Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
When a child is struggling with anxiety, it can affect the whole family. Parents may find themselves adjusting routines, offering reassurance, or trying to prevent distress — yet still feeling unable to create lasting change.
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is an evidence-based approach that works directly with parents to help reduce anxiety in their children and teens. We use SPACE in a collaborative, supportive way — tailored to your family’s needs and your child’s unique presentation.
When SPACE Can Help
SPACE may be helpful when a child or teen is experiencing:
Anxiety that interferes with daily life
School refusal or avoidance
Separation anxiety or difficulty being apart from caregivers
Frequent reassurance-seeking
Strong avoidance patterns related to anxiety
Family stress related to managing anxiety at home
Our Focus
With SPACE, parents are not bystanders — they are an essential part of helping their child move through anxiety in a supported and sustainable way.
How SPACE Works at Our Practice
Unlike traditional child therapy, SPACE focuses on working directly with parents. We work closely with families throughout the process so parents feel supported — not blamed — as they make changes that help their child move toward greater independence and confidence.
In sessions, parents are supported to:
Understand how anxiety is maintained in family patterns
Reduce accommodations that unintentionally reinforce anxiety
Respond to anxious behaviors with clarity and consistency
Build confidence in handling difficult moments at home
Strengthen communication and boundaries
Support gradual, meaningful change over time
Do You Have an Anxious Child or Teen?
SPACE treatment helps parents respond to childhood anxiety in ways that increase confidence, resilience, and emotional independence over time. We’re happy to answer questions about whether SPACE may be a good fit for your family.