Thrive Therapy Blog

First Blog of 2023

3/23/2023

By: Dr. Erica Wollerman

First blog of 2023… and yes, I know it’s March ;)

I think it has been over a year since I last wrote a blog or any content for Thrive. Honestly, I typically love writing for our website and social media accounts. While a part of me has missed using this avenue to share information and thoughts with the world, part of me has been hiding.

Hiding from the fact that the world feels so discouraging and difficult at times.

Hiding from the fact that my schedule has become so busy that I have not had time to find the “most beautiful, perfect, nice framing” for the situations many of us are navigating.

Hiding from the fact that sometimes, I don’t know what I am doing either.

You see, the past year has been incredibly difficult for our world in a myriad of ways that it has been overwhelming to sit down and really sit with that reality in order to put together my thoughts, let alone my words. Additionally, with the growth of our practice, return to in-person sessions, and my own family’s challenges at times, it has been a lot to juggle logistically, let alone emotionally.

However, recently, I have begun to cast away the ideals that I should have suggestions for people who are grappling with humanity and the terrible things we do to each other. And I have recognized that I do have things to share and my part to play in helping to make the world better.

For those of you who know me, this is through my individual work with clients and parents but also, from time to time, in what I try to share with the general public in my content. So, here we are. Back to writing again. A bit rusty and clunky, but I feel that I need to show up however I am so that I can continue that purpose.

Because though the parenting game is rigged, I believe we can make it a bit less anxiety provoking - not just for ourselves but for our kids.

Kids and teens are struggling these days. They need us all to show up and put in some work to shift this parenting culture towards a better, more sustainable path.

So anyways, I am back. It’s officially 2023, and while we are a few months in, I still wanted to share my word of intention for the year. Some of you may remember that I set a word each year in reflection on the past year and what I believe might help me weather the storms of the coming year. With all of the challenges of our world and the weight many of us are carrying witnessing tragedy after tragedy, I thought JOY would be a good intention. I could certainly use more joy in my life, and I am going to work to cultivate it. So far, this has sometimes been in letting myself lose myself in playing with my son again, and other times it has been through dancing to my old-school beats.

I know it is late to share all of this, but really, who cares? Similar to what I encourage my clients to do, I am practicing what I preach and showing up as I am, very imperfectly so. You see, it is okay if we miss a day, a week, a month, or even a year in something that is important to us. What really matters is getting back into it. I will do my best to stop hiding and show up through writing again. Not just for you, dear reader, but for me too.

At Thrive, we take a positive, client centered approach to therapy that is focused on creating a genuine connection with our clients. If you would like to talk with a Thrive Therapist about yourself, your child, or teen attending therapy via video sessions, please reach out to us by phone at 858-342-1304.

As always, thanks for reading and comments are always welcome regarding any issues around child or teen psychotherapy services in San Diego by Thrive Therapy Studio.

To stay in the loop on the services offered and to receive updated information about Thrive, please feel free to sign up for the newsletter through the following link: http://eepurl.com/dsgLNL.

Meet Dr. Erica Wollerman, our Founder

8/9/2022

By: CanvasRebel
This is an excerpt from an interview between our founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman, and CanvasRebel. To read the interview in full, check it out here!

Alright, Erica thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

One of the most common themes that comes up in my work, and my life personally, is around limits. People often really struggle to know their limits in the sense of “how much can I take on, how much more can I do, or am I doing too much?” This is something that resonates with me personally as well and I have finally understood a better way to approach the questions around doing too much or not enough. The thing I encourage people to consider is that everything, and I mean everything, has a cost. Since I work often with working parents who have demanding careers, this is so true for them and for me and my family. For example, if you are choosing to work hard for a promotion or have a job that is too demanding for you, the cost might be to your energy, ability to engage with your kids, or mental health. I usually frame conversations about our choices in this light and understanding the cost so that we can make more conscious choices. Otherwise, we end up with unrealistic expectations that will just never be met.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I founded Thrive Therapy Studio in 2017 after approximately 11 years in the field of mental health and therapy. I am a licensed clinical psychologist and I LOVE working with working parents who are struggling to balance it all. Since I have a background working with children with a variety of diagnoses, my understanding of children informs my work with parents to help benefit the whole family. I am a firm believer that if parents are coping better, their kids will also be coping better. My approach is similar to my parenting style – firm with lots of compassion and understanding. I am most proud of being gable to develop an office where my team loves to work, our clients love to come, and where we truly can support the whole family.

