The book · New Harbinger, June 1, 2027
Let Go to Let Grow
Treating Anxiety in Children and Adolescents Using Independence Therapy
By Dr. Matthew Fastman and Dr. Camilo Ortiz, with a foreword by Lenore Skenazy. A book for clinicians.
About the book
A step-by-step, evidence-based guide to reducing childhood anxiety by building independence, not avoidance.
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.
Book description as it appears on the book’s Amazon listing.
Who it’s for
- Written for
- Clinicians who treat anxiety in children and adolescents
- Settings
- Clinical, school, and telehealth
- Approach
- A structured, six-session protocol grounded in cognitive behavioral principles
The approach behind the book
Independence Therapy
Dr. Ortiz is a co-developer of Independence Therapy, with Dr. Matthew Fastman. Children choose fun, sometimes challenging tasks to do on their own, while parents work with the therapist on their own reactions. Let Go to Let Grow presents the approach for clinicians.
Learn about Independence Therapy →About the author
Camilo Ortiz, Ph.D., ABPP is a board-certified (ABPP) clinical psychologist based in Great Neck, New York. He is Associate Professor at LIU Post and Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University, and a co-developer of Independence Therapy. Clinical care is through Cognitive Behavioral Associates (CBA) in Great Neck. In September 2023, he and Lenore Skenazy of Let Grow published the New York Times guest essay “This Simple Fix Could Help Anxious Kids.”
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