SPACE – Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
A parent-focused, evidence-based approach for reducing anxiety-driven accommodations which has shown to facilitate recovery in children and teens. Now adapted by our clinical team to effectively support adults in helping them overcome OCD, anxiety, and related problems.
What is SPACE?
SPACE is a structured, evidence-based parent-only therapy for helping children and adolescents with anxiety disorders and OCD—all while the child does not attend therapy. Developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale Child Study Center, SPACE enables parents to reduce accommodations (i.e. modifying routines or providing reassurance to reduce distress) and instead provide supportive responses that encourage the child’s ability to tolerate discomfort and build independence.
Clinical trials show that SPACE is comparable in effectiveness to traditional CBT with kids, and often leads to greater reductions in family accommodation earlier in the treatment course.
SPACE is ideal for:
- Children and teens (typically ages 6–14, but applicable more broadly) with OCD, anxiety disorders, phobias, panic, or generalized anxiety.
- Situations where children cannot participate in therapy effectively (e.g., too young, communication difficulties, lack of motivation).
- Parents who frequently accommodate their child’s symptoms and want to change course.
We also recognize that the principles of SPACE can be thoughtfully adapted for adult clients whose loved ones are seeking support, especially when the adult is ambivalent about starting treatment, or is unwilling or unable to engage in treatment directly. By working with family members to reduce accommodation and respond supportively, we believe SPACE strategies can promote change even when the individual in distress isn’t actively participating in therapy, helping to support the adult’s journey toward overcoming anxiety-driven compulsions, building resilience, and increasing engagement in meaningful life activities.