We also wanted to share with you some pictures of our updated office! We have expanded our office space so that we can better serve our community, increase our in person session offerings, and further grow our team!

Check them out below!

What Is Play Therapy?

4/6/2022

By: Dr. Andrea Seldonridge

As a therapist who works with children, I have often been asked by parents what play therapy is, what its purpose of it is, and how it works. So, I hope to convey a bit about what play therapy actually looks like and the reasons why we use it!

“Toys are children’s words and play is their language”. This is a commonly shared quote by Garry Landreth, a prominent play therapist. Play therapy is a form of therapy that is commonly used with children (but even adults can engage in play therapy too!). In typical therapy with adults, adults can verbalize their experiences, emotions, and needs. Children of course are often unable to do so, especially very young children. As many children are unable to put into words their experiences or communicate their needs or pain, play therapy is a way that they can do so that fits their developmental stage. No talking is required since play is a thorough method of communication!

Play therapy is different from normal play. As a therapist stays attuned to what is happening for the child in their play, it can help the child process their feelings and experiences. Rather than spending the session talking, we can work to help children resolve issues via play.

There are so many different tools, toys, and play activities children can use in play therapy. Sometimes this can be playing with dolls or figurines, using a sand tray, making art, or other types of pretend play. The toys can resemble different themes or aspects of their lives, such as family relationships, safety, power, or interpersonal relationships. Play is a safe space where children can play out scary scenarios or painful experiences or emotions. Sometimes these experiences or issues would be too scary or overwhelming to face outside the therapy room. Through this play, they can process the events and practice resolving issues within the safe space, while also providing a sense of relief. It provides children a developmentally appropriate way to deal with depression, anxiety, and even trauma.

Often, play therapy can be directive to help reach specific goals, while often it is very non-directive. When play is non-directive, it gives the child a chance to lead, develop confidence, and increase their sense of agency. Play gets to be organic. It is a chance for them to explore what they would like to in therapy. Many times when I have done play therapy, I will let the child know at the beginning of therapy “this is your play place. You can do anything you would like to. If there is something you can’t do, I will let you know”. After setting boundaries around safety, the children get to just take it from there! Play also helps children let their guard down and just be themselves.

Play therapy does four major tasks.

Facilitates communication. Play promotes self-expression and communicating thoughts and feelings. It allows children to overcome difficulties without needing to have the ability to verbalize them. Metaphors are also used in play to help them solve their problems.
Fosters emotional wellness. Play helps children release unpleasant feelings, increase their sense of control, and improve their overall mood.
Increases personal strengths. Children can practice their problem solving skills, build self-esteem, and increase their creativity. This can increase their overall confidence to tackle issues in the world outside the therapy room.
Enhances social relationships. Parents can be involved in play therapy, playing alongside their child. This play works to facilitate positive emotions and attachment between parents and children. Children get to practice their social skills and through role-playing, they can increase the empathy they have for others.

Play therapy is a great way for children to process and resolve the issues they are facing in a safe and developmentally appropriate way. It is a unique take on therapy, reminding us that children have found their own way of communicating without the need for words.

The Importance & Myths of Emotions

3/30/2022

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

I like to think about the ways we think about emotions. Emotions are often labeled as good or bad, positive or negative. Instead of seeing emotions as this good and bad dichotomy, I like to refer to them as pleasant or unpleasant. This helps remove the idea that there are certain emotions that should be avoided, but rather, some just aren’t our favorite to feel. There is so much value to these unpleasant emotions too! They serve a variety of purposes and are so necessary to being a human. Dr. Marsha Linehan is a clinical psychologist who has done a significant amount of research on the functions and myths about emotions. There are several emotion myths (such as emotions being bad), but before I share those, I think it is important to understand the functions of emotions.

