Anxiety & Anxiety Disorders
School counselors and allied school-based mental health professionals serve as an important resource for students facing anxiety and related anxiety disorders. Through Tier 1 prevention and Tier 2/3 mental health interventions, school counselors can support students in developing healthy coping skills and navigating new experiences.
CSCORE does not endorse any of the following research studies or resources. Instead, our goal is to present you with the latest research and interventions. It is up to you to decide if the study is reliable and valid.
Web Resources
Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA)
The national nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing and treating anxiety, depression, and related disorders. Provides information on these disorders, and how to cope with and treat symptoms.
ADAA Children and Teens with Anxiety
This page lists topics specific to children and teens with anxiety. Includes links to sections on childhood anxiety disorders, treatment, tips for parents, anxiety disorders at school, and school refusal.
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Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental HealthFact sheet on anxiety disorders and how these disorders affect children and adolescents. Includes educational implications, instructional strategies, and classroom accommodations.
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National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Publication on anxiety disorders that describes the symptoms, causes, and treatments of major anxiety disorders. Includes information on getting help and coping. A free PDF version can be printed to use as a resource with students and families. ​
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Sample Accommodations for Anxious Kids from WorryWiseKids.org
Resource list for dealing with anxiety disorder.
Journal Research Articles
COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH ANXIETY DISORDERS: CLINICAL RESEARCH ADVANCES
Albano, A.M., & Kendall, P.C. (2002). Cognitive behavioral therapy for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders: Clinical research advances. International Review of Psychiatry, 14(2), 129-134.
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COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL TREATMENT OF ANXIETY DISORDERS IN CHILDREN: LONG-TERM (6 YEAR) FOLLOW UP
Barrett, P.M., Duffy, A.L., Dadds, M.R., & Rapee, R.M. (2001). Cognitive-behavioral treatment of anxiety disorders in children: Long-term (6 year) follow-up. Journal of Consulting Clinical Psychology, 69, 135-141.
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FLEXIBLE APPLICATION OF THE COPING CAT PROGRAM FOR ANXIOUS YOUTH
Beidas, R.S., Benjamin, C.L., Puleo, C.M., Edmunds, J.M., & Kendall, P.C. (2010). Flexible application of the Coping Cat program for anxious youth. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 17(2), 142-153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpra.2009.11.002
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A META-ANALYSIS: THE EFFECTS OF CBT AS A CLINIC-& SCHOOL-BASED TREATMENT ON STUDENTS' MATHEMATICS ANXIETY
Bicer, A., Perihan, C., & Lee, Y. (2020). A meta-analysis: The effects of CBT as a clinic-& school-based treatment on students' mathematics anxiety. International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 15(2), 1-14. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/7598
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EFFECT OF MEDITATION ON SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING IN A HIGH-PERFORMING HIGH SCHOOL
Bleasdale, J. E., Peterson, M. C., & Nidich, S. (2020). Effect of meditation on social/emotional well-being in a high-performing high school. Professional School Counseling, 23(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X20940639
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NO MENTAL HEALTH WITHOUT YOUNG PEOPLE: A THEMATIC SYNTHESIS OF YOUNG PEOPLE'S VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES OF SCHOOL BASED GROUP MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS AND A STUDY EXPLORING FACILITATORS' AND YOUNG PEOPLE'S EXPERIENCES OF A SCHOOL-BASED INTERNET COGNITIVE BEHAVIOUR THERAPY (iCBT) INTERVENTION PROGRAMME CALLED BRAIVE-MANAGING ANXIETY FOR YOUTH
Dhillon, J. (2021). No Mental Health Without Young People: A Thematic Synthesis of Young People’s Views and Experiences of School-Based Group Mental Health Interventions and a Study Exploring Facilitators’ and Young People’s Experiences of a School-Based Internet Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (iCBT) Intervention Programme Called Braive-Managing Anxiety for Youth (Doctoral dissertation, University of Southampton).
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A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED COMPARISON OF EMOTIONAL FREEDOM TECHNIQUE AND COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY TO REDUCE ADOLESCENT ANXIETY: A PILOT STUDY
Gaesser, A. H., & Karan, O. C. (2017). A randomized controlled comparison of Emotional Freedom Technique and Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy to reduce adolescent anxiety: A pilot study. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 23(2), 102-108. https://doi.org/10.1089/acm.2015.0316
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STUDENTS WITH ANXIETY: THE ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELOR
Hanie, E.H., & Stanard, R.P. (2009). Students with anxiety: The role of the professional school counselor. Georgia School Counselors Association Journal, 16(1), 49-55.
Full Article
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GROUP COUNSELING CURRICULUM TO ADDRESS TEST ANXIETY FOR MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
Horowitz, R. (2017). Group counseling curriculum to address test anxiety for middle and high school students (Doctoral dissertation, California State University, Northridge).
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A META-ANALYTIC EVALUATION OF THE FRIENDS PROGRAM FOR PREVENTING ANXIETY IN STUDENT POPULATIONS
Maggin, D. M., & Johnson, A. H. (2014). A meta-analytic evaluation of the FRIENDS program for preventing anxiety in student populations. Education and Treatment of Children, 277-306. https://www.jstor.org/stable/44857452
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ANXIETY: 6-WEEK SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING INTERVENTION FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL COUNSELORS
Paolini, A. C. (2021). Anxiety: 6-Week social emotional learning intervention for elementary school counselors. Journal of School Counseling, 19(23), n23.
