TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Family Service & Guidance Center works with children to help them learn to deal with anxious and stressful times as they prepare to return to class.
“As schools get ready to start, we know that some kids really struggle with high levels of anxiety,†said Crystal Scott, social worker at FSGC. “Take away their social anxiety, their performance anxiety or whatever is going to trigger school-related anxiety. That’s when the Anxiety Training Program Bootcamp comes in.
The ATP Bootcamp is made up of children who previously worked with FSGC and who have shown signs of high anxiety levels associated with school.
“The Bootcamp is an amazing resource, but overall the Anxiety Treatment Program provides very good quality treatment, and we can help kids get better pretty quickly and fairly quickly,†Scott said. .
The camp aims to teach students how to properly cope with various anxiety-inducing or stressful situations that commonly arise in school. The camp will provide students with experiences in dealing with these high stress situations before school starts so that they can be better prepared and get the most out of the school day.
“One of the many things I love about family service is that it always helps you get over things,†said Izzy Strifler, a student attending the ATP Bootcamp. “With my anxiety therapist, she tries to help me with the patients, and I’m slowly but surely recovering with her,†Strifler said.
While the ATP Bootcamp only takes place over a few weeks, the Anxiety Treatment Program is still available for children with mental health issues.
The FSGC will host its “Works of Heart†fundraising event on Friday to raise funds to improve services and facilities. They will auction various works of art and other objects. More information can be found on their website.