They motivate us for action. Emotions push us to do things. For example, anxiety might help push a student to finish their assignment. Anxiety itself here isn’t “bad”, rather it just helps the student get things done. If we feel happy while doing something, such as feeling happy when exercising, it encourages us to engage in the activity more.

They communicate something to others. Emotions result in facial expressions which can communicate a lot to someone in a very short amount of time, such as giving a smile or furrowing a brow.

They communicate something to ourselves. For example, fear can clue us in that the situation we are in is not safe.

Emotions are so important! They are constantly motivating us to action and communicating things to ourselves and others throughout the day. As I mentioned above, there are various myths about emotions that tend to cloud their importance. Below are some of the most common myths of emotions Dr. Linehan has written on.

There is a right way to feel in every situation. Have you ever found yourself saying “I shouldn’t feel this way?” I definitely have. I have found myself judging myself for having a certain emotional reaction. However, this is not the most helpful way to think about emotions. There is no right or wrong emotion to have in a certain situation. Instead of blaming yourself, you might try acknowledging that you are having the emotion without any judgment for feeling it.
Being emotional means being out of control. Feeling a wide range of emotions means you are a human! Emotions do not necessarily lead us to act in a certain way. While they can motivate us to take action, we still have control over how we respond. There is a cliché that I really like to think about. It says that all emotions are okay, but all behavior is not. Luckily when we feel an intense emotion, our impulse control is often there to keep us from acting on it.
Some emotions are stupid. While there are some emotions that are far less pleasant than others, they are all important. A common example is feeling sad. Someone might say “it’s stupid of me to feel sad right now”. But, is it? Instead, I might encourage them to take time to think about what might be leading them to feeling sad. I think any emotion can clue us into what else might be going on.
Emotions should always be trusted. As I mentioned above, even though emotions communicate something to us, that communication is not always accurate. For example, if you feel anxious, that does not always mean the situation you are in is not safe. Sometimes our emotions are either over heightened or subdued. I think there is a lot of value in trying to balance both one’s emotions with one’s ability to think through a situation. This balance can help one make more informed steps when deciding what to do next.

Instead of viewing emotions as things that should be suppressed, I would encourage you to embrace them and be curious about them. I hope you are able to see the importance of emotions and ways they are part of what makes us human. To learn more about Dr. Linehan’s work, you can check out her DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets manual. You can also learn more about Dr. Linehan’s story and her development of Dialectical Behavior Therapy in her memoir Building a Life Worth Living.

How Parents Can Help Kids Learn From Mistakes

3/23/2022

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

So your child made a mistake. Now what do you do? You may have seen it coming or maybe it was unexpected. Maybe their mistake will affect others. Your child might feel defeated, hopeless, frustrated, or angry. As adults, we know that there is always something one can learn from a mistake, but how can we help kids learn from theirs? Luckily, there are often several teaching moments parents can incorporate in these scenarios.

Allow time for a child to calm before talking about the mistake. This can be one of the most helpful places to start. It is hard to take in information or think something through when emotions are high. Allowing kids time for their emotions to settle will likely make the conversation more effective. Saying something like “would you like to take space for a bit?” can communicate that you understand they might not be ready to talk. This decreases the pressure to share their thoughts, concerns, or letdowns until they are ready. Using the phrase “taking space” can also be used whenever emotions are high. It also allows a child (or us adults) time to reduce the chances of saying something we might later wish we hadn’t.
Praise their ability to admit they made a mistake. It is hard to own it! Working to ensure your response does not shame them can be huge because it increases the likelihood that they will share future mistakes. You can try saying “I’m proud of you for sharing you” or “I’m glad you could share this, it shows a lot of bravery”.
Help them reflect on what they learned. This demonstrates that even with disappointment or frustration, there is always a take away from a mistake. You can help them identify one thing they have learned that will help them the next time they are confronted with a similar challenge then you can talk about how they’re feeling. Depending on their ability to identify their own emotions, you can try reflecting “I can see how disappointed/sad/angry you are right now”.
Use this moment of humility to help them learn to be compassionate with their peers when peers make mistakes. You can first help your child recognize how they would like to be treated when they make a mistake. Then, you can help them think about how their classmates or teammates would like to be treated when making mistakes. This allows your child to learn the importance of showing kindness to classmates or teammates when they make mistakes. Helping them recognize that as your child wants to be supported and not judged, your child can learn to show this same compassion to peers.
If they hurt someone, plan on how to apologize. You can help them learn how to make amends by learning how to apologize well. This can consist of admitting the mistake you made, sharing that you are sorry, stating you want to ensure this does not happen again, and asking for forgiveness. I would also add on helping them learn to let it go after they are forgiven.
Practice, practice. If their mistake is something they are able to practice, then help them practice it. Saying “okay, you made a mistake here, so let’s practice more to help it not happen again!” can be a positive reframe.
Model learning from mistakes. How do you respond to your own mistakes? Are you forgiving of yourself, or do you tend to talk down to yourself? Increasing your awareness of how you respond to your own mistakes will help children learn how to respond to theirs.

