Psychologists and educators say emotional problems can follow a child through school and later in life. A program started 50 years ago here in Rochester is helping kids overcome these issues before they turn into something more serious.

"Emma was having some anxiety issues," said Gabrielle Brandenburg.

Emma Brandenburg always kept to herself. Her mom says a fire at a hotel she was staying at last summer made things worse.

"She was very anxious about loud noises and fire drills from then on out," Brandenburg said.

Just dropping Emma off at school was a struggle.

"It was a push, pull kind of thing, you have to go. And we both ended up crying most days," Brandenburg added.

To help Emma work through her anxiety, she was placed in the Primary Project at her elementary school.

“It doesn't look at kids already when they're having too many crises in their lives. It looks at kids early on," said Lynn Smith, Children’s Institute.

Through one-on-one child-led play sessions during the school day, kids learn to better express their feelings.

"They're basic skills that every individual needs to move through life and society," said Carol Augsbury, school social worker.

They are skills that experts say help kids get along with their classmates and resolve conflict as they get older.

"The kids that are in Primary Project I often don't see as the school social worker because they've had this service already," said Augsbury.

Educators say a minor social problem now can lead to violent behavior down the road.

"What happened in Canandaigua was an extreme. We're not looking at this as a prevention for that extreme,” said Bob Kuter, Pinnacle School #35 principal.

"Is there a connection in the long run? Maybe there is," said Kuter.

Just a few months into the program Emma has come out of her shell. She no longer fears fire drills and is making friends.

“She’s much more social now. We had a sleepover party and that was fun," Brandenburg said.

Her mom hopes it is something that continues when Emma becomes a teenager.

"You got to catch it early," Brandenburg stated.

The Primary Project has been so successful that it is now in 24 of the Rochester City School District’s 36 elementary schools.

About 180 schools in New York State have picked up the program.