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IS REDUCING UNCERTAIN CONTROL THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL TEST ANXIETY INTERVENTION FOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS? FINDINGS FROM A RANDOMIZED CONTROL TRIAL
Putwain, D. W., & Pescod, M. (2018). Is reducing uncertain control the key to successful test anxiety intervention for secondary school students? Findings from a randomized control trial. School Psychology Quarterly, 33(2), 283.
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INCREASING ACCESS AND REACH: IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL-BASED CBT FOR ANXIETY IN STUDENTS WITH ASD OR SUSPECTED ASD
Reaven, J., Meyer, A. T., Pickard, K., Boles, R. E., Hayutin, L., Middleton, C., Reyes, N. M., Hepburn, S. L., Tanda, T., Stahmer, A. & Blakeley-Smith, A. (2022). Increasing access and reach: Implementing school-based CBT for anxiety in students with ASD or suspected ASD. Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 7(1), 56-75. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2021.1941430
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IDENTIFYING AND UNDERSTANDING ANXIETY IN YOUTH WITH ASD: PARENT AND SCHOOL PROVIDER PERSPECTIVES ON ANXIETY WITHIN PUBLIC SCHOOL SETTINGS​
Reyes, N. M., Pickard, K., Tanda, T., Morris, M. A., & Reaven, J. (2022). Identifying and understanding anxiety in youth with ASD: Parent and school provider perspectives on anxiety within public school settings. Evidence-based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 7(1), 12-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/23794925.2021.1917017
Full Article​​
DO SOCIAL THREAT COGNITIONS DECREASE WITH SCHOOL-BASED CBT AND PREDICT TREATMENT OUTCOME IN ADOLESCENTS WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER?
Ryan, J. L., Fox, J. K., Lowe, S. R., & Warner, C. M. (2019). Do social threat cognitions decrease with school-based CBT and predict treatment outcome in adolescents with social anxiety disorder? Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy, 33(4), 331-342.
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COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR ANXIETY DISORDERS IN YOUTH
Seligman, L.D., & Ollendick, T.H. (2011). Cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders in youth. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 20(2), 217-238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chc.2011.01.003
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TEST ANXIETY INTERVENTIONS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF TREATMENT STUDIES FROM 2000-2010
Von der Embse, N., Barterian, J., & Segool, N. (2013). Test anxiety interventions for children and adolescents: A systematic review of treatment studies from 2000-2010. Psychology in the Schools, 50(1), 57-71.
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TREATING ADOLESCENTS WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER IN SCHOOL: AN ATTENTION CONTROL TRIAL
Warner, C.M., Fisher, P.H., Shrout, P.E., Rathor, S., & Klein, R.G. (2007). Treating adolescents with social anxiety disorder in school: An attention control trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48(7), 676-686. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01737.x
Full Article
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EFFECT OF ANXIETY REDUCTION ON CHILDREN'S SCHOOL PERFORMANCE AND SOCIAL ADJUSTMENT
Wood, J.J. (2006). Effect of anxiety reduction on children’s school performance and social adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 42(2), 345-349. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0012-1649.42.2.345
Full Article​
Evidence-Based Interventions
Cognitive Behavioral Intervention for Trauma in Schools
Tier 3, Grades K-12
A 10-session school based intervention designed to reduce PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Involves different steps like group sessions, individual sessions, and sessions with parents.
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Tier 3, Grades K-12
A program designed to help students with anxiety. 16 sessions broken down into 8 sessions focused on learning skills and 8 sessions focused on practicing skills.
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Tier 2, Grades K-8
An intervention designed for students with aggressive behaviors. Emphasizes the social skills that are needed for the transition from elementary to middle school.
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Skills for Academic and Social Success (SASS)
Tier 2, Grades K-12
A small group intervention that looks to address psychoeducation, realistic thinking, social skills, and more. It’s designed for students with social anxiety. ​
Books & Book Chapters
Parents & Educators
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Chansky, T. E. (2014). Freeing Your Child from Anxiety, Revised and Updated Edition: Practical Strategies to Overcome Fears, Worries, and Phobias and Be Prepared for Life--from Toddlers to Teens. Harmony.
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Dacey, J. S., Mack, M.D., & Fiore, L. B. (2016). Your anxious child: How parents and teachers can relieve anxiety in children (2nd ed.). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
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Rapee, R., Wignall, A., Spece, S., Lyneham, H., & Cobham, V. (2008). Helping your anxious child: A step-by-step guide for parents (2nd ed.). Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
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Youth
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Crist, J. J. (2004). What to do when you're scared and worried: A guide for kids. Minneapolis, MN: Free Spirit Publishing.
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Huebner, D. (2005). What to do when you worry too much: A kid's guide to overcoming anxiety. Washington, DC: Magination Press.
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Huebner, D. (2017). Outsmarting Worry: An Older Kid's Guide to Managing Anxiety. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
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Moser, A. (1988). Don't pop your cork on Mondays!: The children's anti-stress book. Kansas City, MO: Landmark.
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Shapiro, L. E., & Sprague, R. K. (2009). The relaxation and stress reduction workbook for kids: Help for children to cope with stress, anxiety and transitions. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
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Scholarship
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Ellis, A. (1998). How to control your anxiety before it controls you. New York, NY: Citadel Press.
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Kendall, P.C., Choudhury, M., Hudson, J., & Webb, A. (2002). The C.A.T. project manual for the cognitive behavioral treatment of anxious adolescents. Ardmore, PA: Workbook Publishing.
Morris, T.L., & March, J.S. (Eds.). (2004). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.​