Understanding Anxiety, Responding with Confidence, and Helping K–12 Students Thrive
An 8-Week Professional Development Course for K–12 Educators
Anxiety doesn't always look like anxiety in the classroom. Sometimes it looks like avoidance, perfectionism, frustration, emotional outbursts, difficulty completing assignments, excessive reassurance-seeking, or school refusal. For educators, understanding what's really happening beneath these behaviors can make a meaningful difference in how students learn, participate, and succeed.
Anxiety in the Classroom is an interactive, eight-week professional development course presented by Midwest Anxiety (MWA). Designed for K–12 teachers, school counselors, administrators, and other education professionals, this course provides practical, evidence-informed strategies to recognize anxiety, respond effectively, and support students in real-life classroom situations.
Throughout the course, participants explore anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) principles, emotional regulation, avoidance, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), perfectionism, and school refusal. Through real-world examples, interactive discussions, and hands-on activities, educators learn strategies they can begin using immediately in their classrooms.
This course isn't about turning educators into therapists. It's about giving educators the tools, confidence, and understanding to help students navigate anxiety while continuing to learn, participate, and grow.
OBJECTIVES
By the end of the eight-week Anxiety in the Classroom course, K–12 educators will be able to:
Recognize Anxiety in the Classroom: Identify common and less obvious signs of anxiety, including avoidance, perfectionism, emotional dysregulation, reassurance-seeking, and school refusal.
Understand the Connection Between Anxiety and Behavior: Recognize how anxiety affects students' thoughts, emotions, behaviors, academic performance, and classroom participation.
Apply Practical CBT-Informed Strategies: Use evidence-informed techniques to help students manage anxious thoughts, develop coping skills, and approach challenging situations.
Respond Effectively to Student Anxiety: Develop confidence in supporting students experiencing anxiety, frustration, emotional distress, or difficulty engaging in classroom activities.
Reduce Avoidance and Build Student Confidence: Learn how to encourage gradual participation, independence, and resilience while providing appropriate accommodations and support.
Understand OCD, Perfectionism, and Reassurance-Seeking: Recognize how these challenges interfere with learning and identify appropriate classroom responses.
Address School Refusal and Attendance Challenges: Identify early warning signs of school avoidance and collaborate with families and school professionals to support consistent attendance and engagement.
Create an Anxiety-Supportive Classroom: Implement practical strategies that promote emotional well-being, meaningful participation, positive relationships, and academic success.
Strengthen Collaboration With Families and Mental Health Professionals: Improve communication, recognize when additional support is needed, and understand the educator's role within a coordinated student support team.
Develop a Real-Life Classroom Action Plan: Create an individualized implementation plan using strategies learned throughout the course to support students experiencing anxiety.
Our Goal: Educators leave this course with more than information about anxiety. They leave with practical tools, greater confidence, and an actionable plan to help students succeed in real classrooms.
TARGET AUDIENCE
Anxiety in the Classroom is designed for K–12 educators and school professionals who want to better understand student anxiety and develop practical strategies to support students' emotional well-being, classroom engagement, and academic success.
This course is ideal for:
Elementary, Middle, and High School Teachers: Educators seeking effective strategies to recognize and respond to anxiety-related challenges in everyday classroom settings.
School Counselors and Social Workers: Professionals supporting students with anxiety, emotional regulation, school avoidance, and social-emotional challenges.
School Administrators: Principals, assistant principals, and school leaders interested in creating anxiety-supportive classrooms and school environments.
School Psychologists: Professionals seeking additional practical strategies for addressing anxiety-related barriers to learning and participation.
Special Education Teachers and Support Staff: Educators working with students whose anxiety affects academic performance, behavior, and daily functioning.
Paraprofessionals and Classroom Assistants: School personnel who provide direct student support throughout the school day.
School Nurses and Student Support Teams: Professionals who frequently encounter students experiencing anxiety-related physical complaints, emotional distress, or school avoidance.