While making mistakes is rarely enjoyable, there are so many things we can learn from them! Helping children notice the opportunities, rather than them only seeing their disappointments or frustrations, can increase their hope for future outcomes.

4 Themes From Encanto to Explore With Your Child

3/16/2022

By: Dr. Erica Wollerman

If your house is anything like ours, Encanto has been watched, and listened to, A LOT! It’s very cute because my son has picked up on the fact that I love this movie as well so when he really wants to watch something and connect with me he will ask for “Encanto and popcorn.” Something that I really love about this movie is how many amazing themes it incorporates and provides concrete ways to discuss some really tough things in life. Like how hard it can be to feel that others expect you to be able to solve every problem (Luisa) or how we might feel our value is only in being “perfect” (Isabella). Or, how much a family is impacted by trying to hide difficult things and not talking about them (Bruno and Mirabel). So, I thought it might be helpful to share a bit about how I, as a child therapist and parent, use the film to explore topics with my son (who is 4 so some of this is for younger kids).

One of my son’s favorite questions about the movie is, why didn’t Mirabel get a gift?
What a great question right? This is a great way to talk about how the family has secrets and is not dealing with the hard things coming up so the magic seemed to find a way to force them to talk about it. First, by trying to show something was wrong by not giving her a gift, and second, by giving Bruno a vision about her. I use this question as a way to weave in the importance of facing our problems and dealing with hard things. We talk about how the magic was there to help the family and that because Abuela wanted to protect the magic by always being of service to everyone and holding tight to “sunshine”, it started to break down. Pretending everything is okay all the time causes harm. Just ask poor Tia Pepa always trying to imagine “clear skies” instead of dancing in the rain!

Another helpful topic is using Luisa’s struggles to explore how it’s okay to ask for help and not be strong all the time. With older kids, it can help to use her situation to explore how unrealistic expectations are the hardest pressures to deal with in life. With my son, I talk about how Luisa feels that she needs to do everything because she is so strong but that it is okay to take a break, ask for help, and that one person should never be the one in a family shouldering all the problems or challenges. We talk about how families are a team and how we need to help each other.

Onto one of my favorite topics of all time, perfection! Specifically, perfection is not a great goal. My son and I talk a lot about how Isabella felt that she had to be a certain way, perfect, to be loved and of use in the family but that when she allowed herself to feel things fully, she was happier and more herself. We love watching her sing and dance and create things totally her own. I think this is a great image for parents when they are considering what they hope for in their child’s life. Instead of perfect Isabella who seemed pretty unhappy at times, we should hope for an Isabella who dances in the magic of her own creations with joy.

Now back to Mirabel of course. While my son loves asking about how she didn’t get a gift, as a therapist, I know a secret. She did get a gift. The gift of empathy. Watching how she was able to connect with all of her family members so well to truly see them, what they needed, and to show them love through their struggles was truly beautiful. Especially as a therapist because she reminded me of what we do every day in our offices. Even if others may not always understand, we know that the Isabella we want is the one who is messy and joyful, not “perfect,” and that the Luisa we want is the one who is resting and helpful because she chooses it, not because her worth is tied to her productivity. While disrupting family patterns is not always easy, it certainly is brave and it was heartwarming to see her family embrace her and the magic reward them all by coming back. Hopefully, all of our lives can embrace a bit of magic that helps us move more in the direction of doing things in line with who we truly are.

