Better help for parents of anxious kids and teens
DEB AGNEW
Anxiety Specialist
Strategic Psychotherapist
Clinical Hypnotherapist
As parents, we don't want to see our children suffer. Sometimes, inadvertently our reassurances, accommodations, accidental rewards and modelling actually work counter to our good intentions and make anxiety worse. Let me be very clear - parents are NOT to blame for their child's anxiety. Parents do however have a huge positive influence in making things better.
Parents are often overwhelmed by the demands of worry and do not know what to do (or not do). The first 3-sessions of the 6-week program focus solely on the parent(s) and provide a solid understanding of how anxiety works and what to do (and not do) as a parent.
The following 3-sessions then focus on the child or teen and on building life-enhancing skills & fear-less ways of thinking and behaving which include the following critical coping strategies:
- learning to expect and anticipate worry
- successfully tolerating uncertainty
- managing discomfort and distress
- assessing reasonable risk vs catastrophic, fearful thinking
- developing mastery and self-control
- independent problem solving
- and acting effectively
Ease General Anxiety
Help your child better manage the unknowns of life, take back control and confidently confront life's obstacles with newfound resilience and ease.
Conquer Social Anxiety
Support children and teens to step outside their comfort zone, be okay with discomfort and connect authentically to others.
Thrive in the Face of Performance Anxiety
Whether it's at school, in sports, or in any high-pressure scenario, your child will learn how to 'handle it' effectively and speak to themselves in ways to overcome apprehension and harness their abilities.
Put an End to Separation Anxiety
Empower your child to courageously and independently handle ambiguity and new challenges, stepping outside their comfort zone and moving away from caregivers with confidence.
Let Go of Perfectionism
Support your child to overcome all-or-nothing thinking and embrace progress over perfectionism. Develop realistic expectations and flexibility, paving the way for increased self-confidence, improved emotional well-being, and a more balanced approach to challenges.
Relieve Panic Attacks
Equip your child with the tools and strategies to reset and reboot their nervous system and reclaim a sense of control and calm at times of distress and panic.
TREATMENT OF CONDITIONS COMORBID TO ANXIETY
I also treat conditions that are often associated with anxiety including trauma, depression, OCD, insomnia and sleep disturbances.
Overcome Trauma and Phobias
Help your child release traumatic memories and phobias, reframe experiences and meet fears head on.
Recover from Depression
Anxiety and depression often go hand in hand. Action and activity are key to successful treatment. Your child's best defence is a hope and belief that things can improve and change. Help them move from a victim mentality and reframe their thoughts.
Manage Obsessive Compulsive Behaviours
Help your child to identify and challenge irrational thoughts, beliefs and the triggers that contribute to their obsessive thinking and behaviours. Empower them to take control of their obsessive tendencies.
Soothe Insomnia and Sleep Problems
Help your child shut down their racing mind come bedtime and develop healthy habits around sleep.
3 Easy Steps to Feeling Better
1. Do Your Research
2. Book a Free 20-min Consultation Call
2. Book a Free 20-min Consultation Call
Therapy is a very mixed bag. You’re not comparing apples to apples. If you are ‘shopping’ for services, you should be warned that not all hypnosis or psychotherapy is created equally. There is a VAST discrepancy amongst practitioners regarding efficacy and qualifications. And not all practitioners are registered or endorsed by an industry peak body. The right therapist makes ALL the difference.
2. Book a Free 20-min Consultation Call
2. Book a Free 20-min Consultation Call
2. Book a Free 20-min Consultation Call
Therapy needs to work for everyone, so it's best to test the waters. A FREE 20-min telehealth consultation, either by phone or Zoom, will help you decide if this is right for you and your child or teen. You'll get immediate answers to your questions, see if we connect and decide if it's a good fit and ticks all your boxes.
3. Get Ready for a Better Outcome
2. Book a Free 20-min Consultation Call
3. Get Ready for a Better Outcome
Join me online for your appointment. Change begins with you. I’ll work with you and your child or teen to develop a treatment plan that’s tailored to your personal goals and unique needs. I’ll also give you both an audio recording of the hypnosis component so you can listen to it on your phone and practice it at home. Repetition is the mother of skill.
Licensed Therapist, Deb Agnew, BSc Psych, Dip Psy & Dip Hyp
Hi, I'm Deb Agnew
Welcome to my clinical practice and website. I specialise in anxiety and treating parents, kids, teens and anxious families. I’m a qualified and licensed solution-focussed Strategic Psychotherapist and Clinical Hypnotherapist. I also have a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Canada’s esteemed McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec.
In addition to my private practice, I work for Black Dog Institute, a world-leading mental health research organisation and medical research institute, promoting the prevention, management and treatment of Anxiety and Depression, particularly in young people.
I'm also the mother of two teenage boys. I know what it feels like to have a child who is paralysed with fear and worry. To be up all hours of the night at the ER. And the feeling of having your heart break in two when you see your child in so much pain. But I also know how it feels when things get better and what needs to change to get there.
My practice is recognised nationally and internationally for providing effective psychological services that benefit the health and wellbeing of the community. I'm also on the Board of the International Strategic Psychotherapists Association (ISPA).
Amplify the results - get better
Get full session recordings downloaded to you and your teen's smartphone. How does that sound? Practice makes perfect. You get to amplify the effects of the LIVE Broadcast session by relistening to recordings between visits. We know that creating new habits and creating new neural pathways in the brain requires time, repetition and practice. This allows you and your child to ingrain new ways of thinking between appointments and solidify new habits and behaviours.
"I am truly grateful for Deb's assistance and the transformative impact she had on my wellbeing. Her dedication, skill, and compassionate approach made a significant difference in my life, allowing me to overcome a challenging issue that had been holding me back."
NINA GU
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