SPACE Treatment in Denver, CO
SPACE is an active, evidenced-based approach for parents to help their children overcome anxiety and OCD
What is SPACE treatment?
SPACE is a paradigm-shifting parent-based treatment program to treat childhood anxiety and OCD. Developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale, SPACE (which stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) has been found to be just as effective as child-focused CBT, but requires no participation from the child.
These sessions are entirely parent-based, and focus exclusively on changing parent behavior to reduce anxiety accommodations and improve the relationship with their children.
SPACE treatment is a new, effective answer for childhood anxiety.
In recent years, the most popular method for treating childhood anxiety has been child-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), in which the focus is on working directly with the child. However, this model has it’s limitations, particularly if the child is resistant to treatment for any reason (or caregivers want to be more involved).
Childhood anxiety is not the same as adult anxiety.
Children and teenagers learn to manage their anxiety through caregivers, as they don’t yet have the capacity to manage the stressors of life on their own. As such, caregiver behavior is extremely important in the maintenance (and treatment!) of childhood anxiety symptoms.
Who is SPACE treatment best suited for?
SPACE treatment works best for parents of anxious children who prefer to be active participants in the treatment. It is a great fit for families when:
- Your child or teenager doesn’t want to go to therapy
- It is impractical to have the child attend therapy (financial concerns, scheduling issues, logistical problems, etc.)
- You don’t want your child to think something is “wrong” with them
- Your child/teenager has tried anxiety treatment, but they still have anxiety
- As parents, you want active tools to help give your child relief from anxiety
SPACE for Failure to Launch (FTL)
SPACE is a proven treatment for highly dependent adult children (commonly referred to as “Failure to Launch”). This specialty treatment focuses on helping adult children achieve independence and increase resiliency in a way that maintains (and builds) a positive relationship with caregivers.
SPACE for ARFID (Picky Eating)
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) involves fear of new foods, very strong food preferences, and/or excessive rigidity around food. Children with ARFID may insist on eating only very specific food items and may show little interest in eating. They may also express a high level of distress when faced with new foods or situations involving eating. SPACE has been shown to be effective in helping children increase food-related flexibility and reduce overall food-related stress.
Schedule your free initial consultation to learn more about how SPACE treatment may be right for you or your family member.
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