The Importance of Making Mistakes

3/9/2022

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

I have never liked making mistakes. This was always most prevalent for me in school. When I was in 1st grade, we had a spelling quiz each week. If you got a perfect score, you did not have to retake it. I have been told that most times I did not get a perfect score, I would cry. In 4th grade, I got my first D on an exam. I distinctly remember when my teacher told me and I could not stop crying as I was so frustrated with myself. However, there were other areas of my life that I was more than okay making mistakes in! Specifically, anything sports related. Playing kickball in P.E. class, I rarely kicked the ball far enough. I even remember when other kids would be upset with me that I was not a better teammate. But you know, it did not bother me! I just had fun and placed no pressure on myself to be perfect!

I think for a lot of people, we have certain areas in our life in which we are hard on ourselves, whereas in others we can give ourselves more grace. I was always “good” at school, so when I messed up, I had a harder time handling it. Whereas with sports, I was proud of myself if I just got through the game. The only way I became better at handling the fact that I would make mistakes academically was just by making more mistakes. I had to get used to the fact that mistakes happen, even if I thought they should not.

Childhood really is a great time for making mistakes! As adults, we at times want to shield kids from the negative results some of their mistakes might lead to. However, making mistakes is fundamental in development and there are some mistakes that might be worth letting them make to reach those developmental milestones. Here are a few reasons why it is important for kids to make mistakes.

They learn to problem solve. Through making mistakes, they can learn to tell themselves “Okay, this did not go how I hoped. What can I do now?” They will learn how to reassess the situation and develop a plan B. If they make another mistake, they can make a plan C. This helps them learn to not give up after one or two attempts and that in some way they will figure it out!
It teaches them they are human. This is something that I wish I had learned much earlier in life! They might put a lot of pressure on themselves and making mistakes allows them to experience failure. Experiencing, and more so FEELING failure lets them know that despite their best efforts, mistakes do happen! No one can avoid it no matter how hard they try.
They learn the world will not actually end. If they feel anxious they will make a mistake - and then make the mistake - they usually feel even more anxious. However, once they see that whatever they were most worried about did not happen, it can start to reduce the anxiety they feel.
They develop distress tolerance. If what they feared would happen does happen, it is a great time to increase distress tolerance. When we mess up, we might feel anxious, overwhelmed, or angry. All of those feelings are valid! By practicing making mistakes as a child, they can learn to slowly increase their ability to get through these difficult emotions or uncomfortable outcomes.
Being perfect does not define your worth. Lastly, they can learn that just because they made a mistake, it does not mean they are worth any less. They are still wholly and fully themselves, no matter what grade they get or how many goals they score.

Childhood is a great age to practice making mistakes, especially as the consequences of those mistakes often have smaller consequences than maybe some mistakes one could make in adulthood. Allowing your child to make mistakes while being able to receive your feedback and support can increase their self-confidence to try again.

What Your Kid Hears When You Say "Be Careful"

3/2/2022

By Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

“Be careful!” is a phrase that is commonly and frequently expressed at every park I’ve ever been to. Often I think it is warranted and can help keep kids safe. It reminds me of a time in 2nd grade that I wish I had been told to be careful. I had thought somersaulting down a slide was a good idea (spoiler: it was not a good idea, but I got some cool new eyeglass frames because of it). We always want kids to stay safe. As adults, we have become skilled at perceiving when a situation may be risky. When we tell kids “be careful”, we hope to convey a need to be more cautious or warn them of potential dangers. While we might be trying to help keep them safe, there are a few other things they might actually be hearing instead.

