Therapists: Ready for the August Whiplash?
You know the drill. July is slow, the phone is quiet, and you finally have time to catch up on notes—or maybe even breathe. Then, like clockwork, mid-August hits. Your inbox fills. Parents call in a panic. Kids who’ve been “fine” all summer suddenly aren’t. The shift is fast, intense, and if you’re not ready, it can leave you scrambling to catch up while everyone else is trying to hold it together.
August: The Invisible Hard Month
Transitions are tender, often invisible, and emotionally loaded. Whether it’s a kindergartener starting school, a high schooler bracing for a tougher year, a college freshman stepping into the unknown, or an adult going back to school for the first time—the mental health stakes are high.
We prepare for these changes by buying clothes, backpacks, and school supplies. But what if we also prepared emotionally? What if we treated August as more than a shopping season and started seeing it as a mental health checkpoint?
I call it “The August Shift”—that quiet buildup of anxiety as school approaches, and the ways families, kids, and therapists can learn to see it and care for it before it boils over.
Why August Feels So Hard for Kids
Every August, before the first leaf even hits the ground, something shifts. Stores trade out fireworks for pumpkins, and while kids start hunting for new notebooks and sneakers, there’s a subtle hum of tension in the air.
Summer’s freedom is fading.
Bedtimes get earlier.
The countdown to “first day” begins.
One parent I know called this season “No-Touch August.” Her daughter would get increasingly irritable and sensitive as the first day of school approached—like a pot about to boil over. And yet, once school started, the lid went back on. The pressure dropped.
So why does this happen?
- Routines flip overnight. Late nights and lazy mornings turn into 6:30 alarms and rushed breakfasts.
- Old challenges resurface. Academic pressure, social anxiety, bullying, and sensory overload all come back into play.
- The quiet kids get missed. While disruptive behavior often triggers intervention, kids experiencing neglect or internalizing trauma may fly under the radar. They’re just as affected—sometimes more—but rarely get noticed.
How Therapists Can Help Kids Navigate “The August Shift”
1. Name It and Normalize It
Kids often think their pre-school jitters mean something’s “wrong” with them. Let them know anxiety is normal during big transitions—and that it’s something we can plan for.
2. Build “Transition Routines”
Encourage families to gradually reintroduce structure: earlier bedtimes, consistent wake-ups, and gentle exposure to school-related activities before the first day.
3. Teach On-the-Go Coping Skills
Help kids find discreet tools they can use in the classroom—like deep breathing, grounding exercises, or positive self-talk phrases tucked into a notebook.
4. Partner with Schools Early
Reach out to school counselors and teachers before things escalate. A quick check-in can make sure a struggling student doesn’t slip through the cracks.
5. Watch for the Ones Who Seem “Fine”
Ask parents and teachers about changes in energy, participation, or mood. Withdrawn behavior can be just as concerning as acting out.
And for Therapists…
The late summer rush can be exhausting. Protect yourself, too:
- Keep a little buffer time between sessions.
- Offer shorter “tune-up” appointments for returning clients.
- Lean on peer consultation to share strategies and emotional load.
The August Shift doesn’t have to catch anyone off guard. When therapists, parents, and schools work together, we can help kids enter the new school year not just braced for impact, but supported and ready to thrive.
