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.
teens, & families
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.
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.
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.
Excessive worry
Persistent fear that something bad will happen to a parent or caregiver while apart.
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.
Common signs of separation anxiety by age
Symptoms look different at every stage of development.
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.
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
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.
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.
Stephanie is so caring and she really helps me bring my walls down.
An Adult client
Jun 8, 2026
Stephanie Rodriguez, LPC-A
The online meeting was prompt and glitch free. My son was able to talk and do play therapy while getting to know the counselor and vise versa.
Parent of a 9 year old
Jun 8, 2026
Donna Egbulem, LCSW-A
Good session.
Parent of a 16 year old
Jun 8, 2026
Tiffany Ally, LCSW
It was very helpful and insightful.
An Adult client
Jun 8, 2026
Dr. Ellen Honsa, PsyD, LP
Today's session was great! My child felt heard and got off the session feeling confident! We are so excited to work with Ms. Z!
Parent of a 9 year old
Jun 8, 2026
Katie Jones, CPNP-PC, PMHNP-BC
Tara just makes my daughter feel so safe and seen. It’s such a relief to have her be able to actually speak to someone else.
Parent of a 13 year old
Jun 8, 2026
Tara Steinfeld, LPC
Nancy was great with my daughter and giving some ideas on how to work through the moments when her anxiety creeps in.
Parent of a 9 year old
Jun 8, 2026
Nancy Lozano, LPC
Related well to her. Nice work.
Parent of an 11 year old
Jun 7, 2026
Dr. Betty Wicks, PsyD
Antonio was nice and understood what my teen was trying to say. He often says we don't understand him, so I am happy about this.
Parent of a 16 year old
Jun 7, 2026
Antonio Richey, LCSW
Help with figuring out my issues with brother and how to handle
Parent of a 15 year old
Jun 7, 2026
Christine Applefield, LMFT
She enjoyed this session and is excited for the next one as well
Parent of an 8 year old
Jun 7, 2026
Excited for my next session, felt very comfortable and in a good space .
An Adult client
Jun 7, 2026
Korina Herrera, LMHC
Notice a difference in my child
Parent of a 14 year old
Jun 7, 2026
Katia Torres, LCSW
My daughter said it was very good. They were able to talk about alot of stuff and it was fun.
Parent of a 9 year old
Jun 7, 2026
Elsie Peña, LPC
The testing process for my child with Dr. Bunker went really well. Just like how she explained it would go.
Parent of a 7 year old
Jun 6, 2026
Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD
Korina has been very helpful with the therapy process for my child.
Parent of a 7 year old
Jun 6, 2026
Korina Herrera, LMHC
Korina is very patient even when my child is having a difficult time with the therapy session.
Parent of a 7 year old
Jun 6, 2026
Korina Herrera, LMHC
This was our initial visit with Dr. Bunker. She did a great job with explaining how the process would go. She also had great interaction with my child during the visit.
Parent of a 7 year old
Jun 6, 2026
Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD
Separation anxiety does not define your child
Structured, developmentally informed therapy can help build skills that last.
Not sure where to start? Book a clinical matching session.
