The Anxiety Iceberg is a visual tool that helps clients understand that anxiety is not always obvious from the outside. What they or others show on the surface may be very different from the thoughts, feelings, and physical symptoms happening underneath.
The Anxiety Iceberg worksheet gives clients an opportunity to explore their own iceberg. Clients select from different options to identify behaviors people might notice above the iceberg, such as over-planning, rushing, and fidgeting. They also explore what may be happening below the surface by choosing thoughts and feelings such as “not good enough,” scared, and lonely.
Understanding their iceberg can help kids and teens treat themselves and others with more kindness and compassion. Use their answers to offer support, not judgment. Give them time and space to share, and let them know it is okay to ask for help.
This worksheet pairs well with our Anxiety Iceberg handout.
References:
- Kendall, P. C., & Pimentel, S. S. (2003). On the physiological symptom constellation in youth with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Journal of anxiety disorders, 17(2), 211–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0887-6185(02)00196-2
- Rapee, R. M., Creswell, C., Kendall, P. C., Pine, D. S., & Waters, A. M. (2023). Anxiety disorders in children and adolescents: A summary and overview of the literature. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 168, 104376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2023.104376
- Tali, E., Potharst, E. S., & J Utens, M. W. (2023). Self-Compassion and Anxiety in Adolescents with and without Anxiety Disorder. Children, 10(7), 1181. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071181