District Leadership and Professional Development Teams: School systems interested in strengthening staff knowledge and developing consistent, evidence-informed approaches to student anxiety.
No prior mental health training is required. This course is appropriate for educators working in public, private, charter, and independent school settings.
INSTRUCTOR
Randy Floyd, LSCSW, Founder, Clinical Level Therapist
Randy is the founder of Midwest Anxiety. He is a Licensed Specialist Clinical Social Worker who is an optimist and passionate about helping people focus on what they can do rather than what they can't do. Randy believes building a strong therapeutic relationship and tapping into a person's strengths are the most essential components of the therapeutic experience. Randy is passionate about changing the way we do mental health. He is focused on making mental health normal, a positive experience. He is also adamant about doing mental health differently. Randy believes the "old ways" suggest mental health is for the "broken" or "mentally ill." Randy believes that "Everyone Struggles." Sure. Some people struggle more than others, but everyone struggles with something. With this belief, Randy is focused on providing a wide range of programs and services to help people be mentally well ;) Go give Randy a fist bump on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
LOCATION
We will meet virtually on Fridays from 12:00-1:00pm.
SCHEDULE
Week 1: Understanding Anxiety in the Classroom
Learn what anxiety is, how it affects students, and how to recognize common and less obvious signs of anxiety across K–12 grade levels.
Week 2: When Anxiety Looks Like a Behavior Problem
Explore how anxiety can appear as avoidance, frustration, defiance, withdrawal, or difficulty completing assignments. Learn to understand the behavior before responding to it.
Week 3: Practical CBT Strategies for Educators
Discover how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected. Practice simple, evidence-informed strategies to help students manage anxious thoughts, build coping skills, and engage in learning.
Week 4: Responding to Anxiety and Emotional Dysregulation in Real Time
Learn what to say and do when students become anxious, overwhelmed, frustrated, or emotionally dysregulated. Practice effective classroom responses that promote emotional regulation and reengagement.
Week 5: Breaking the Cycle of Anxiety and Avoidance
Understand how avoidance can maintain anxiety and learn practical strategies to help students gradually face challenges, build confidence, and develop independence while receiving appropriate support.
Week 6: OCD, Perfectionism, and Reassurance-Seeking in the Classroom
Explore how obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), fear of making mistakes, excessive checking, and reassurance-seeking can interfere with learning. Learn appropriate strategies for supporting students experiencing these challenges.
Week 7: School Refusal and Anxiety-Related Attendance Challenges
Identify early warning signs of school avoidance and explore practical approaches to improving attendance, supporting school transitions, and collaborating with families and school professionals.
Week 8: Creating an Anxiety-Supportive Classroom — Putting It All Together
Bring together strategies from the previous seven weeks to develop a practical classroom action plan. Learn how to create a supportive learning environment, strengthen communication with families, and promote student confidence, participation, and academic success.
Weekly Class Format
Each 60-minute session includes:
5 Minutes: Welcome, check-in, and real-life classroom experiences
15 Minutes: Interactive instruction and practical strategies
20 Minutes: Real-life classroom scenarios and group discussion
15 Minutes: Hands-on skill practice and problem-solving
5 Minutes: Key takeaways and a strategy to practice during the week
Class Duration: 8 Weeks | 1 Hour Per Week | 8 Total Instructional Hours
FEE
$25.00 per week.
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Midwest Anxiety is not a prequalified continuing education provider, and Anxiety in the Classroom has not been preapproved for continuing education credit.
Participants will receive a certificate documenting the number of hours attended. Participants are responsible for confirming with their licensing board, employer, school district, or other governing organization whether the training hours may be accepted toward continuing education or professional development requirements.
CANCELLATION POLICY
We know life gets busy. If you are unable to participate in a session, please cancel at least 24 hours in advance and you will not be charged.
REGISTRATION
Spots are limited. To guarantee a place in the group, please register early.
Please complete the information below and we will contact you shortly to help get you registered for Anxiety in the Classroom