Anxiety in high school students often shows up as stomachaches before school, hours of homework that never feel finished, avoiding a class or a friend group, or panic before tests, not as a teen who says “I am anxious.” When worry starts shaping your teen’s choices, therapy can help. Blackburn Clinical Services offers one-on-one anxiety therapy for teens 13 to 17 in our West Los Angeles office or by secure video for clients located in California, with family sessions for parents.
Concerned about your teen’s anxiety? Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. Therapy takes place in our office at 12326 Venice Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90066, or by secure video.
Who this page is for
Parents of high schoolers ages 13 to 17 across Los Angeles, including families at private and independent high schools, Catholic high schools, boarding schools and college prep schools, as well as LAUSD and other public schools. If you are an adult looking for help for yourself, see our anxiety treatment page for adults and adolescents.
How common is anxiety in teens?
Very common. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that an estimated 31.9 percent of U.S. adolescents ages 13 to 18 have had an anxiety disorder at some point, with higher rates among girls (38.0 percent) than boys (26.1 percent), based on the National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement. They are also treatable: in a large NIMH-funded study of children and teens ages 7 to 17 with anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication and the two combined all worked better than placebo, and the combination worked best.
What teen anxiety looks like in high school
- Test and grade anxiety. Blanking on exams your teen studied for, or rewriting assignments late into the night.
- Perfectionism. Anything short of an A feels like failure, and starting work becomes harder than finishing it. See therapy for high-achieving teens.
- Social anxiety. Dreading presentations, lunch, group projects or speaking up in class.
- Physical complaints. Headaches, stomachaches or nausea, especially on school mornings or Sunday nights.
- Avoidance. Late arrivals, visits to the nurse, or missed days that start to add up. See school refusal and anxiety-related absences.
- Reassurance seeking. Asking the same “what if” questions again and again, or needing you to check things for them.
- Panic attacks. Sudden waves of a racing heart, shaky breathing or dizziness. See teen panic attacks: what they look like and what helps.
- Phone and social media spirals. Constant checking, comparison or fear of missing out. See social media, phones and teen anxiety.
Some nerves before a big test are normal. Anxiety is more likely to need treatment when it lasts for weeks, gets worse over time, or starts costing your teen sleep, friendships, activities or school days.
How teen anxiety care differs from adult care
Our adult and adolescent anxiety page covers the full range of anxiety conditions we treat. For high schoolers, we add a few things: parents are part of the plan through family sessions, your teen still has private time with their therapist, sessions are scheduled Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, around the school day, and we can provide documentation for your teen’s school when clinically appropriate.
What therapy at Blackburn looks like
- An assessment with your teen and with you, covering worries, sleep, school, friendships, substances and safety.
- One-on-one therapy in our office or by secure video for clients located in California using CBT, ACT, DBT skills and other approaches chosen for your teen, so they learn to face anxious situations step by step instead of avoiding them.
- Family sessions to help parents respond to anxiety in ways that build confidence rather than accidentally feeding avoidance.
- Psychiatric care can be arranged if an evaluation for medication is appropriate.
- More support if needed through the Blackburn Concierge Outpatient Program, typically 3 to 5 hours a week of one-on-one therapy, with no groups.
- Sharing with school. We talk with a school counselor only with your written permission.
What parents can do now
- Name what you see, calmly. “I have noticed Sunday nights are really hard” lands better than “Why are you so stressed?”
- Validate the feeling, then encourage the step. Let your teen know the fear makes sense and that you believe they can handle the next small step.
- Notice accommodations. Writing excuse notes, answering every reassurance question or letting them skip hard situations can bring short-term relief while keeping anxiety going.
- Protect sleep. Phones out of the bedroom at night is a simple place to start.
- Check in with your pediatrician about physical symptoms.
- Call for an assessment. You do not need to be sure it is an anxiety disorder to ask for help.
When to get urgent help
If your teen is in danger right now, call 911. If your teen talks about wanting to die, is harming themselves or you are worried they might, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, any time of day. Parents can call 988 too, for advice about what to do next. If your teen also seems low or hopeless, see teen depression signs parents miss.
Questions
Is my teen’s anxiety normal stress or something more?
Look at how long it lasts and how much it gets in the way. When worry lasts for weeks and starts costing your teen sleep, school days, friendships or activities, it is worth an assessment.
Will my teen have to miss school for therapy?
We schedule within our weekday hours, Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and work with your family to find times that fit around the school day as much as possible.
Do you talk to my teen’s school?
Only with your written permission. When clinically appropriate, we can provide documentation for your teen’s school.
Does my teen need medication for anxiety?
Not always. Many teens improve with therapy alone. If medication might help, psychiatric care can be arranged so a prescriber can evaluate your teen.
Can parents be involved?
Yes. Family sessions are available, and your teen also has private time with their therapist.
My teen refuses to go. What should I do?
Call us yourself first. Parents often make the first call, and we can talk through how to bring up therapy in a way your teen is more likely to accept.
More for families: therapy for private school students, does my teen need therapy? a checklist and teen OCD treatment.
Get started
Ready to talk about your teen’s anxiety? Call (888) 870 7405
Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
You can also email info@blackburnclinical.com or contact us. Parents usually make the first call; your teen does not need to be on the line.