School Anxiety + Readiness

Download PDF to share
Boy building blocks during a therapy session

More than academics

School readiness is more than just academic preparedness. For young children, readiness includes ability to listen for directions, shift between activities, frustration tolerance, and regulating emotions. When these skills lag, morning routines and drop offs can become challenging. Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is an evidence based treatment program that improves school readiness by enhancing emotional regulation, cooperation with directions, managing transitions, and prosocial skills. PCIT is widely known for live-coaching efforts to strengthen parent-child relationships, reduce big responses, and build cooperation that translates to school environments.

Recommended Ages: Preschool, K-1st grades

A young girl with long dark hair getting ready for school sitting on a white bathroom countertop in front of a mirror, getting her hair brushed by a person in a white coat. She is smiling and wearing a red and white striped shirt.

What Sessions Look Like:

  • Assessment + Goals: Definite target behaviors tied to school readiness and social skills. 

  • Weekly Sessions: 45 minutes to practice components of PCIT together with real time coaching and prompts. 

  • Homework: Practicing PCIT components and skills at home to manage behaviors and improve skill building in preparation for school. 

  • Progress Tracking: Evaluating progress with behavior improvement, skill usage, and transition success. 

Target areas
for school readiness:

  • Morning Routines: Getting dressed, fed, and backpack ready without power struggles.

  • Separation: Learning scripts and tools to engage in a short, predictable goodbyes that lowers protest at drop-off.

  • Transitions: Shift from play to cleanup or to new activities with regulated responses.

  • Listening: Respond to directions quickly and scaffold skills for multi-step routines.

  • Patience and sharing: Building frustration tolerance to improve peer skills and interactions

PCIT is an evidence based and clear treatment program with specific goals. It focuses on building connection, lowering parental stress, and building regulation skills. We work together to coach what to say, where to give your attention, and how to repair after challenges. Many families report improvements within a few weeks of the program.

If you have a child or family that may benefit from PCIT please reach out by phone or email so we can make a plan together.

Sarah Henderson, LCSW, LSCSW, Certified PCIT Therapist
hello@kclighthousetherapy.com
816-226-8636