If you’re a parent, carer, or educator, you can learn more about how the toolbox and sessions can help your child or teen feel more empowered and emotionally safe. 

School and mathematics are foundational parts of education, shaping academic success and essential life skills. However, for many children and young people, engaging with schoolwork and maths can feel overwhelming and intimidating.

Shifts in educational environments, changes to learning formats, and disruptions to traditional classroom life have introduced new challenges that can impact students’ confidence, comprehension, and overall performance across all subjects, including maths.

These disruptions often create gaps in understanding, key ideas may feel just out of reach, like missing pieces of an important puzzle. Learning in isolation, or without regular peer interaction, limits opportunities for collaborative problem-solving, shared discussions, and the learning experiences that are vital for building confidence in both maths and school life.

Motivation can wane, and high levels of stress may create mental roadblocks, making it difficult to concentrate, absorb new information, and stay connected with learning.

One common outcome of these experiences is School and Maths Anxiety, a very real and often debilitating sense of tension, fear, or worry linked to learning tasks, attending school, and engaging with maths.

This anxiety can affect students across all levels of ability, leading to decreased performance, emotional distress, and growing avoidance of both schoolwork and maths activities.

This book was created in response to these challenges. It is designed as a supportive resource for children and young people, parents, carers, teachers and facilitators,, a comprehensive toolbox to help identify, understand, and address the emotional and cognitive barriers that stand in the way of success in school and mathematics.

Within these pages, you’ll find strategies to build confidence, set achievable goals, develop stronger conceptual understanding, and cultivate a positive, resilient mindset towards both school and maths.

Understanding the challenges is the first step. With the right tools, support, and approach, school and maths can become not just manageable, but empowering.

This book invites you to embark on that journey.

Yvonne Holmes BSc. Hons. PGCE, PDMT, Dip Coun, Dip Clin Hyp. NLP Practitioner, Teaching Council of Ireland Reg. G.T.C.N.I. Reg.

I am a registered teacher, licensed professional counsellor with an honour’s degree in Mathematics, Marine Biology, a PGCE in Science with Biology specialism, and extensive qualifications as a counsellor, clinical hypnotherapist, and NLP practitioner, I bring a rich tapestry of skills. Over my 14-year tenure as a Science and Maths teacher in Ireland and Spain, and an additional seven years teaching IELTS to medical professionals, I have honed my expertise. For seven years, as an educational youth worker, I've witnessed first-hand the unique challenges young people face. Now, I am eager to channel this collective experience into an extensive resource that addresses anxiety, builds confidence, and nurtures positive mindsets in the younger generation.

You’re not alone — many parents reach out with similar worries. Here are some of the most common concerns I hear, and how I support families: 

My child is anxious all the time — how can I help?

It can be hard watching your child struggle with anxiety. I help young people learn practical tools to calm overwhelming thoughts, manage daily stress, and build emotional resilience. I also support parents in understanding what anxiety looks like for their child and how to respond in ways that feel safe and supportive.

They don’t want to go to school and nothing seems to work.

School anxiety is more common than many people realise. Whether it’s academic pressure, social stress, or fear of being away from home, I work with young people to understand what’s going on underneath the resistance and find small, realistic steps toward re-engagement.

Their confidence is really low — they always put themselves down.

Low self-esteem can show up in lots of quiet ways: not speaking up, avoiding activities, giving up easily, or harsh self-talk. My approach gently builds self-belief through positive language, mindset tools (including Person Centred Therapy, NLP and CBT), and small wins that make a big difference.

They won’t talk to me about what’s going on.

Sometimes it’s easier for young people to open up to someone outside the family. My sessions offer a calm, non-judgmental space where they can feel heard and supported — and where they often do begin to talk and reflect in their own time.

We’ve tried everything, and nothing seems to help.

I completely understand. Many families come to me feeling stuck or worn out from trying strategies that haven’t worked. Together, we can explore what your child needs right now, and how small changes in communication, boundaries, or mindset can lead to real shifts — for both of you.

As a qualified counsellor (Level 4), teacher, and NLP practitioner, I take the safety and privacy of every young person I work with seriously. My aim is to create a calm, supportive space where your child feels safe to talk, explore their feelings, and build confidence — at their own pace. 

What Parents Need to Know:

• Consent matters: I require parent/guardian consent for anyone under 16 before we begin working together. Consent can be given easily through my secure booking form, followed by confirmation via email.
  
  

• Confidentiality is respected: Young people need to know they can trust the space. I will not share what is said in sessions unless:

• The young person gives permission
  
  

• There’s a safeguarding concern (risk of harm to self or others)
  
  

• I’m legally required to disclose information
  
  

• In those cases, I will always aim to discuss the situation with you and your child first, wherever it is safe and appropriate to do so.
  
  

• Sessions are secure and private: I work in line with professional ethical standards and GDPR regulations. Sessions are held on secure platforms (e.g., Zoom), and I store only minimal personal data, which is encrypted and never shared.
  
  

• Your role as a parent is valued: While sessions are private, I can also offer separate parent support sessions to help you feel more confident and informed in supporting your child.