Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
What is SPACE?
SPACE is a parent-based therapy designed to reduce childhood anxiety by changing how parents respond to their child’s anxiety symptoms. In particular, there is a focus on reducing the amount a child relies on avoidance or parental accommodations of their anxiety in order to function. SPACE teaches parents strategies to support their child in facing anxiety while reducing parental accommodation of anxious behaviors. It helps children build confidence in themselves and agency to overcome and persevere in the face of challenges.
How SPACE Works
In SPACE, parents learn to:
Reduce Accommodation: Identifying ways in which they accommodate their child’s anxiety (e.g., avoiding anxiety-provoking situations) and learning to gradually reduce these behaviors.
Supportive Communication: Using supportive language and behaviors to encourage the child to face anxiety-provoking situations.
Shape Desired Behavior: Through clear communication and thoughtful planning, parents guide children towards greater autonomy and independence.
Who Can Benefit from SPACE?
SPACE is effective for children with anxiety disorders, including separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, school avoidance, OCD, generalized anxiety, difficulties with eating (ARFID) or even failure to launch. It is particularly useful for parents who want to support their child in managing anxiety without exacerbating avoidance behaviors.
SPACE at the Mindfulness & Change Group
Our therapists work with parents to provide the tools and strategies needed to reduce accommodation and help their child build resilience. We provide ongoing support to ensure parents feel confident in their ability to help their child manage anxiety effectively. This is a short-term treatment. Typical length of treatment is 12-18 sessions.