Anxiety can often make young people lack confidence and proper social skills. Small activities and interactions can trigger them, making them feel insecure and small. This can have a direct impact on the way they form relationships and approach life. Our clinical approach is designed to help them come to peace with their condition and better understand they’re triggers, and the kinds of things they can do to overcome their worries. 

Working closely with a team of psychotherapists, young people will come to understand the root cause of their anxiety and that no one is to blame, especially not themselves. 

Some of our clinical treatment options include:

• Family therapy
• One-to-one therapy
• Expressive arts therapy
• Somatic therapy 
• Self-love techniques
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical-behavioral therapy (DBT)
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Group therapy

Helping every person develop a sense of self-awareness, our clinical approach aims to give young people the tools needed to transform and be more confident in every kind of situation they’re put in. 

Some young people benefit from taking medication alongside therapeutic and holistic treatment sessions. Prescription medicines, like antidepressants, can improve symptoms of general anxiety disorders. Likewise, medication including alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium) can offer relief from acute anxiety and panic attacks.

As experts in child and adolescent mental health, we understand that young people often react differently to medicines than adults. For this reason, we always administer medication with appropriate levels of caution and care, discussing any new treatment plans or changes with young people and their families.

We strive to provide the best possible outcome for every young person’s needs during treatment. We offer medical tests like electrocardiograms (ECGs) and pathology in our facilities to monitor the effects of medications. We also partner with the local hospital to provide additional tests when necessary.

If untreated, anxiety can make it difficult for young people to develop healthy relationships and reach their full potential at school. Their worry and lack of confidence can stop them from trying new challenges or fully enjoying all educational opportunities offered to them. At The Wave, we believe no young person should be left behind, and that’s why one of our seven elements is education. 

 Every young person has so much ahead of them, and we’re here to help them see their potential and realise their dreams. Alongside therapy and medical treatment, we provide a range of educational opportunities designed to bolster a young person’s confidence and skills for life outside of our clinic. Whatever their dream is, we’re here to help arm them with the tools needed to achieve it.

Some of the educational pathways we offer include:

• International GAP-year experiences
• Continuation of GCSEs and A-Levels
• Vocational courses (London School of Art, Royal Horticultural Society, Leith’s School of Cookery, and The British Horse Society)

Each young person will have their own personal learning plan (PLP) to help them stick to their goals and set the foundations for a solid future.

Anxiety can often make it difficult for young people to look outside of themselves and willingly step up to the plate. In the past, any kind of big interaction or new activity might have made them feel insecure or afraid. With our global citizenship program, they’ll not only learn how to develop friendships and bonds, but they’ll also learn valuable skills like teamwork and the importance of trying new things, no matter the outcome.

By taking part in these volunteering opportunities, young people will also get the chance to see just how powerful their small actions can have on others, giving them the confidence to work towards their own goals – helping them understand that a small action can have a big reaction.