CBT for Health Anxiety in Youth

Overview

Youth health anxiety features frequent body checking, reassurance seeking, and avoidance (e.g., school) due to worry about illness. Family reassurance offers short‑term relief but maintains anxiety over time.

Why CBT helps

• Reassurance plan: schedule and limit reassurance; encourage coping skills first.
• Graded approach: small steps toward avoided activities and cues.
• Parent coaching: validate feelings, model tolerance of uncertainty, and praise skill use.

Journaling prompts (teen + caregiver)

1. Trigger → urge to ask → coping tried → minutes waited → outcome.
2. One “uncertainty rep” I practiced today was…
3. Caregiver note: how I supported skill use before reassurance.

Use shared entries; see How to Journal.

When to seek care

If school refusal or severe distress persists, coordinate with clinicians and school supports.