Child Anxiety Therapy: Where Play and Art Are Our Tools

in Campbell, CA, and online throughout California

You are anxious because your child is anxious.

Mornings feel tense. When (s)he refuses to go to school, your whole body tightens. When the school calls because (s)he had a panic attack and just wants you, your heart drops. Even on good days, you feel like you are waiting for the other shoe to drop.

You have tried being positive. You have tried pushing. You have tried sitting with him/her and helping step by step. You have researched late at night and questioned yourself more times than you can count.

And still, nothing seems to stick.

You feel helpless. Exhausted. Scared for him.

If this sounds familiar, you are not failing. You are parenting a child with anxiety.

What Child Anxiety Really Looks Like

Child anxiety is not just nervousness. It can show up as school refusal, stomachaches, tears at bedtime, perfectionism, or panic attacks.

An anxious child is not being difficult. Their nervous system is sounding an alarm. And when that alarm keeps going off, the whole family feels it.

You may find yourself structuring your life around preventing the next meltdown. That constant bracing takes a toll.

The good news is that anxiety is treatable. Children can learn skills to manage it.

How Play and Art in Therapy Help an Anxious Child

Children do not process fear the way adults do. They show it through avoidance, tears, stomachaches, or panic. They often cannot explain what feels so overwhelming.

Play and art in therapy for an anxious child gives your child a way to work through fear/anxiety using their natural language, play and art. Through structured therapeutic play and art, your child can:

Express worries safely
Practice coping skills
Build confidence in small steps
Learn how calm feels in their body

We gently help your child approach what feels scary at a pace they can handle. This is not about forcing them. It is about helping them feel safe enough to try.

Support for You as a Parent

I’m Estelle, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in Campbell. I’m a former pediatric nurse, certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional, and Certified Parental Brain Educator. I help children struggling with anxiety and the parents who love them.

You will not be left to figure this out alone. Parent involvement is essential in child anxiety therapy. We work together as a team, and I will help you understand what is happening underneath the behavior and give you practical tools you can use at home and at school.

You will learn how to respond without reinforcing avoidance. How to encourage independence without overwhelming your child. How to steady your own nervous system so you can be the calm anchor your child needs.

A Path Toward Bravery

Imagine mornings with fewer meltdowns. Imagine your child hesitating before a challenge, but choosing to try. Imagine hearing that (s)he used his coping skills at school.

Child anxiety does not disappear overnight. But with consistent, supportive work, it becomes manageable.

If you are looking for therapy integrating play and art for your anxious child in Campbell, I invite you to reach out. Let’s help your child feel braver and help you feel steadier in the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

If anxiety is interfering with school, sleep, friendships, or family life, therapy can help.
Yes. Parent support is an essential part of effective child anxiety treatment.
It depends on the child and consistency, but many families notice meaningful shifts within a few months.
Yes. I integrate IFS or parts-oriented work in a gentle, accessible way, integrating it in play and art.
Yes. Play and art used in therapy for anxious child is especially helpful for school refusal and performance anxiety. It also works well with performance anxiety.
Many children start with weekly sessions for consistent support and to build rapport especially with social anxiety.
Yes. We may explore how sleep, movement, food intake, and nervous system regulation impact mood and anxiety.
Yes. I offer therapy in English and French.