While traditional approaches to treating childhood anxiety often focus directly on the child, SPACE treatment (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) uses a structurally different approach. This innovative treatment method, developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale University, helps parents learn strategies to change their own responses to children’s anxious behavior which in turn reduces those behaviors.
What is SPACE Therapy?
SPACE is a parent-based treatment program for childhood anxiety and OCD. In SPACE, we work directly with parents, teaching them specific skills to support their child’s development and use of coping strategies.
The core principle of SPACE is reducing something called accommodation – which is the way parents naturally modify their behavior to help their child avoid or minimize anxiety. Accommodations come from a place of love and support, however they can inadvertently reinforce anxious behaviors.
The Two Key Components of SPACE
SPACE therapy focuses on two complementary parental responses:
- Supportive Responses: Parents learn to acknowledge their child’s distress with empathy, and to express confidence in the child’s ability to cope with this distress.
- Reducing Accommodation: With the therapist’s support, parents gradually and systematically reduce the ways they modify their behavior to help their child avoid anxiety triggers.
How SPACE Therapy Works
The SPACE approach typically includes:
- Parent education about anxiety and accommodation
- Mapping current accommodation patterns
- Developing a clear plan to reduce accommodations gradually
- Learning supportive responses that validate feelings without reinforcing avoidance
- Preparing for potential challenges during the process
The Evidence Behind SPACE
There is substantial evidence demonstrating the efficacy of SPACE as a treatment for childhood anxiety. Research has shown SPACE to be as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for treating childhood anxiety disorders.
Who Can Benefit from SPACE?
SPACE therapy has proven effective for children and adolescents with various anxiety disorders, including:
- Separation anxiety
- Social anxiety
- Generalized anxiety
- Specific phobias
- OCD
- Selective mutism
The approach is particularly valuable for children who refuse traditional therapy or struggle to engage in treatment.
Finding SPACE Therapy
SPACE represents an important addition to the mental health toolkit for childhood anxiety, offering hope to families by empowering parents to become effective agents of change in their child’s recovery journey. SPACE can be delivered virtually, or in person typically over 12-16 sessions. Are you interested in getting started with SPACE? Contact us to book an appointment!
About the Author
Jen Fields, LMSW
Jen’s work focuses on helping people heal from trauma, navigate anxiety, find work/life balance, and rebuild their sense of self and balance after experiencing abuse or coercive control. Jen is ...
