What to Expect When Seeing an Anxiety Therapist in San Jose for Kids
Childhood anxiety is more common than you might think, affecting many children and families in ways that can feel isolating and overwhelming.
If you're a parent in San Jose concerned about your child’s constant fears, frequent meltdowns, or overwhelming worries, know that you're not alone in this journey. Anxiety can manifest in various ways, from difficulty sleeping and avoiding certain situations to excessive clinginess or irritability.
Parenting an anxious child can be challenging, leaving you feeling unsure of how to best support them. But there's hope—and you don’t have to navigate this alone. Specialized help, particularly from a child therapist who understands the unique emotional and developmental needs of children, can make all the difference in helping your child build resilience, confidence, and coping skills to thrive.
I’m Hannah Ly, a anxiety therapist in San Jose specializing in working with children. Through playful, engaging therapy—including the use of play therapy—and supportive parent coaching, I help children and their families find relief, resilience, and joy. Here's what you can expect when seeing a child anxiety therapist like me.
What to Expect When Visiting an Anxiety Therapist for Kids
If you're considering bringing your child to an anxiety therapist, rest assured that the process is gentle, exploratory, and focused on making your child feel comfortable and at ease.
The First Session with an Anxiety Therapist
In the first session with an anxiety therapist for kids, the primary goal is to build a trusting and comfortable connection with your child. This introductory session serves as a “get-to-know-you” time and is carefully designed to be fun, engaging, and pressure-free.
Using age-appropriate tools such as crayons, small toys, puppets, or simple games, we create a safe and welcoming space where your child can begin to express themselves and share their experiences at their own pace. This initial session helps the therapist understand your child’s personality, interests, and comfort level, setting the foundation for a positive therapeutic relationship.
For parents, this session provides a valuable opportunity to openly discuss your child’s challenges, your concerns, and your goals for therapy.
During this time, the therapist will gather important information about your child’s behavior, emotions, and experiences in different settings like home, school, or social environments. You’ll work together with the therapist to identify key areas of focus and create a supportive plan tailored to meet your child’s unique needs. Collaboration between parents and the therapist is essential in ensuring the best outcomes for your child.
Ongoing Sessions with Anxiety Therapy
Ongoing therapy sessions are designed to equip your child with practical tools and strategies to understand and manage their anxiety in healthy, constructive ways. These sessions are dynamic and flexible, adapting to your child’s unique emotional and developmental needs. Depending on the day, sessions might include engaging, play-based activities like drawing, art projects, or interactive games to help your child explore their emotions and build self-awareness. Other times, they may involve targeted problem-solving exercises such as role-playing scenarios, storytelling, or practicing relaxation techniques like deep breathing and visualization.
As therapy progresses, the focus evolves to address specific goals, such as developing effective coping mechanisms, identifying anxiety triggers, and building resilience in challenging situations. For instance, the therapist might help your child create a personalized "toolbox" of calming strategies to use when feeling overwhelmed. Sessions may also aim to boost your child’s confidence through positive self-talk and gradually approaching fears in a safe, supportive environment.
Therapy is never one-size-fits-all—it is thoughtfully tailored to meet your child exactly where they are, ensuring they feel understood and supported every step of the way. By blending play-based techniques with evidence-based strategies, these sessions empower your child to develop the skills they need to navigate life’s challenges with greater confidence and ease. Each session offers continuity, celebrates progress, and fosters emotional growth, helping your child build a sense of achievement and resilience over time.
Play Therapy: Healing Anxiety Through Fun
Play therapy is at the heart of my approach. Why? Because for children, play isn’t just leisure—it’s how they communicate, process emotions, and make sense of their world.
Through play therapy, we turn what could be a stressful or boring experience into something enjoyable and engaging. Imagine your child engaging in pretend play to work through a scary situation, building a block tower to represent their ability to handle big worries, or using puppets to express feelings they may not yet be able to vocalize.
These natural, fun interactions aren't just play—they're powerful tools for self-discovery and emotional regulation. Play therapy allows your child to step into a safe space, share their inner world, and explore anxiety in a way that doesn’t feel overwhelming or clinical.
