School Anxiety & Avoidance Program
Grades 9-12 I After-School I Cincinnati
A specialized, exposure-based IOP for adolescents with school anxiety and avoidance, focused on reducing anxiety and supporting return to academic engagement.
Accessible to All
We proudly accept most insurance plans, including Medicaid
A Partnership to Reduce Anxiety &
Improve Academic Engagement
When anxiety begins to interfere with school, parents are often left unsure how much to push, when to step back, and whether to prioritize mental health or academics. We do not believe families should have to choose between the two.
This program supports adolescents with school anxiety and avoidance through structured, evidence-based treatment while helping them re-engage academically when that has become a barrier.
Below, you’ll find a brief video overview, an outline of how we collaborate with families and schools, and a clear overview of the intake process.
Structured Evidence-Based Program
Grounded in Exposure Therapy
& Best Practices
This after-school Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) is designed for adolescents with anxiety and OCD-related disorders whose symptoms interfere with school functioning, academic engagement, or daily life and who require more structure than weekly outpatient care alone. The program is grounded in the best available evidence, which consistently supports exposure-based treatment as the most effective intervention for anxiety and OCD.
Treatment is organized around four core components: skills training, direct exposure work, targeted academic support, and psychiatric services. Students remain enrolled in school while receiving coordinated, in-person care delivered in close partnership with families and school teams.
Who is the Program Designed For?
This program is designed for students with anxiety or OCD, including those with secondary depression, whose symptoms cause school related distress
Appropriate for students with
Distressing routines around getting to school​
Frequent physical complaints tied to attendance
Significant backlog of missed or incomplete work
Anxious overinvestment in schoolwork
Avoidance of classes or assignments due to anxiety
Over-reliance on parent support & reassurance
High anxiety despite standard outpatient care
Why Choose our Anxiety & School Avoidance Program?
Parent Support
Structured parent guidance to reduce accommodation and support school re-entry.
Convenience
Programming scheduled after school to minimize disruption to the academic day.
Specialization
Designed specifically for school-aged adolescents with anxiety and avoidance.
School Coordination
Direct coordination with schools to support re-entry planning.
Effective Results
Our data suggests that 76% of enrolled students achieve significant improvement
School-First
Targeted support to reduce academic burden and outstanding work.
Contact us
By providing your phone number, you agree to allow The Anxiety Center and its authorized personnel to use your contact information for the purposes of communication regarding your healthcare, appointment reminders, and any other relevant information pertaining to your treatment and care. Your phone number will not be shared with third parties without your explicit consent, except as required by law or in cases where it is necessary for your treatment and healthcare coordination.