Very Short Mini Course — Introduction to Anxiety

Understanding Anxiety

A short introductory mini-course. In around 30 minutes you will understand what anxiety really is, why it shows up the way it does, and what is actually happening for your child.

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You could experience…

💡 A clear understanding of what anxiety is and why your child's brain responds the way it does

🤔 Confidence in recognising anxiety beneath your child's surface behaviours, including anger

💋 A practical framework to map your own child's specific anxiety pattern

🌟 A stronger foundation for supporting your child, whatever strategies you choose to use next

This course is for you if…

Your child seems anxious, but you're not sure exactly what is driving it or how to make sense of it
Your child's anxiety often comes out as anger or avoidance, and the connection isn't obvious
You've read about anxiety but want clear, practical explanations that actually make sense for your child
You want to understand your child's anxiety pattern specifically, not just general information
You're looking for a solid starting point before exploring strategies and next steps

When anxiety isn't what it looks like

Anxiety in children rarely looks the way we expect. It doesn't always show up as worry or tears. Sometimes it looks like defiance. Sometimes it looks like anger, or refusal, or complete shutdown. For some children, it shows up every day and parents have been told it is behaviour, or attitude, or something the child needs to just work through.

The problem isn't that parents don't care. The problem is that without understanding what anxiety actually is and how it works in a child's brain, it is very difficult to respond in a way that helps rather than accidentally makes things worse.

“We need to look at what is underneath the behaviour.”

This course gives you that understanding. In around 30 minutes, you will come away with a clear picture of what anxiety is, why it behaves the way it does, and what is specifically happening for your child. That knowledge is the foundation for everything else.

Presented by Dr Lucy Russell

I have been a child clinical psychologist for over twenty years. I worked in the NHS for many years before founding Everlief Child Psychology with my husband Mike in 2012. We now have a team of over 30 clinicians and have supported more than 5,000 families.

Anxiety is one of the most common things I see in clinic, and I know that understanding it clearly is the first and most important step. That is what this course gives you.

I am also a parent, and I know how hard it can be to support your child when you feel unsure about what is actually going on for them.

What you will learn

Seven short lessons. This is a brief, focused introduction to anxiety, completable in around 30 minutes. It is not a long course, and it is not designed to be.

Lesson 1

Evolution & Anxiety

Why the anxious brain is not broken. You will learn why anxiety exists and what it is trying to do, which completely changes how you see your child's responses.

Lesson 2

The Iceberg

Anxiety is rarely the emotion you see on the surface. This lesson shows you how to look beneath the visible behaviour to find what is really going on.

Lesson 3

The Anxiety Curve

How anxiety builds, peaks, and drops over time, and why this matters for knowing when and how to respond to your child.

Lesson 4

Anxiety & Anger

Why anxiety so often comes out as anger in children, and how to recognise the connection even when it isn't obvious.

Lesson 5

The Hot Cross Bun

A simple, visual framework used by psychologists to show how thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and behaviours connect and reinforce each other.

Lesson 6

Triggers & Maintaining Factors

What sets anxiety off, and what keeps it going. Understanding both is essential for breaking the cycle rather than just managing individual episodes.

Lesson 7

Your Child's Hot Cross Bun

You will apply everything you have learned to your own child, creating a personalised map of their anxiety pattern to take away and use.

What is included

🎬
7 short video lessons Presented by Dr Lucy Russell, a child clinical psychologist with over 20 years of clinical experience. Completable in around 30 minutes.
📄
Workbook and worksheets Including the Hot Cross Bun template so you can map your own child's anxiety pattern as you work through the course.
✅
Lifetime access Return to the course anytime. As your child grows and new challenges arise, the framework remains useful.

By the end of this course you will have…

🔍

A clear understanding of your child's anxiety

Not general anxiety information, but a specific picture of what is happening for your child and why.

🧠

The language and tools to make sense of what you see

Frameworks like the Hot Cross Bun and the Anxiety Curve that you can use and revisit whenever you need them.

🎯

A solid foundation for whatever comes next

Everything you need to start responding with clarity and confidence, whether you go on to explore further support or not.

Get started today

Understanding Anxiety — Short Introductory Mini Course

£24

One-off payment. Instant access.

7 short video lessons (around 30 minutes)
Workbook and Hot Cross Bun worksheet
Lifetime access to all content

Yes, I want this course →

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Need help with your order? Email [email protected]

You might be wondering…

How short is this course really?

The course contains seven short video lessons and can be completed in around 30 minutes. It is designed to be brief by intention. It gives you a focused, clear introduction to understanding anxiety, not a full programme. If you want to go deeper, the full Outsmart Anxiety course covers everything from understanding to practical strategies in much more detail.

My child's anxiety seems complex. Is this the right course?

This course is a clear, practical introduction to what anxiety is and how it works. It gives you a framework for understanding your child's specific anxiety pattern, which is genuinely useful regardless of how complex or straightforward your situation is. That said, if your child's anxiety is severe or is significantly affecting their daily life, this course is a helpful starting point but is not a substitute for professional support. It will, however, give you a much clearer picture to take into any conversations with GPs, schools, or clinicians.

Is this suitable for autistic children or children with ADHD?

Yes. Dr Lucy Russell specialises in autism and ADHD, and the course draws on her clinical experience working with neurodivergent children. Anxiety is extremely common in autistic and ADHD children, and the frameworks in this course are relevant and useful regardless of whether your child has a formal diagnosis.

What age range does this cover?

The course is relevant for parents of children aged 5 to 17. The frameworks taught, including the Hot Cross Bun model, apply across a wide age range. You will apply them to your own child, which means the content is naturally tailored to whoever you are thinking about.

How is this different from the full Outsmart Anxiety course?

This mini-course covers the understanding module only. It gives you a thorough grounding in what anxiety is, how it works, and how to map your child's pattern. The full Outsmart Anxiety courses go considerably further, covering behavioural strategies, thought-based approaches, and specific techniques in much more depth. This course is a good standalone introduction, and also a good way to see whether the full course would be the right next step for you.

Is there a refund policy?

Because this is a digital product with immediate access to all content, I am not able to offer refunds once the course has been accessed. If you have any questions before you purchase, or if you experience any technical problems with your order, please email [email protected] and I will be happy to help.

Understanding your child's anxiety is the first step.

A clear, focused 30-minute introduction from a child clinical psychologist with over 20 years of experience.

Yes, I want this course →