My Unique Approach for Anxiety Therapy
What makes my work as an anxiety therapist in San Jose unique is my personalized and engaging approach. I don’t just focus on the child—I consider the entire family dynamic, creating a comprehensive support system.
Therapy sessions with me are warm, energetic, and approachable, even for kids who might feel hesitant. I use interactive tools like games, art, and movement to make therapy feel fun rather than intimidating. At the same time, I provide parents with practical strategies and insights to empower you in supporting your child outside of our sessions. Think of it as a partnership—together, we’ll help your child thrive.
Helping Parents Through Anxiety Therapy with Parent Coaching
Parenting an anxious child can be overwhelming, and it’s okay to feel that way. That’s why parent coaching is a central part of my practice. Together, we’ll develop actionable strategies to help your child manage anxiety, build resilience, and feel more secure. This might include creating consistent routines for stability, practicing calming techniques like mindfulness or deep breathing, or learning compassionate ways to handle meltdowns without frustration.
Our sessions also provide a safe space for you to share your own concerns, frustrations, and challenges. Your well-being is just as important as your child’s, and seeking support is a sign of strength. My goal is to guide and empower you as much as I do your child because when parents are informed, confident, and calm, children flourish.
With the right tools and guidance, we’ll work together to create a more peaceful, connected path forward for your family.
Why Choose an Anxiety Therapist Specializing in Kids?
Choosing a therapist who specializes in working with children ensures your child receives care thoughtfully tailored to their unique emotional and developmental needs. Children experience the world differently than adults—they think, feel, and communicate in ways that are often more imaginative, expressive, and nuanced. Effective therapy should embrace these differences, creating space for meaningful connection and lasting growth.
It’s important to note that not all therapists are equipped to work effectively with children, especially when it comes to anxiety. Children’s anxiety often looks different from adult anxiety and requires a deep understanding of how it manifests at different developmental stages. Without the right expertise, a therapist might struggle to truly connect with your child or provide the tools they need to cope in a way that makes sense to them. That’s why working with someone who specializes in child-centered approaches is so impactful.
I use a range of evidence-based, child-centered techniques, including play therapy, creative expression, personalized coping strategies, and ongoing collaboration with parents and caregivers. These approaches are carefully designed to meet your child where they are, fostering emotional and social growth in a safe, nurturing environment.
My goal is to help your child:
Develop emotional awareness by identifying and naming anxious feelings
Learn practical tools to manage worries and regain a sense of control
Build self-esteem, encouraging confidence and resilience in daily life
Strengthen relationships within the family and beyond
Above all, I strive to support your child—and your family—in rediscovering joy, connection, and balance. Together, we can help your child feel safe, understood, and ready to face the world with renewed hope and confidence.
Help Your Child Overcome Anxiety – Schedule an Appointment with a Child Anxiety Therapist Today
Watching your child struggle with anxiety can feel like a helpless experience for any parent. But it doesn’t have to be permanent. With support from an experienced child therapist, your child can learn to thrive, and your family can feel a sense of relief and connection again.
If you're ready to explore how therapy can help your child and family, I’m here. Book a appointment with me, Hannah Ly, today, and take the first step toward helping your child conquer anxiety in a way that’s playful, supportive, and effective.
About the Author: Hannah Ly, Anxiety Therapist in San Jose
Hannah Ly is a compassionate anxiety therapist in San Jose, helping children, teens, and families overcome challenges and thrive. With training in play therapy, trauma therapy, and brainspotting therapy, Hannah offers creative ways for children to process emotions in a safe, supportive environment. Her approach is rooted in empathy, connection, and belief in each child's resilience.
Hannah works closely with parents, providing parent coaching and tools to strengthen family dynamics and empower caregivers. She also helps teens manage anxiety, offering strategies to reduce stress and build confidence. Whether your child is navigating trauma, anxiety, or emotional challenges, or if you need parenting support, Hannah is here to guide your family.
If you're looking for a play therapist, child therapist, or teen therapist in San Jose, Hannah Ly provides thoughtful, personalized care. Contact her today to begin your family's healing journey.
