Child & Teen Anxiety Therapy in Tampa, FL
Located in Apollo Beach and serving Riverview, Ruskin, Brandon, and surrounding areas.
For kids and teens who feel anxious, overwhelmed, or too hard on themselves—
and for the parents who are exhausted from trying to help and not knowing what actually works.
In-person sessions in Apollo Beach and online therapy available throughout Florida.
And that’s what makes this so frustrating.
Anxiety shows up on the surface. But underneath, there are often deeper factors like ADHD, learning differences, or emotional intensity.
Even if you’re not sure exactly what’s going on yet, you’re not alone in that.
At Guided Path Child & Family Counseling, I help kids, teens, and young adults understand what’s really driving their anxiety—and build the tools and confidence to move forward.
You know this is about more than anxiety—but nothing you’ve tried has fully explained it.
You’re looking for real understanding—something that helps you see what’s happening beneath the surface.
Your child or teen may be thoughtful, capable, and trying incredibly hard to do what’s expected.
But internally, it’s different.
There’s constant pressure.
Overthinking that won’t quiet down.
A need to monitor every decision and mistake.
School takes more effort than anyone realizes.
Mistakes feel heavier than they should.
Emotions feel bigger than they look on the outside.
You may already sense this isn’t just “stress” or “anxiety.”
Anxiety, ADHD, learning differences, and perfectionism often overlap—making daily life feel more complicated than it should.
Many families reach out at this stage—not because something is ‘wrong,’ but because things feel harder than they should.
What’s often missing isn’t effort.
It’s clarity.
Areas of focus:
-
Living under constant internal pressure can be exhausting—especially when anxiety is tied to perfectionism.
School expectations begin to feel overwhelming, and effort rarely feels like enough. Your child may work incredibly hard to meet expectations while quietly doubting themselves.
From the outside, they may appear capable and responsible.
Internally, they’re managing constant self-criticism and pressure to get everything right.In our work together, we focus on easing that constant evaluation and helping them develop a steadier sense of confidence—one that isn’t dependent on performance.
-
When ADHD, dyslexia, or other learning differences intersect with anxiety, the struggle is often deeper than worry alone.
It’s often a mismatch between how your child’s brain works and what school demands. Over time, that mismatch can lead to pressure, frustration, shame, and exhaustion.
In our work together, we focus on understanding how your child’s mind and nervous system function—so regulation, confidence, and steadiness can develop in a sustainable way.
-
Some kids and teens experience emotions deeply while also trying hard to keep everything under control.
They may hold it together at school, only to feel overwhelmed later—or work constantly to manage their reactions so no one sees how much effort it takes.
Emotional intensity isn’t a flaw—but it does require understanding and skill.
In our work together, we focus on helping your child better understand their emotions and nervous system so they can respond with greater regulation, confidence, and steadiness at home, at school, and in relationships.
No more second-guessing—just clarity about what’s really going on.
My name is Deanna, and I help anxious kids and their parents break out of the cycle where everyone feels overwhelmed and unsure what actually helps.
When your child is struggling, it’s easy to feel stuck between wanting to help and not knowing how. I’ll help you understand what’s driving the anxiety so you can respond in ways that build calm, connection, and confidence.
You’ve likely tried strategies, talked with teachers, and searched for answers late at night. You care deeply—but without a clear understanding of what’s underneath, it’s easy to stay stuck.
This isn’t about quick fixes. It’s about understanding how anxiety connects to patterns like perfectionism, ADHD, emotional intensity, or learning differences—so things finally start to make sense.
As that clarity grows, things begin to shift. Kids feel less overwhelmed. Teens handle pressure with more confidence. College students begin to release the constant mental strain.
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Together, we build the understanding and skills that create lasting change.
If your child is overwhelmed, stuck, or constantly under pressure, you’re not alone—and there is a clear path forward.
I specialize in helping kids and teens whose anxiety is connected to deeper patterns like perfectionism, ADHD, and learning differences.
My approach is thoughtful, structured, and tailored to each child—so they can begin to understand themselves and move forward with confidence.
I work closely with both kids and parents to help make sense of what’s going on in a way that feels supportive—not overwhelming.
Anxiety rarely tells the whole story.
Every child, teen, and young adult is unique—and the experiences shaping their anxiety are often more complex than they first appear.
What shows up on the surface is usually connected to deeper patterns: temperament, learning differences, academic pressure, and the ways they’ve learned to cope over time.
That’s why my approach focuses on four key areas:
Curiosity that leads to clarity
Connection that builds safety
Calm that reduces pressure
Confidence that lasts
When we understand what’s really driving the anxiety or overwhelm, the right supports become much clearer—and things begin to shift.
-
We don’t rush to fix or label. We start by getting curious—about when the pressure began, how perfectionism or neurodivergence may be shaping it, and what’s been quietly carrying the most weight.
Understanding comes first, because clarity changes how we respond.
-
Real change happens in the context of trust. I create a space where children, teens, and young adults feel understood—not analyzed.
When people feel safe, they’re more able to explore what’s hard and begin loosening patterns that once felt necessary.
-
As patterns become clearer, we begin strengthening regulation. Reactions feel less urgent. Emotions become more manageable.
Instead of constantly bracing or over-controlling, there’s more room to respond with intention.
-
Over time, self-trust grows. Children feel more capable. Young adults feel less driven by anxiety and more guided by clarity. Parents feel more grounded in how they respond.
The goal isn’t perfection—it’s sustainable confidence that holds up in everyday life.
Specializing in…
Child & Teen Anxiety
Perfectionism
ADHD & Executive Functioning Challenges
Learning Differences
Emotional Intensity & Regulation
School-Related Anxiety & Stress
Academic Pressure
Social Anxiety
Self-Esteem & Self-Trust
Overwhelm & Burnout in Students
Depression Connected to Anxiety
Ready to get started?
We’ll begin with a conversation to understand what’s been going on and see if this feels like the right fit.
Let’s make sense of what’s been going on—so things can start to feel more manageable.
You don’t have to figure this out on your own.
Together, we’ll understand what’s happening and what will actually help your child move forward.
A simple first step to get clarity and see if this feels like the right fit.