Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Coming to Deeper Understandings and Better Interventions

Abstract

Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: Coming to Deeper Understandings and Better Interventions” is a manuscript thesis that explores many aspects of anxiety. Such aspects include: a literature review of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and its effectiveness as a first line intervention to youth anxiety in schools; influences that parents can have on their child’s experience with anxious feelings; a brief look at the history of our understanding of anxiety disorders; possible etiologies of anxiety issues; how students struggling with anxiety are supported in BC public schools; a brief review of common programs used in schools to prevent and intervene; and finally, a closer look at the root of the problem as well as an acknowledgement of larger discourse issues. The objective of the thesis is to provide a comprehensive overview of youth anxiety, its prevalence and how it is, and can be most effectively addressed at the school level. I conclude, after an exploration of educational and psychological literature that continued research as well as consideration for the individual’s experience is essential to improve the success of interventions.