Many children struggle with separation from their parents at some point. Whether it's going to school, attending activities independently, spending time with relatives, or sleeping in their own room, separation can bring up significant anxiety. When a child becomes distressed, it is natural for parents to want to make that discomfort go away as quickly as possible. The challenge is...[ read more ]

When many people think about separation anxiety, they picture a young child crying at school drop-off or struggling to spend time away from a parent. While separation anxiety is often associated with younger children, it can continue well into adolescence. In some cases, it may even become more noticeable during the teenage years as expectations for independence increase. For parents,...[ read more ]

Most infants under six months adjust easily to different caregivers, often leaving parents feeling more anxious than their babies! As long as their needs are met, these tiny babes are content, with little understanding of absence. Between 4 and 7 months,  babies begin to grasp “object permanence.” They realize people and things exist even when out of sight. Without a...[ read more ]

In the past few months, I have heard clients and family members express the difficulty they are having with leaving their homes, families, and even pets for the day. It seems that with COVID-19 and shelter in place, it is becoming increasingly difficult to separate.  It seems children are struggling too with separation from parents.  Separation anxiety is a common...[ read more ]