“I can’t do it on my own.” When kids approach a task, they may think they are capable of doing it. We also might know that they are capable too! However, hearing “be careful” can leave them feeling that this task is too much for them to handle. Rather than developing an increased sense of agency and awareness, they may start to doubt their capabilities and be inclined to ask for help more often than needed. Over time, this can create an unnecessary need to be more dependent on adults.
“I need to get approval first.” We’ve all seen when young kids look back at their parents before going down a slide to check if it is safe. When this happens, a parent will share some encouragement and then excitement when their child makes it down the slide! This is an example of a time in which it would be appropriate for the child to visually check with their parents that they are going to be safe. However, when a parent repeatedly tells their child to be careful, it might lead to the child relying on this checking behavior more often than needed.
“I’m not as good at this as I thought.” A child may not feel confident with the task at hand, yet still feel confident in themselves. Hearing “be careful” too often can start to chip away at their self-confidence and replace it with doubts. Exchanging “be careful” with “I believe in you” shifts the emphasis to a positive light and can increase a child’s confidence and self-esteem.
Lastly, they may feel an increased sense of danger. A kid might have felt calm, but the result of hearing “be careful” can increase their anxiety and stress levels. The situation they were facing might have seemed safe and okay from the start, but after the warning of “be careful,” the situation can then shift and provoke anxiety. In another scenario, they might have already had anxiety and doubts going into a situation, but the added warning can end up increasing these anxieties and doubts even more despite their initial cautiousness.

While there is a line between keeping your child safe and allowing them to try new things on their own, sharing your faith in them can in the end increase their trust within themselves to be safe and secure. In the times in which they do get hurt, you will have laid a good groundwork for them to share this with you, knowing that their parents have confidence in them that they will succeed.

Why Parents Should Encourage Risk Taking

2/23/2022

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

I usually associate risk taking with bungee jumping or skydiving. Those are both “risks” I doubt I will ever take, no matter how many times my friends say “it’s so worth it”. While I am not a fan of heights, I do think I have taken risks in other ways. I think about the times when I have moved to a new city by myself. There were risks that I would not make friends and risks that I would regret having moved. However, I was willing to take those jumps because I knew I could find a way to handle it. As an adult, it feels easier to tell myself to take a risk. I can gauge if the risk is too big or if it might be just big enough by the amount of risks I have taken in life so far. Children can benefit from taking risks too. There are definitely times that a risk is too big (like the time I tried to jump into the pool without my floaties “like the big kids”). However, appropriate risk taking can actually be really helpful in their development. Below I have shared some of the benefits of allowing kids to take risks.

Risk taking builds confidence. I think one example of this is when a child first rides a bike without training wheels. Once they overcome the fear of falling (and likely fall a few times), they gain more confidence. When a child is able to try new things and they realize they have succeeded, it can be a huge self-confidence booster.
It increases the likelihood they will try new things. That self-confidence gain helps them see other risks as opportunities they can take. It helps them feel less limited in what they can do. When we try to protect a child a little too much, they end up learning that there are tasks they cannot do that they probably can. This can end up leading to more self-doubt.
They can learn to fail well. If they try something new and it does not go well, this can actually be a good thing! This allows them the opportunity to feel the disappointment, recover, and build strength to try again. They learn that they can feel disappointment and still be proud of giving it a go. In the end, this can increase their resilience when trying new things. This also gives a parent the chance to validate their child’s feelings of disappointment, while also reflecting on the courage it took to take the risk.
They learn what risks are too risky. When children try new things, they often look at their parent first to see if what they are about to do is safe. If a child has less opportunities to decide for themselves what risks to take, they might have a difficult time gauging what risk is too risky or reckless in the future. Like I shared above, if they decide to take a risk that ends up having been a tad too risky, it allows an opportunity for the parent and child to talk about it. It can help the child reflect on how they might better know for the future if a risk is too much.

While your child might not be begging to go bungee jumping, I would encourage you to consider what appropriate risks they could take that can help them continue to increase their self-confidence. By doing so, it can help increase their sense of agency as they move towards adulthood.

Recognizing Anxiety in Kids

2/16/2022

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

When I think of anxiety as an adult, I think of stressful thoughts, racing hearts, sweaty palms, and being preoccupied with whatever I’m anxious about. As adults, we’ve had years to learn to improve our ability to identify what emotion we’re feeling. When you can identify it, it makes it a lot easier to navigate how to cope. Sometimes just being able to identify an emotion is relieving in itself.

