Parents ask if they should pressue anxious children or accommodate. Think thermostat: dial up exposure when resources allow, cool things down when safety is needed. Avoid sticking at extremes—constant pushing risks shutdowns; constant shielding stalls growth. Flexibility beats rigid consistency, and during burnout, accommodation first while resilience rebuilds at home.

Visible child anxiety is often just the signal, not the source. Beneath the worry sit unmet, hidden needs—sensory, processing and emotional differences. Real progress comes from a whole-system plan: child, parents and school working together. When environments adapt and reassurance becomes understanding, therapy finally lands where it matters for families.