Fresh Take: Kristen McNeely on Helping Kids Overcome Anxiety and School Refusal
Childhood anxiety is rising—but parents can help. Therapist Kristen McNeely discusses school refusal, anxiety accommodations, exposure therapy, and practical, evidence-based strategies that build resilience instead of reinforcing fear.
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:
What Fresh Hell is co-hosted by Amy Wilson and Margaret Ables.
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