Let Go to Let Grow (Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Using Independence Therapy)

A step-by-step, evidence-based guide to reducing childhood anxiety by building independence, not avoidance.

“The therapy this anxious generation needs most.”
—Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation

Childhood anxiety is rising at alarming rates. Yet many existing treatments struggle to create lasting change. Let Go to Let Grow offers a powerful alternative: independence-focused therapy (IFT), a research-backed approach that helps children overcome anxiety by doing more on their own, not less.

Instead of asking children to directly face feared situations, this model uses “independence activities,” which are real-world, self-directed challenges that build confidence, competence, and resilience. At the same time, clinicians guide parents to reduce accommodations that unintentionally reinforce anxiety.

In this practical professional guide, you’ll learn how to:

• Implement a structured, six-session IFT protocol with clear goals and outcomes
• Help children build confidence through developmentally appropriate independence activities
• Reduce parental accommodation behaviors that maintain anxiety
• Support parents in managing their own anxiety while loosening control
• Apply IFT across clinical, school, and telehealth settings
• Use sample scripts and real-world examples to guide sessions with clarity and confidence

Grounded in cognitive behavioral principles and supported by emerging research, this approach is flexible, engaging, and highly acceptable to families. It meets a critical need for treatments that are both effective and easier to implement in real-world practice.

If you’re looking for a fresh, practical way to help anxious children build independence—and lasting resilience—this book offers a clear path forward.