SUPPORTIVE PARENTING FOR ANXIOUS CHILDHOOD EMOTIONS

Developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center, SPACE is a treatment program designed for parents of children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, or other related concerns. Rather than directly focusing on changing the child’s behavior, SPACE empowers parents to modify their own responses to improve the child’s anxiety or related symptoms.

Who is a good fit for SPACE?

Families that prefer to start with changing their approach prior to initiating therapy for the child.
Families with anxious children who are not willing, able, or ready to engage in treatment.
Families who want to supplement the child’s therapy with their own tools and strategies.
Children are considered the patient, but only parents and caregivers attend sessions.

What are the goals?

Increase the child’s confidence and sense of autonomy in managing their anxiety.

Decrease accommodations that may unintentionally reinforce the child’s symptoms.

Strengthen parental support while also reducing parent and child dysregulation.

Improve parent-child relationships by targeting communication within the family.

What is the parent committing to when they enroll in SPACE?

Willingness to learn skills and strategies that help their child overcome anxiety-related concerns.