Help for teens who fear being judged, speaking up, or being left out.
Performance Anxiety
For the nerves that hit on the field, on stage, or before a big presentation.
School Anxiety
Support for school refusal, morning dread, and the fear of going to class.
Test Anxiety
For students who blank, freeze, or panic when it is time to take a test.
“You don’t have to control your thoughts. You just have to stop letting them control you.”
– Dan Millman
WHEN TO REACH OUT
Signs Your Teen May Need Anxiety Counseling
Recognizing when anxiety is affecting your teen’s daily life is the first step toward getting help. If your child or teen is experiencing any of the following, teen anxiety counseling may help:
Constant Worrying
Your teen worries about everything, including school, friendships, and the future, and cannot seem to turn it off, no matter how much reassurance they get.
Avoiding School or Social Situations
Refusing to go to school, skipping events, or making excuses to avoid anything that feels overwhelming or unpredictable.
Physical Complaints
Frequent stomachaches, headaches, or feeling sick with no clear medical cause, especially before stressful situations.
Trouble Sleeping
Racing thoughts at bedtime, difficulty falling asleep, or waking up in the middle of the night feeling anxious and unable to settle down.
Irritability and Meltdowns
Anxiety in teens often looks like anger or emotional outbursts rather than visible worry. Your teen may also seem on edge all the time.
Perfectionism
Spending excessive time on assignments, intense fear of making mistakes, or giving up entirely when something feels too hard to get right.
Seeking Constant Reassurance
Repeatedly asking if things will be okay, needing confirmation before making decisions, or being unable to move forward without someone telling them it will be fine.
Panic Attacks
Sudden episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a feeling that something terrible is about to happen.
Withdrawing From Friends
Pulling away from friendships or activities they used to enjoy because anxiety makes socializing feel exhausting or overwhelming.
You Do Not Have to Figure This Out Alone
Parenting an anxious teen is exhausting in a way that is hard to explain to anyone who has not lived it. You watch your child struggle, and you want to fix it, but nothing you say seems to help. You second-guess yourself constantly. You wonder if you are overreacting or not reacting enough.
The truth is that reaching out for teen anxiety counseling is not a sign that you have failed your child. It is one of the most courageous and loving things a parent can do. Our therapists work with teens and families who are carrying a lot, and we meet every single one of you exactly where you are. You do not need to have the right words or a perfect explanation of what is going wrong. You just need to take one step. We will handle the rest.
The Power of Teen Anxiety Counseling
How Teen Anxiety Counseling Can Help
Teen anxiety counseling gives your teen more than just coping strategies. It gives them a genuinely different relationship with their own mind. Here is how working with one of our therapists can make a real difference in your teen’s daily life:
How does counseling help my teen worry less?
Learning to recognize anxious thoughts and interrupt the worry cycle before it spirals into something that feels impossible to manage.
Will counseling help my teen feel more confident?
Developing the self-trust to handle hard situations without avoidance, so your teen stops shrinking their world to feel safe.
Improving Sleep
Creating practical tools to calm a racing mind at night so your teen can actually rest and wake up ready to face the day.
Strengthening Relationships
Reducing the social anxiety that gets in the way of real connection so your teen can show up fully in their friendships.
Can anxiety counseling help my teen at school?
Managing test anxiety, perfectionism, and the fear of failure so school feels like something your teen can handle again.
Learning New Coping Skills
Developing a real toolkit for managing anxiety in the moment rather than just white-knuckling through hard situations.
Reducing Physical Symptoms
Addressing the stomachaches, headaches, and physical tension that come with carrying chronic anxiety every single day.
Increasing Overall Functioning
Helping your teen show up more fully in every area of their life so anxiety stops being the thing that runs the show.
How Teen Anxiety Impacts Daily Life
Teen anxiety does not always look like panic. Sometimes it looks like shutting down, snapping over something small, avoiding schoolwork, checking grades over and over, or saying “I’m fine” when you know they are not. A lot of teens carry stress from school, friendships, sports, social media, and the pressure to figure out their future. Over time, those issues start to affect how well they sleep, focus, communicate, and feel about themselves.
School Stress & Academic Pressure
Anxiety can make everyday things feel harder than they should. Schoolwork piles up. Friendships feel more complicated. Sleep gets off. Motivation drops. Some teens pull away and avoid anything that feels stressful. Others get irritated, shut down, or push themselves so hard because they are afraid of letting people down.
Teen anxiety counseling helps teens manage stress, navigate tough challenges, and feel more confident in daily life.
Stress or anxiety?
Normal Teen Stress vs. Anxiety: What’s the Difference?
Every teen worries. Tests, friendships, fitting in, and figuring out who they are all bring real pressure. The difference between everyday worry and anxiety worth addressing comes down to intensity and impact.
| What you notice | Normal teen stress | Teen anxiety |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Comes and goes around specific events, like a test or a fight with a friend | Shows up most days, even when there is no clear trigger |
| How long it lasts | Fades once the stressful event has passed | Sticks around for weeks or months |
| School and friendships | Your teen keeps up with school and friends, even when nervous | Gets in the way of school performance or friendships |
| Avoidance | Your teen still shows up, even when it feels hard | Your teen avoids situations that are a normal part of life |
| In the body | An occasional nervous stomach or restless night before a big day | Frequent stomachaches, headaches, or fatigue with no clear medical cause |
| Enjoyment | Your teen still enjoys the things they love | It becomes hard to enjoy things they used to love |
Where Can My Teen Get Anxiety Counseling Near New Lenox?
Our office is at 100 Batson Court, Suite 206, in the heart of New Lenox, with a parking lot right outside the building. Families bring their teens to our New Lenox office from Frankfort, Mokena, Tinley Park, Lockport, Joliet, Manhattan and Peotone. If a week gets too busy, your teen can switch to a telehealth session from home, as long as they’re in Illinois, and come back in person the next week.
New Client
What Starting Teen Anxiety Counseling Looks Like
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 Teen Anxiety Counseling
At Davis-Smith Mental Health, we know that anxious teens often look fine on the outside while struggling deeply on the inside. Our teen anxiety counseling is personalized to each individual because no two teens experience anxiety the same way. Our therapists take time to build genuine trust before diving into the hard work because a teen who does not feel safe will not open up, and opening up is where the real progress happens.
As part of our anxiety therapy, we use approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help teens identify the thought patterns driving their anxiety and learn to challenge them. We also incorporate practical coping skills that teens can actually use in real situations, not just during sessions. We address anxiety alongside depression and emotional regulation since these often appear together in teens and young adults.
Our goal is not just to reduce your teen’s anxiety symptoms. It is to help them build the kind of confidence and resilience that will serve them long after counseling ends. We believe every anxious teen has more strength than they realize.
We proudly serve clients in New Lenox, Joliet, Frankfort, Mokena, and Lockport with telehealth available throughout Illinois.
Sometimes they just need the right support to find it. Schedule a session for your teen, and we’ll reply within 24 hours. Want to know more first? Learn what to expect when you get started.
Personalized care
Therapists Who Help Teens With Anxiety
Every therapist on our team works with anxiety. When you reach out, we match your teen with the therapist we think is the best fit for their situation, what they’re struggling with, and their age. If that’s not someone on our team, we’ll refer you to someone who is. Most of our therapists also see clients after school.
Anxiety at the center
Anxiety is the foundation of everything we do.
EMDR-trained care
EMDR can help with fears and memories that still feel stuck, even after talking them through.
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
Teen Anxiety Counseling
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.
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 Teen Anxiety
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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