Why Post-Spring Break is the Perfect Time for Anxiety Counseling
Spring break offers a much-needed pause in the school year. Kids and teens finally get a chance to sleep in, take a break from homework, and spend time with friends and family without the pressures of school hanging over them. But as soon as the break ends, reality sets in—there are only a few months left until summer, and these months are packed with stressors that can feel overwhelming for kids with anxiety.
If your child or teen struggles with anxiety, now is an ideal time to consider anxiety counseling. The final stretch of the school year brings unique challenges that can heighten anxious feelings, making it harder for them to stay focused, motivated, and emotionally balanced. With the right support, they can navigate these months with greater confidence and success.
The Stressors of Post-Spring Break and Need for Anxiety Counseling
The transition from a relaxing break back into the demands of school is tough for most kids, but it can be especially difficult for those prone to anxiety. Here are some of the biggest stressors they may be facing:
Academic pressures and final exams
By this point in the year, teachers are accelerating the pace to ensure they cover all required material. Tests, projects, and final exams loom large, and many students feel immense pressure to perform well. For kids with anxiety, this pressure can result in perfectionism, avoidance, procrastination, or even physical symptoms like stomachaches and headaches.
Your teen who struggled with math all year might feel panicked about an upcoming final that will heavily impact their grade. A high-achieving student may obsess over every detail of their term paper, afraid that anything less than perfect will ruin their GPA. Without the right tools to manage these worries, their anxiety can spiral out of control.
Standardized testing stress
Many schools schedule major standardized tests, such as state assessments or the SAT and ACT, in the spring. These tests carry significant weight, especially for high schoolers thinking about college. Even younger students may feel the pressure if they worry about meeting expectations or comparing themselves to peers.
Your anxious child might have trouble sleeping the night before a big test or experience panic attacks in the testing room. Counseling can help them develop strategies to manage their test anxiety, from calming techniques to reframing negative thoughts about their performance.
Extracurricular and sports commitments
Spring is a busy season for sports, music performances, academic clubs, and end-of-year events. For
kids who are already feeling overwhelmed, managing a packed schedule can increase their stress. Athletes may feel pressure to qualify for championships, while students in theater or band may worry about performing well in front of an audience.
Your teen juggling soccer playoffs, final exams, and volunteer commitments might feel stretched too thin, leading to exhaustion and burnout. Learning how to set boundaries and prioritize self-care can make a significant difference in managing these stressors.
Social anxiety and friendship changes
As the school year winds down, social dynamics can shift. Some friendships begin to fade, while others become more intense. Teens may feel pressured to fit in, make summer plans, or deal with conflicts that have been brewing all year.
For your middle schooler struggling with social anxiety, the thought of asking friends about summer plans can be terrifying. They might avoid social situations entirely, leading to feelings of loneliness. Counseling can provide them with confidence and social skills to navigate these interactions more smoothly.
College and future worries
For high school juniors and seniors, post-spring break can be a time of heightened stress about the future. Seniors may be awaiting college decisions or feeling anxious about leaving home. Juniors may be feeling the pressure to start planning their applications, take standardized tests, or boost their extracurriculars.
Your high school senior who hasn’t decided on a college may feel overwhelmed with indecision, fearing they will make the “wrong” choice. Counseling can help them manage their anxiety, break down big decisions into smaller steps, and develop coping strategies to navigate this transition with more ease.
Family expectations and conflicts
End-of-year stress doesn’t just stay at school—it can spill over into family life as well. Parents may have high expectations for grades, summer plans, or responsibilities at home. Teens who already feel overwhelmed by school may find themselves in frequent conflicts with their parents about deadlines, responsibilities, or their future.
For example, you might keep reminding your child to sign up for summer programs but not realize that your teen is already feeling suffocated by the pressure. Counseling can help both you and your child communicate better, reducing tension and fostering understanding.
How Anxiety Counseling Can Help During This Time
Enrolling your child or teen in anxiety counseling after spring break can provide them with the support and tools they need to finish the school year strong. Here’s how counseling can make a difference:
Teaches stress-management skills
Counseling helps kids develop a plan to manage stress, such as specific executive functioning skills, relaxation exercises, and solution focused brief therapy strategies that draw on your child’s existing strengths, skills, and resources to propel them forward. These tools can be applied immediately to reduce overwhelm and improve focus.
Addresses avoidance and procrastination
Anxiety often leads to avoidance—of studying, social situations, or even talking about the future. An experienced child anxiety therapist will work with kids to break down overwhelming tasks into manageable steps, helping them take action instead of shutting down.
Anxiety counseling builds confidence and resilience
Whether it’s test-taking, social situations, or performance anxiety, counseling can help kids build confidence by practicing new skills in a safe and supportive environment. When kids learn they can handle difficult situations, their anxiety starts to lose its grip.
Improves sleep and self-care habits
Many anxious kids struggle with sleep problems, which only worsen their ability to handle stress. Counseling can help them create a bedtime routine that promotes relaxation and better rest, along with encouraging healthy eating, exercise, and downtime.
Strengthens parent-child communication
Counseling often includes guidance for parents on how to support their anxious child. You can learn how to validate their feelings, set realistic expectations, and create an environment that helps them thrive rather than adding to their stress.
Don’t Wait—Now is the Time to Start Anxiety Counseling
If your child has been struggling with anxiety, post-spring break is the perfect opportunity to begin counseling. There’s still time to make meaningful progress before the school year ends, and learning these coping skills now will set them up for success not just this year, but in the years to come.
Anxiety doesn’t have to take over your child’s life. With the right support, they can finish the school year feeling more confident, capable, and in control. If you’re ready to help your child manage their anxiety and thrive, consider reaching out to me, Helena Madsen, LCPC today at Briefly Counseling.
Begin Anxiety Counseling in Chicago, Illinois and Florida for Anxious Kids and Teens!
If your child or teen is struggling with anxiety, there is hope! Anxiety is highly treatable and child therapy
for anxiety treatment at Briefly Counseling can help.
Using Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, I help kids and teens reduce their anxiety and build resilience so they can become a happier, more confident version of themselves.
And kids love being able to receive counseling from the comfort and privacy of their own home. Studies have consistently proven that online therapy delivers equal results to in-office counseling.
As an experienced and caring child therapist in Chicago, IL and FL, I love providing counseling for anxiety. To start your child’s counseling journey, call me at 224-236-2296 or complete my Contact Form to schedule a FREE 20-minute consultation.
Helena Madsen, MA, LCPC is the founder of Briefly Counseling. I specialize in providing online short-term anxiety treatment for kids and teens ages 7 – 18 as well as Christian counseling.
Whether you’re on the North Shore, in Naperville, Chicago, Champaign, Barrington, Libertyville, Glenview, or downstate Illinois, I can help.
I am now also licensed in Florida! For parents in Jacksonville, Pensacola, Destin, Crestview, Coral Gables, Weston, Parkland, Naples, Marco Island, and Pinecrest, I have immediate openings.
Schedule your appointment or consultation today. I look forward to working with your child to quickly and effectively help them in activating their strengths, resources, and resilience, in order to live with confidence and hope.
