SPACE for Child Anxiety and OCD
The SPACE Program (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a highly effective, evidence-based approach designed to help children and their families manage anxiety and related emotional challenges. Unlike traditional therapy models, SPACE focuses primarily on parenting strategies, empowering parents to provide the support and structure children need to face their fears and develop lasting emotional resilience.
Having recently completed specialized training in the SPACE Program, I now offer this structured approach to help children, teens, and families combat anxiety in a supportive, non-confrontational way. SPACE is grounded in the understanding that although parents are typically not the cause of a child’s anxiety, they can be an important part of the solution. The goal of SPACE is to teach parents to reduce their child’s anxiety by adjusting their responses to anxious behaviors, promoting independence, and fostering the child’s ability to tolerate anxiety. This program can be incredibly powerful for families, as it targets the root causes of anxiety and equips parents with the tools to help their children thrive in challenging emotional situations.
Here’s How Space Works
The program is designed for children who experience generalized anxiety, social anxiety, separation anxiety, phobias, and even obsessive-compulsive behaviors. It is particularly useful for children who are often seeking reassurance or avoiding certain situations because of fear, such as avoiding school, social events, or new experiences.
💬 Imagine a child who is constantly worried about making mistakes at school, always needing reassurance from their parents before tests or presentations. With SPACE, parents can learn how to gradually reduce their child’s reliance on reassurance and help them build the skills to manage their anxiety independently.
👨👩👧 Think of a child who refuses to sleep alone at night, or a teen who avoids going out with friends because of fear of judgment or embarrassment. Through SPACE, parents can learn how to set firm yet supportive boundaries that encourage their children to face their fears in small, manageable steps, building confidence along the way.
🌈 For parents of children who exhibit physical signs of anxiety, such as stomach aches or headaches that interfere with their daily life, SPACE can help families understand how to break the cycle of avoidance and teach children to develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Why the Space Program is Effective
Unlike other traditional therapies, which often require children to directly confront their fears in the therapy room, SPACE focuses on changing the parent-child interaction. By gradually reducing anxious behaviors and fostering independence, the SPACE Program helps to empower the child to take control of their anxiety, with the support of their parents.
As a therapist trained in the SPACE Program, I guide parents in:
- Understanding the underlying causes of their child’s anxiety
- Learning how to reduce behaviors that reinforce anxiety (such as overprotectiveness or excessive reassurance)
- Implementing gradual exposure to feared situations in a controlled and supportive way
- Strengthening family dynamics through structured support that enhances communication and trust
Parents often see improvements in their child’s anxiety, as well as in their overall confidence and ability to manage stress. Not only does this approach benefit the child, but it also helps the whole family regain balance, reduce tension, and strengthen the child’s emotional resilience.
Why Choose SPACE?
The SPACE Program is a great fit for parents who want to be more involved in their child’s emotional development and learn how to effectively support them in managing anxiety. It provides a collaborative approach that brings families closer together and fosters long-term emotional health, reducing the risk of future anxiety-related issues. Best of all, it can be delivered entirely via telehealth!
If your child or teen is struggling with anxiety, or if you’ve noticed patterns of avoidance and excessive reassurance in your family, the SPACE Program might be exactly what you need. Together, we’ll develop a plan that helps your child face their fears, build independence, and develop lifelong coping skills.
🌟 Are you ready to break the cycle of anxiety and empower your child to face their fears with confidence? Let’s work together with the SPACE Program to create lasting change and emotional growth for your family.