For kids however, it can be harder for them to identify and communicate what emotion they are feeling. It can be even more difficult because some emotions, like anxiety, can look like anything but anxiety! Below I have listed some ways of what anxiety can look like in kids that might differ from adults.

Difficulty concentrating. If their mind seems to wander more or if they are having difficulty focusing on tasks or daily activities, it might be anxiety. Sometimes their anxious thoughts can end up clouding their ability to focus in the same way that when adults are stressed, we might become more easily distracted.
Physical symptoms. You might also have heard this described as somatic symptoms. There was a time in high school when I kept feeling nauseous before school. I could never figure out what was causing it. It was not until I reached adulthood that I recognized it was anxiety manifesting as nausea. Anxiety can look like a variety of physical symptoms, like muscle tension or restlessness. If your child complains of tummy aches, this can be a possible sign of anxiety. (Of course, if you’re concerned about yours or your child’s physical health, it is best to consult a medical provider to ensure there is nothing else going on).
Irritability. Sometimes when a child is angry or even just frustrated, it really is not about the person or situation that is occurring. Rather, it might be anxiety coming out as anger. Anger can be a way of protecting oneself from something that is scary or worrisome. If your child has become more irritable recently, I would encourage you to be curious about what else might be going on and if there has been a recent change that might have initiated it.
Wanting to avoid school. It could be that they dread a specific class (this was me for every English class) or just not be a fan of school as a whole. It could also be that there is something about the school day that is so uncomfortable or anxiety producing that it feels safest to stay home. They just might not be able to identify that they are feeling anxious or what it is they are anxious about. If your child is attempting to avoid going to school, this behavior might not be as much about defiance but more so them feeling overwhelmed.
Withdrawing from others. Sometimes when a child seems depressed, it might actually be anxiety (or a combination of both). Like irritability, it can be another way to protect yourself. If a child withdraws from others, it can be a way to feel like they are able to take a step back from the anxiety producing situation.
Difficulty sleeping. I think as adults, a lot of us know that when we are stressed, we often won’t sleep well that night. For kids however, since they might not be able to verbalize their stress and anxiety, it comes out as difficulty sleeping.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, these are some of the most common ways anxiety shows up in kids. If your child is experiencing any of the above, it might be helpful to check in with them on their stress levels and just remind them that you are there for them to be a listening ear.

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First Blog of 2023

By: Dr. Erica Wollerman

Meet Dr. Erica Wollerman, our Founder

By: CanvasRebel
This is an excerpt from an interview between our founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman, and CanvasRebel. To read the interview in full, check it out here!

We also wanted to share with you some pictures of our updated office! We have expanded our office space so that we can better serve our community, increase our in person session offerings, and further grow our team!

Check them out below!

What Is Play Therapy?

By: Dr. Andrea Seldonridge

The Importance & Myths of Emotions

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

How Parents Can Help Kids Learn From Mistakes

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

4 Themes From Encanto to Explore With Your Child

By: Dr. Erica Wollerman

The Importance of Making Mistakes

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

What Your Kid Hears When You Say "Be Careful"

By Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

Why Parents Should Encourage Risk Taking

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

Recognizing Anxiety in Kids

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

Blogs from the Thrive Family!

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By: Dr. Erica Wollerman

By: CanvasRebel This is an excerpt from an interview between our founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman, and CanvasRebel. To read the interview in full, check it out here!

We also wanted to share with you some pictures of our updated office! We have expanded our office space so that we can better serve our community, increase our in person session offerings, and further grow our team! Check them out below!

By: Dr. Andrea Seldonridge

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

By: Dr. Erica Wollerman

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

By Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

By: Dr. Andrea Seldomridge

Blogs from the Thrive Family!

Categories

Archives

Call Today! 858-342-1304

Contact Us

By: CanvasRebel
This is an excerpt from an interview between our founder, Dr. Erica Wollerman, and CanvasRebel. To read the interview in full, check it out here!

We also wanted to share with you some pictures of our updated office! We have expanded our office space so that we can better serve our community, increase our in person session offerings, and further grow our team!

Check them out below!