Support courses for Mirko's anxiety

For many students, the social side of school can be even more challenging than the academics. This was the case for Year 8 student Mirko, whose struggles with anxiety and social communication were holding him back from fully embracing school life.

Today, however, Mirko is now a confident young man who actively participates in class discussions, runs errands independently, and even feels confident enough to speak in front of large groups. His transformation has been remarkable, and according to Mirko’s mum Emanuela, it’s all down to our Enhanced Support Services at King’s InterHigh.

“King’s InterHigh is just perfect. It’s a godsend,” Emanuela tells us, noting how two wellbeing courses in particular (Social Skills and Anxiety Management) have “changed my son, for sure!” We spoke to Emanuela to find out just how much Mirko has been able to truly come out of his shell since joining the programmes.

Mirko’s story

While Mirko had always flourished academically on his education journey, the social aspects of school had always proved more difficult. From communicating with classmates to handling the seven-hour school day, the day-to-day of school life was a significant hurdle to overcome.

Having previously accessed therapy through CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), Mirko’s family knew how valuable dedicated support could be when he first joined King’s InterHigh. That’s what made our unique Enhanced Support Services such a fantastic choice.

King’s InterHigh’s Enhanced Support Services are a suite of optional programmes, courses, and initiatives designed to enrich our students’ school journeys with additional, specialised support. These services span three key areas, including academic help and education coaching; for Mirko, our wellbeing support was the key.

To help tackle the unique challenges he was facing, Mirko joined our expert-led Social Skills and Anxiety Management courses: two multi-session workshops that focus on building confident communication and strategies for reducing anxious feelings.

“He is now tapping into those things he can use to help him cope in life. It’s brilliant. It’s been really good.” — Emanuela

“He absolutely loved it!”

According to Emanuela, Mirko loved every moment of his Social Skills and Anxiety Management courses because he was learning so many skills that he could use in his daily life.

To his mother, the impact of the sessions has quickly become apparent, particularly in how Mirko handles emotional challenges. When faced with misunderstandings or difficulties (whether he’s communicating with his sister or processing complex emotions), Mirko is now able to independently apply the grounding techniques and other strategies he’s picked up. He then comes back saying, “I’m feeling fine now,” explains Emanuela.

“He's just become such a sweet boy, a calmer young man, and more understanding. He still struggles, but he is more open to listening to how other people may understand things and do things — whereas before, it was either one way or another. That’s how I think it has helped.” — Emanuela

This newfound ability to self-regulate his emotions represents a significant milestone in Mirko’s development. While his mum notes that there are still challenges that he’s working through, the progress he’s made in remembering and using his toolkit of strategies the majority of the time has been incredible.

Transformative results

According to Emanuela, the Social Skills and Anxiety Management courses at King’s InterHigh have changed her son. Now that he’s able to use the strategies he’s learned around 98 percent of the time, his daily life has been transformed. He’s able to navigate relationships more smoothly and is not experiencing as much anxiety as he was before; as a result, he’s no longer getting so angry or shutting down when faced with challenges.

Perhaps the most striking evidence of Mirko’s progress came during a recent school trip to London Zoo — an activity he never would have done before, according to his mum. Emanuela went along too, watching with pride as her son confidently interacted with his online school friends in person. Our in-person school trips are a vital part of school life at King’s InterHigh.

“Just seeing him with his classmates, how they formed a little group and now have a group chat — that isn’t the old Mirko. It’s just amazing to see him say, ‘This person wrote to me, and this person wrote to me, and I can’t wait to see them again!’” — Emanuela

Likewise, the growth in Mirko’s confidence has been wonderful. “He was so unconfident,” explains Emanuela, adding that he wouldn’t approach anyone without his mum’s support. “Now, he just goes to the shops by himself.” While going outdoors and handling tasks independently may seem small to some, families like Emanuela’s know just how big of a barrier they can be for anxious young people to overcome.

Plus, Mirko’s Enhanced Support courses have also given him opportunities to take his confidence to new heights. When he was first invited to act as an ambassador and speak in front of a group of people, Mirko was understandably nervous. But, despite his initial feelings, he practiced diligently and was able to speak with poise.

In the end, Mirko was ecstatic to have been part of the experience. You could really see the glow in him, says Emanuela, from the pride he felt at speaking in front of everyone and the positive feedback he received afterwards.

“I don’t know where it came from. I was like, ‘Who are you? Where did that come from?!’” — Emanuela

According to Emanuela, when Mirko first joined King’s InterHigh, he was excited for a fresh start but still had to fight the challenges of his anxiety and social struggles. Now, things have flipped 180 degrees — rather than shying away from answering questions in class, he’s confident speaking on his microphone, and even wants to speak up all the time! Our online classrooms provide a safe space for students to engage at their own pace.

“He’s gone from one end to another with his confidence,” says Emanuela, reflecting on the outstanding progress her son has made. “New identify, new little man, super confident, and very happy too.”

If you want to learn more about our Enhanced Services and how they can support your child, contact our friendly team.