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Childhood anxiety is on the rise. Parents are often unsure how to respond, and in their well-intentioned efforts to reassure their kids, can sometimes reinforce the anxious patterns. In this interview Kristen McNeely, LMFT, explains how parents can start to help their kids build resilience by taking small, manageable steps toward the things that might scare them.
We also discuss school refusal—why it's more complicated than simply not wanting to go to school; the warning signs parents should watch for; and why collaboration between parents, schools, and mental health professionals is essential.
Kristen explains why school refusal often begins with school avoidance, how transition years like kindergarten and middle school increase risk, and why pulling kids out of school is rarely an effective long-term solution.
Amy, Margaret, and Kristen also discuss:
Why parental accommodations can unintentionally fuel anxiety
The difference between validating feelings and reinforcing fear
Why gradual exposure works better than avoidance
The four common drivers of school refusal
How ADHD, autism, and separation anxiety can increase risk
Why helping kids feel connected to their school community matters
How parent-focused treatments like SPACE can improve childhood anxiety—even without the child in therapy sessions
Here's where you can find Kristen:
https://kristenmcneely.com/
@childhood.empowered on IG
https://schoolcapable.kristenmcneely.com/
What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
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