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Specialized Therapy
for Anxiety, OCD &
School Avoidance
Helping children, teens, adults, and families move from avoidance to confidence through compassionate, evidence-based therapy.
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Specialized support for anxiety, OCD, emetophobia, school avoidance and related challenges, with in-person therapy in Colts Neck, NJ and virtual therapy throughout New Jersey.
Care That Helps You Move Forward
At Hays Health & Wellness, we understand that anxiety and avoidance can affect much more than how someone feels. They can impact school, sports, relationships, family life and everyday experiences.
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Our clinicians provide specialized, evidence-based therapy to help children, teens and adults better understand anxiety, face difficult situations and build the skills and confidence to move forward.
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Meet Our Therapists
Our clinicians provide compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to each client's needs and goals.
Ira Hays, LCSW
Ira specializes in helping children, teens and adults navigate anxiety, avoidance and related challenges. Using evidence-based approaches including ERP, ACT and CBT, he helps clients face difficult situations and move toward greater confidence.
Founder & Executive Director
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Beyond The Therapy Room
Helping Parents, Clinicians & Schools Better Understand Anxiety and Avoidance
Ira Hays, LCSW, brings his clinical experience beyond individual therapy to help parents, clinicians and school professionals better understand anxiety, avoidance and school attendance challenges.
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Through training, resources, courses and his upcoming book, Ira shares practical, evidence-based strategies for understanding what drives avoidance and how to help children move forward.
FREE RESOURCE FOR PARENTS & PROFESSIONALS
Is Anxiety Keeping a Child From School?
Get Ira's free guide to understanding school avoidance, school refusal and school phobia, and what may be driving it.
School attendance challenges can be confusing for parents and professionals alike. This practical guide will help you better understand what may be driving avoidance, recognize important patterns and consider helpful next steps.
Practical Resources
for Parents & Professionals
Explore articles, videos and practical guidance from Ira Hays, LCSW, designed to help parents, clinicians and school professionals better understand anxiety, avoidance and the challenges that can get in the way of everyday life.
Understanding
OCD & Anxiety
Explore practical information about anxiety, OCD, avoidance and evidence-based approaches that can help children, teens and adults move forward.
COMING SOON
Courses & Professional Education
Practical, evidence-based learning for parents, clinicians and school professionals.
An Introduction to the Assessment and Treatment of School Phobia
This upcoming course from Ira Hays, LCSW, will help parents and professionals better understand school phobia, identify factors that may be driving avoidance and explore evidence-based approaches for helping children move forward.
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Solving the School Attendance Crisis
AN UPCOMING BOOK FROM IRA HAYS, LCSW
A practical guide for parents, educators and clinicians navigating school attendance concerns.
Ira Hays offers The Hays REJOIN Method, a practical framework for understanding the differences between school avoidance, school refusal and school phobia, along with evidence-based strategies to help students gradually re-engage with school and everyday life.