Davidson Child Anxiety Counseling

Davidson Child Anxiety Counseling Hi, I'm Katie Lear, counselor and founder of Davidson Child Anxiety Counseling. We help kids and teens live confidently with anxiety and OCD.

Based in Davidson, NC; virtual therapy available throughout NC, NY, and FL.

Here’s an example of how social anxiety manifests in children: It’s hard for your kid to order food at a restaurant or a...
05/31/2026

Here’s an example of how social anxiety manifests in children: It’s hard for your kid to order food at a restaurant or answer the phone. You’ve offered a lot of encouragement, but it still seems like it’s way harder for her than it should be. You’ve noticed other kids the same age don’t have the same struggle.

It can be hard to imagine a very young child being depressed: isn’t early childhood supposed to be the most carefree tim...
05/30/2026

It can be hard to imagine a very young child being depressed: isn’t early childhood supposed to be the most carefree time of our lives? While not as common as anxiety, about 3.2% of U.S. kids ages 3-17 have been diagnosed with depression. Interestingly, young boys (10 and under) seem to be more at risk of depression than young girls. Little kids may show symptoms of depression differently than older children. It can be harder for them to put their feelings into words, so you may notice that young children’s signs of depression show up more in their behavior. If you’ve noticed multiple signs of depression in your child that have persisted for more than a few weeks, it’s a good idea to have a conversation with your pediatrician or a mental health professional.

Here’s an example of how social anxiety manifests in children: Your child loves school and learning, but absolutely drea...
05/24/2026

Here’s an example of how social anxiety manifests in children: Your child loves school and learning, but absolutely dreads class presentations. He gets flushed and visibly anxious when he has to read aloud, and stumbles over his words. You have noticed he avoids these projects at all costs, even in classes where he excels. In fact, he always seems to get sick on presentation days.

You may have heard that a chemical imbalance is to blame for depression. Many of us have heard of serotonin, and how a l...
05/23/2026

You may have heard that a chemical imbalance is to blame for depression. Many of us have heard of serotonin, and how a lack of it might lead people of all ages to feel depressed. While serotonin and other chemicals in the brain are a part of the puzzle, the causes of depression are much more complicated. Many parts of the brain are involved in depression. In fact, researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what happens in our brains and nervous systems that makes some of us more vulnerable to feeling depressed. There isn’t usually a “smoking gun” that we can point to as a cause of a child’s depression. It’s more common that several factors have built on each other over the course of months or years and eventually led to a depressed mood.

Therapists use a manual called the DSM-5 to diagnose children with Social Anxiety Disorder and other mental health probl...
05/16/2026

Therapists use a manual called the DSM-5 to diagnose children with Social Anxiety Disorder and other mental health problems. It tells us how many symptoms a child needs to have, and gives us a handy bullet point list of what exactly those symptoms are. In order to qualify as social anxiety, these symptoms need to last for at least 6 months. There also can’t be a better reason for the anxiety, such as a physical problem or the side effect of a medication.

Just as social anxiety can look like normal shyness, depression can look like an innocuous low mood. It’s normal (and na...
05/09/2026

Just as social anxiety can look like normal shyness, depression can look like an innocuous low mood. It’s normal (and natural and human) for any of us to feel a little down—kids included. But if you are like many of the parents I know, you may be trying to figure out where the line is between normal sadness and clinical depression when it comes to your child. How can you recognize when a typical reaction to a stressful situation is becoming something more? Any childhood mental health struggle is cause for concern, but depression can feel extra scary due to the highly publicized rise in su***de rates over the last decade for young people ages 10-24. Most children and teens with depression won’t experience the serious suicidal thoughts that put them at risk. However, it’s helpful to be familiar with the signs and symptoms of depression and take them seriously when they arise. (And just because a child doesn’t fully meet criteria for MDD doesn’t mean they aren’t depressed! There are several other forms of depression that may not be as severe or dramatic as MDD, but can still really get in the way of enjoying life.)

Sometimes social anxiety can look similar to plain old shyness. Here’s how to tell the difference. Kids who are shy have...
05/03/2026

Sometimes social anxiety can look similar to plain old shyness. Here’s how to tell the difference. Kids who are shy have trouble meeting new people. While their shyness may pop up with close friends and family, it’s usually the most noticeable when talking to an unfamiliar person. Shy kids may have a hard time initiating conversations, or responding when an adult says hello. However, after spending some time with a new person, many shy kids are able to warm up and interact more comfortably. Kids who are shy may appear soft-spoken or socially awkward at times, but their troubles are usually mild or fleeting. Shyness doesn’t usually cause major problems in a child’s life, or keep them from making at least a few good friends. Over time, many children may outgrow their shyness altogether.

On the flip side, kids who have social anxiety fear judgment from others. They worry about embarrassing themselves or making a mistake in front of friends, teachers, and even strangers. You may hear a socially anxious child worrying aloud about doing something wrong. This fear can be paralyzing, and it doesn’t usually get better on its own. Because socially anxious kids fear judgment, they can definitely have a hard time talking to friends or meeting new people. However, they can have a hard time with other public activities, too. The “social” in social anxiety refers not just to friendships, but any activities that involve being observed by others. This can include things like reading out loud in class, participating in gym class, or even eating in restaurants or using public restrooms.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of mental-health issues, share resources to help deal wi...
05/03/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness of mental-health issues, share resources to help deal with them, and support those who experience them – at every age. With that in mind, we’ll be sharing some basics this month about two mental-health issues that often impact children and teens: depression and anxiety.

There’s often a lot left unsaid when a loved one dies, especially without a chance to say goodbye. Children may wish the...
04/26/2026

There’s often a lot left unsaid when a loved one dies, especially without a chance to say goodbye. Children may wish they could apologize for a past argument, share an update about their lives, or simply thank their loved one for the lasting impact they’ve left behind.

Writing a letter gives children a chance to voice all these unexpressed thoughts and feelings. Even though they can’t be directly shared with the deceased loved one, a letter can be read aloud to another supportive adult, like a parent or caregiver. Once your child has finished the letter, listen attentively as they share it with you. They can then choose a way to “send” their letter to their loved one, such as bringing it to the gravesite or burning the paper and watching the smoke travel upwards toward the sky.

A loved one’s death can change the way a child sees the world. This is especially true when a loved one’s death was sudd...
04/25/2026

A loved one’s death can change the way a child sees the world. This is especially true when a loved one’s death was sudden or traumatic, such as a death from an accident. Suddenly, the world no longer seems as safe as it used to. Something terrible and unexpected has happened, which makes life feel less predictable.

This can lead to a lot of worries for bereaved kids. They may worry about the health and safety of other loved ones, or about their own risk of dying. Some children may even feel less hopeful about the future, or have a sense that things just won’t turn out well for them in life. In big and small ways, their experience with grief can color a child’s thoughts.

We can help a child to pay attention to their thoughts and not take them at face value. Kids can act like detectives, gently questioning their worries to see how accurate or true they really are. Oftentimes, worries are not based on very much good evidence—they’re just guesses about what might happen in the future.

You can help your child by asking questions like “Do you have any proof that is true?” and “Even if this scary thing did happen, would it be as bad as it seems?” Remind your child of their own strengths and ability to problem-solve, as well as the network of supportive people who could help them in a true emergency.

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706 Northeast Drive Ste 1
Davidson, NC
28036

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+17049812591

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