Maxine Rickman, Provisional Psychologist

Anxiety is a common experience for teenagers, perhaps more common than many parents realise. It can often stem from the pressures of school, social pressures and physical and emotional changes. For some teens, anxiety can become overwhelming, affecting their sleep, appetite, motivation, and relationships. The good news? With the right support, which for some, can include therapy, teens can learn to manage anxiety and build emotional resilience for life.

Recognizing the Signs of Anxiety in Teens

Teens sometimes struggle with expressing how they are feeling, so it can be difficult for parents to know when something is wrong with their teen. While each teen is different, some common signs of anxiety include:

• Persistent worry or fear that seems out of proportion
• Avoidance of social situations and/or school
• Difficulty sleeping or feeling fatigued
• Irritability or sudden changes in mood
• Physical symptoms such as stomach aches or headaches
• Difficulty concentrating or restlessness
• Negative self-talk or fear of failure

While anxiety is completely normal in many situations, if your teen is showing some of these signs regularly, it may be time to seek professional support.

How Therapy Can Help

Individual therapy gives teenagers a safe and confidential space to explore what they’re feeling. A qualified practitioner can help them to understand their anxiety; where it comes from, how it affects them, and most importantly, what they can do about it.

Some of the ways that therapy supports teens include:

• Building coping skills: Teens learn how to identify anxious thoughts and manage them using techniques such as breathing exercises, mindfulness, and cognitive reframing.
• Improving self-awareness: Therapy helps teens to recognize emotional patterns and triggers so they can respond in a more effective and timely manner, before the anxiety escalates.
• Enhancing emotional resilience: Through supportive conversations, teens learn how to tolerate discomfort, manage stress, and build confidence.
• Strengthening communication: Many teens find it hard to talk about their feelings. Therapy helps them practice expressing themselves in healthy ways.

The goal isn’t to eliminate anxiety completely—it’s to help your teen feel more in control, even when life gets challenging.

What Parents Can Do: Practical Strategies at Home

While therapy is a powerful tool, support at home makes a big difference too. The following are some ways you can help your teen to manage their anxiety:

• Listen without judgment. Create a safe space for your teen to talk. Try to avoid jumping in with solutions—sometimes your teen just needs to feel heard.
• Validate their emotions. You don’t need to agree with their fears to acknowledge them. Say things like, “I can see this is really stressful for you.”
• Encourage healthy habits. Sleep, nutrition, exercise, and screen-time limits all play a role in mental wellbeing.
• Model calm behaviour. Teens often mirror adult emotions. Managing your own stress openly and calmly can set a powerful example for your teen.
• Stay involved. Even when teens push away, they still need connection. Spend regular time together doing something that they enjoy.
• Reach out early. Don’t wait until things feel unmanageable. A therapist can help you and your teen navigate anxiety before it escalates.

Final Thoughts
Teen anxiety can feel overwhelming—for both teens and their parents. But with the right support, it’s entirely manageable. Therapy offers a compassionate, structured way for teens to build the skills they need to face life with confidence. If you think your teen could benefit from talking to someone, we are here to help. At Spencer Health, we have a team of qualified and experienced psychologists who are specialised in helping teens with these kinds of issues.

If you’d like to learn more about therapy for teenagers, feel free to get in touch with the team at Spencer Health enquiries@spencerhealth.com.au