Anxiety in the Schools

A School Counselor's Approach within MTSS

7% of adolescents worldwide have an

anxiety disorder
20-30% Lifetime Prevalence in the US
33.7% of the overall population
affected by anxiety disorders

Childhood anxiety is a predictive factor for other mental health

problems (MDD, suicide ideation, alcohol and drug abuse, etc.)

Tier 3: Intensive Intervention

Wraparound approach providing
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Individual
Therapy and providing resources to Tier 2: Strategic
outside mental health providers. Intervention
Counseling sessions focued on
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive
individualized mindful exercises
Therapy for Children (MBCT-C)
encouraging awareness of
Small-group intervention
sensory input and control over
aimed to enhance
anxious thoughts.
social/emotional resiliency
in children.

Tier 1: Universal Prevention

Classroom-Based Mindfulness Interventions
conducted at the beginning and end of each day.
Guided breathing exercises and group reflection.
Development of a school culture that values
mindfulness and mental health.
Improves attention and lowers rates of
externalizing behaviors in students and teachers.
Walter, H. J., Bukstein, O. G., Abright, R. A., Keable, H., Ramtekkar, U., Ripperger-Suhler, J., & Rockhill, C. (2020). Clinical Practice Guideline for the
Assessment and Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Anxiety Disorders. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry, 59(10), 1107–1124.
Created by Laura Ang