Dr. Aimee Kotrba Featured in Why Anxious Kids NEED to Be Uncomfortable on YouTube

Why Anxious Kids NEED to Be Uncomfortable: Dr. Aimee Kotrba Explains Childhood Anxiety

Avoiding uncomfortable situations can make anxiety stronger—not better. In this interview, Thriving Minds founder and clinical psychologist Dr. Aimee Kotrba explains why helping anxious children isn’t about eliminating their discomfort. Instead, parents can help kids gradually face fears, tolerate uncomfortable feelings, and learn through experience that they can handle hard things.

Dr. Kotrba discusses how avoidance and accommodation can reinforce anxiety, why exposure is such an important part of effective anxiety treatment, and how parents can support children without unintentionally helping anxiety take over.

Watch the interview: Why Anxious Kids NEED to Be Uncomfortable (Psychologist Explains)