Understanding
TEEN ANXIETY and
SCHOOL AVOIDANCE
(and how to help)

Anxiety is a common challenge facing teenagers today, and for many young people, school is a major source of distress. Between academic pressures, social dynamics, and high expectations, a teen can feel overwhelmed—not because they’re unwilling to learn, but because they are stuck in survival mode. For these students, avoiding school isn’t defiance; it’s a coping mechanism.

Rather than focusing solely on compliance or punishment, effective support starts with understanding the root causes of anxiety and building genuine stress tolerance. In this presentation, national bestselling authors of "The Self-Driven Child" and "What Do You Say", Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson, will share strategies and specific language that caregivers and educators can use to help teens learn to handle stress in a healthy way. They will also explain how giving kids more control over their lives can transform learning into a source of growth and even joy.

Whether your teen struggles with morning meltdowns, social withdrawal, or quiet overwhelm, this session offers actionable steps to support them with empathy and effectiveness.

This is a free online event via Zoom. Please register at Eventbrite for tickets and login info.

Hosted by The Learning Cooperatives (Raritan, Princeton, and Bucks)

Co-sponsors:

• Growth & Empowerment, Flemington, NJ
• Newtown Therapy & Wellness Center, Newtown, PA
• My Place for Peace, Flemington, NJ
• Comprehensive Mental Health Services, Pennington and Princeton, NJ