Back-to-School Anxiety in Teens: Reframe It, Calm It, Support It

The weeks leading up to a new school year can bring excitement—but for many teens, they bring anxiety, disrupted sleep, and a rising sense of dread. In this episode, licensed therapist Jamie Roberts joins Jill Stowell to unpack what’s really happening in the brain during transitions, and how parents can support a calmer, more confident start to school.

Together, they explore:

• What the “fresh start effect” is—and how it can backfire
• Signs of back-to-school anxiety that parents often overlook
• Grounding tools and mindset shifts that help students feel safe and capable

Jamie also shares simple, science-backed mindfulness strategies from her book Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety, and explains how to help teens shift their inner narrative to one of resilience and emotional balance.

⸻

SHOW NOTES

Jamie Roberts

ⓘ Instagram: @neurodivergenttherapist

-

🌐 Equilibrium Counseling Services

🌐 NeuroPebble – Professional Training for Supporting Neurodivergent Youth

ⓘ Instagram: @neuropebble

-

📕 Mindfulness for Teen Anxiety – A compassionate, practical guide to helping teens manage stress and overwhelm

Available on Amazon

-

▶️ Jamie Roberts on the LD Expert Podcast: Teen Anxiety

⸻

CONNECT WITH US

🌐 https://stowellcenter.com/

📞 877-774-0444

📞 https://stowellcenter.com/call/

The challenges associated with dyslexia or other learning disabilities can actually be dramatically improved when we stop using Band-Aid approaches and start strengthening the underlying skills that are missing or lagging. Contrary to popular belief, your child doesn’t have to “just live with it” for the rest of their life. Every day doesn’t have to be a battle.