Anxiety at School
Support for Students
Therapy That Helps Teens and Young Adults Build Confidence and Cope with Academic Stress
School isn’t just about grades—it’s also a place where expectations, social pressures, and personal identity collide. When anxiety shows up in school settings, it can feel overwhelming and isolating. Whether it’s test anxiety, fear of being called on, pressure to perform, or navigating friendships, school-related anxiety can affect every part of a student’s experience.
At Minisink Psychology, we offer warm, evidence-based counseling for students who are struggling with anxiety in school. Using proven therapies like CBT, DBT, and ART, we help teens and young adults build emotional regulation skills, strengthen self-trust, and learn tools they can actually use—in and out of the classroom.
What School-Related Anxiety Can Look Like
Anxiety at school doesn’t always look like panic. In many cases, it shows up more quietly—through frequent stomach aches, ongoing worry, or moments where a student simply shuts down emotionally. It might look like avoiding school, asking to stay home, or struggling to stay focused in class. Some students feel overwhelmed by tests and deadlines, while others have trouble speaking up, participating, or managing social dynamics. Overthinking mistakes, feeling unsure in friendships, or changes in sleep, appetite, or mood can also be signs.
For some, anxiety has been part of their school experience for a long time. For others, it shows up suddenly—after a transition, a setback, or a change in their environment. However it begins, school-related anxiety is treatable, and with the right support, students can feel more confident, capable, and grounded.
Who We Work With
We support:
Middle and high school students
College and graduate students
Students navigating IEPs, 504s, or academic accommodations
Teens dealing with social anxiety or performance pressure
Young adults struggling with transitions and independence
Serving Clients Across Bergen County, NJ and Beyond
We work with adults, teens, and families — in person and online. Whether you live in Ridgewood, Hackensack, Teaneck, Paramus, or nearby, our practice is here to help you take that first step.
How We Help
We take a compassionate, structured approach that meets each student where they are. Therapy is always personalized to fit the student’s specific needs and goals—it’s never a one-size-fits-all program. Depending on what the student is experiencing, therapy may involve identifying the triggers that cause anxiety at school, learning how to regulate emotions and manage stress, and practicing grounding techniques that bring calm in the moment.
We also help students build confidence in both social and academic settings, challenge self-critical thoughts and perfectionism, and strengthen executive functioning skills like organization, planning, and follow-through. With the right tools and support, students can move from just surviving the school day to actually enjoying it again.
Lasting Improvements in Anxiety, Depression, Moods, and Functioning
Work with your brain’s natural ability to heal and adapt
Neuroplasticity is your brain’s ability to form new connections, break old patterns, and adapt over time. Whether you’re dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, constant worries, anger, or emotion dysregulation, neuroplasticity is the engine behind lasting change.
Regulate thoughts and emotions
Modify our thoughts to be more in line with reality
Rewire emotional responses to memories
At Minisink Psychology & Psychotherapy, we provide professional and empathic evidence-based psychotherapy to help you navigate life’s challenges and strengthen your inner resilience.
Meet Our Therapists
Suzannah Espinosa, PhD
