As child psychologists, we often meet parents who are feeling stuck. They desperately want to help their anxious or avoidant child—but every time they try, it seems to make things worse. Their child might refuse to go to school, need constant reassurance, or melt down when faced with change. Parents often say, “We’ve tried everything, but nothing helps.”
If this sounds familiar, there’s a research-backed program designed especially for families like yours. It’s called SPACE, which stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions.
What Is SPACE?
SPACE is a parent-based treatment developed at Yale University for children and teens who struggle with anxiety, OCD, and related challenges. Unlike traditional therapy—where the focus is on the child meeting one-on-one with a therapist—SPACE works directly with parents.
In SPACE, you’ll learn how to respond to your child’s anxiety in ways that help them build courage and independence. The therapist guides parents step-by-step in how to:
- Systematically reduce accommodations (the well-intentioned ways parents help their child avoid anxiety triggers), and
- Increase supportive communication—the messages that say, “I know you’re scared, and I believe you can handle this.”
Why SPACE Works
When a child feels anxious, parents naturally want to make things easier. You might stay home with your child when they’re afraid of school, talk for them when they’re shy, or avoid triggers that cause panic. These responses are loving—but over time, they can accidentally send the message that your child can’t handle anxiety on their own.
SPACE helps parents gently shift that pattern. With guidance, parents make small, planned changes that show the child two powerful things:
- You’re safe and loved, and
- You are capable of coping with hard things.
As parents change their responses, children begin to face their fears more often—and anxiety naturally decreases.
Why SPACE Can Be a Great First Step
Sometimes, children who need help the most are the least ready for therapy. They might be too anxious to talk to a stranger, too young to express their worries, or too resistant to even think about treatment.
SPACE is uniquely suited for these situations because:
- The child doesn’t have to attend sessions. Parents do the work, and change happens right at home.
- It strengthens the parent-child relationship. Kids begin to feel more confident and less dependent on their parents for reassurance.
- It builds long-term resilience. Parents learn tools that can be used again and again as new fears appear.
Many families find that as parents change their approach, children start to open up, participate more, and—when ready—engage more comfortably in therapy themselves.
The Heart of SPACE
At its core, SPACE is about connection, confidence, and calm. It empowers parents to become the steady, supportive base their child needs to take brave steps toward a less anxious life.
If your child struggles with anxiety or OCD and traditional therapy hasn’t felt like the right fit yet, SPACE might be the perfect place to start. At InSight Psychology, our team is trained in SPACE and loves helping parents rediscover their strength and confidence in supporting their child.
