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Does your teen refuse to go to school, then seem better once you agree they can stay home? School refusal and teen anxiety can leave parents wondering what’s happening and how to help.

In this episode, I explain the school avoidance loop: worry builds, your teen avoids school, and the immediate relief can make returning feel difficult again. Feeling better at home doesn’t mean their distress was pretend.

Using my Perception → Process → Plan framework, we explore:
• How to identify which part of school feels hardest
• How parents can get caught in the cycle, too
• Why understanding the obstacle matters before choosing a response
• How support and manageable next steps fit into a plan
• Three questions to help you understand a difficult school morning

These ideas also apply when anxiety gets in the way of starting homework, accepting invitations, or asking for help.

🎟️ Join my upcoming $37 parent masterclass:
Details coming soon.

School avoidance can involve health concerns, bullying, or unmet learning needs. If attendance difficulties continue, involve your teen’s school and healthcare provider.

Subscribe for practical ways to support teens and young adults as they learn to navigate anxiety and build independence.

#SchoolRefusal #TeenAnxiety #ParentingTeens

Struggling with anxiety in your family? If anxiety is causing tension, fights, or disconnect in your home, you don’t have to face it alone. I help parents bring more peace, confidence, and connection to their families. Let’s talk—schedule a free consultation today or email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com

Find my podcast
Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
Text me: 785-380-2064
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Does your anxious teen keep asking for reassurance, even after you’ve told them everything will be okay?

If “don’t worry” leads to another “but what if,” this video offers a different way to respond.

I’m Cynthia Coufal, a teen and young adult anxiety coach. In this episode, I share:

- Why repeated reassurance may only help briefly
- Two questions that help you understand your teen’s worry
- What to say when anxiety gets in the way of friendships or homework
- How to help your teen choose a manageable next step

I also discuss “expect to worry” and “talk to worry,” two puzzle pieces from Anxious Kids, Anxious Parents by Reid Wilson and Lynn Lyons, and how I apply them within my Perception, Process, and Plan framework.

💛 Want help applying these ideas?
Join my upcoming masterclass for parents of anxious teens. We’ll work through all seven puzzle pieces and apply them to real situations your family faces.

Registration coming soon!

Find more anxiety tools and resources:
https://www.cynthiacoufalcoaching.com/

#TeenAnxiety #ParentingTeens #AnxietySupport

Find my podcast
Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
Text me: 785-380-2064
More information

Send us Fan Mail

Have you ever noticed that when something good happens, your brain immediately starts imagining what could go wrong?

That experience is sometimes called foreboding joy, and it can make it surprisingly difficult to enjoy good moments.

In this episode, anxiety coach Cynthia Coufal explains why happiness can sometimes trigger worry, how parents can unknowingly brace for their child's next struggle, and how to practice staying present without pretending that difficult things never happen.

Find my podcast
Email me: ccoufal@cynthiacoufalcoaching.com
Text me: 785-380-2064
More information