Separation anxiety therapy for kids, teens, & young adults

Evidence-based therapy that helps kids feel safe and confident, even apart.

Support for school refusal, clinginess, sleep difficulties, and fear of being away from caregivers.

Insurance accepted. Appointments often available within days.

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Trusted by 5,000+ kids, teens, and families.

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A happy teenager with braces is actively gesturing with both hands while looking at a laptop. They are seated at a desk in a bright indoor setting, seemingly engaged in a virtual conversation.

Separation anxiety, at a glance

4%

of children meet criteria for separation anxiety disorder

#1

most common anxiety disorder in children under 12

80%

of kids improve with evidence-based therapy

Understanding separation anxiety

When fear of being apart goes beyond a normal developmental phase.

A close-up portrait of a young boy with short hair and freckles, looking down with a contemplative expression in a softly lit indoor setting. He appears to be deep in thought.

A young girl with long, light brown hair sits at a desk, concentrating while writing or drawing and resting her chin in her hand. She appears focused and thoughtful, likely in a classroom or study environment.

A young boy wearing a blue and white striped shirt sits on a sofa, looking down intently at something in front of him. An adult's hands are gently placed on his leg, suggesting a supportive and comforting interaction in a relaxed indoor setting.

Separation anxiety is normal in toddlers, but when it persists past age 6 or intensifies, it may be separation anxiety disorder. Children experience persistent distress about being away from caregivers that interferes with school, sleep, and social activities.

A licensed clinician evaluates whether your child's distress goes beyond typical attachment and considers overlapping conditions like generalized anxiety or school avoidance.

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School refusal

Refusing to attend school due to fear of being away from a parent or caregiver.

Sleep disturbance

Difficulty falling asleep alone, nightmares about separation, or insisting on sleeping with parents.

Excessive worry

Persistent fear that something bad will happen to a parent or caregiver while apart.

Common signs of separation anxiety by age

Symptoms look different at every stage of development.

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Young Children (4-7)
Clinginess at drop-off
Frequent meltdowns
Refusing to sleep alone
Stomachaches before school
School-Age (8-12)
Refusing to go to school
Calling or texting parents constantly
Worrying a parent will get hurt
Difficulty staying at friends' houses
Teens (13-17)
Avoiding sleepovers or camps
Excessive checking in
Physical symptoms before separation
Difficulty transitioning to independence
Young Adults (18–25)
Difficulty leaving home for college
Excessive homesickness
Avoiding travel or new experiences
Ongoing reliance on daily parent contact

Could it be separation anxiety?

Take a quick, clinically validated screening to better understand your child's symptoms.

GAD-7 Anxiety Screening

The GAD-7 is a brief, clinically validated tool used by healthcare providers to screen for generalized anxiety disorder. It takes about 2 minutes and can help you understand whether your child's worry may benefit from professional support.

This screening is not a diagnosis. A licensed clinician reviews the results and recommends next steps.

Take the GAD-7 Screening

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How separation anxiety therapy helps

Evidence-based strategies for building independence and reducing distress.

Teaches coping strategies for separation distress
Builds confidence through gradual exposure
Gives parents tools to avoid accommodation
Addresses school refusal with a structured plan
Reduces physical symptoms like stomachaches

A young child, appearing about 5-8 years old, is seated at a wooden desk, looking intently at a laptop screen. An adult therapist is visible on the video call, suggesting an online therapy session in a calm, indoor setting.

Why families choose Emora

Specialized pediatric anxiety care vs. general providers.

Other providers

Licensed pediatric and young adult clinicians

Generalist providers

Evidence-based CBT and exposure therapy

One-size-fits-all approaches

Parent-inclusive therapy model

Limited parent involvement

Virtual sessions from your child's safe space

Anxiety-provoking office visits

Insurance accepted

Insurance not always accepted

Built-in screening and progress tracking

Limited progress visibility

Get started in minutes

Three simple steps to connect with the right clinician.

1
Share what's going on
Answer a few questions about symptoms and goals.
2
Verify coverage
See insurance estimates and available times.
3
Start sessions
Meet your clinician and begin building skills.

Find Care

Frequently asked questions

What parents and young adults ask most about separation anxiety therapy.

Real stories of growth

Every session is rated by parents. Our therapists maintain a 4.9+ average, because results matter.

For our initial visit, Ms. Kayla met all of our needs! We look forward to working with her again!

Parent of a 10 year old

12 hours ago

Provider:

Kayla Kimes, PMHNP

Exceptional- kind and explained everything very well

An Adult client

12 hours ago

Provider:

Dr. Paula Klanot, PsyD

Felt very supported during a very hard time. And this was beyond the scope of what was planned for the meeting. Thank you Dr. Smart-McCarthy!

Parent of a 16 year old

13 hours ago

Provider:

Dr. Madison Smart-McCarthy, PsyD

Daily tasks for improvement were decided on together and follow up will be helpful.

An Adult client

17 hours ago

Provider:

Laura Doocy, LPC-A

Liz was great! I felt comfortable with her right away. She listened to me as I spoke and we made a goal for me to work on. I'm very optimistic of the the progress I will make and the goals I will achieve by working through things with Liz as my Psychologist.

An Adult client

18 hours ago

Provider:

Dr. Liz Nitsch, PsyD

We are very grateful for the support my son has received from his therapist. He is very patient and professional, and he was able to build a strong connection with my son very quickly. Because of this, my son feels comfortable, open to learning, and willing to apply the strategies he is being taught. We have seen meaningful progress, and I truly appreciate the care and dedication he brings to each session.

Parent of a 9 year old

21 hours ago

Provider:

Richard Reyes, LPC-Associate

My daughter was very comfortable with her therapist.

Parent of a 16 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Rosalinda Guerra, LPC, LCDC

Very grateful for everything . My daughter really enjoys her sessions .

Parent of a 10 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Catherine Campos, LCSW

Natasha did so well with my daughter. When she got off she said “I love her!!!”

Parent of a 13 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Natasha Noel-Cooper, RMHCI

My child felt heard, understood and valued. He is so excited for his next session. He feels like he's finally going to feel better

Parent of a 12 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Tyra Rios, LMFT

My child feels comfortable during the session

Parent of a 14 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

JoeAnn Allen, RMHCI

Jaqueline is amazing at provide helpful feedback on how to better connect with my child.

Parent of a 9 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Jacqueline Castaneda, LPC

He was encouraging and patient!

Parent of a 17 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Walden White, LPC

Cassandra really felt comfortable with Jennifer which was very important since it was her first session online. After her session, she was vwry excited to talk about her session and journaling. Thank you.

Parent of a 13 year old

1 day ago

Provider:

Jennifer Reed, RMHCI

We felt immediately comfortable. Dr. Honsa asked questions and we could tell that she genuinely cared. She made the testing process much easier than we anticipated.

Parent of a 14 year old

1 day ago