Support Your Child’s Anxiety Recovery. Without Lifelong Therapy

SPACE is a parent-based, evidence-backed treatment that helps children with anxiety and OCD feel better, no direct participation required. 
Developed at Yale University, the SPACE approach empowers parents with practical tools to reduce accommodations, build confidence, and support lasting emotional growth. 

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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 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 stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, and that’s exactly what it offers. This approach focuses on the patterns between caregivers and children that unintentionally keep anxiety going, and gives parents the tools to respond with calm, confidence, and structure. 

SPACE Treatment
Child-Focused CBT
Focus
Parent behavior and family patterns 
Direct work with the child 
Child Involvement 
Not required 
Essential
Effective for...
Children who resist therapy or are unengaged
Children open to therapy 
Setting
Primarily online sessions with parents; in-person available when clinically appropriate 
In-person or online child therapy
Core Method
Reducing accommodations + increasing resilience
Exposure tasks and cognitive strategies

Childhood Anxiety Isn’t Just a Smaller Version of Adult Anxiety 

Children and teens are still developing the skills they need to manage stress, so they naturally rely on their caregivers to help them navigate overwhelming situations. 

This means that parents play a central role in how anxiety is shaped, reinforced, and ultimately treated. 

SPACE helps you shift your responses in ways that reduce anxiety-driven behaviors, create a greater sense of security for your child, and support long-term change, all without needing your child to be in the room. 

Is Space Right for Your Family? 

SPACE treatment works best for parents of anxious children who prefer to be active participants in the treatment. It’s a great fit 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

We also offer specialized parent-facing treatments for anxiety-related concerns, including SPACE Treatment, as well as support for FTL and ARFID-related challenges.

What Conditions Does Space Help With?

Generalized Anxiety

Separation Anxiety

Social Anxiety

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Panic Disorder

Selective Mutism

ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder)

Failure to Launch (dependency in adulthood)

Specialized Applications of SPACE 

Beyond general anxiety and OCD, SPACE treatment has been adapted to support specific challenges like picky eating and situations where young adults struggle with independence (often referred to as “failure to launch”).

These targeted applications help parents respond more effectively to persistent, high-stress situations at home. 

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 helps parents reduce stress around mealtimes and support their child in developing greater flexibility around food.

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.

Learn to shift patterns that maintain dependency, while keeping a strong and connected relationship.

Why SPACE Works

SPACE isn’t about fixing your child; it’s about helping you respond differently. You’ll learn: 

  • How to reduce fear-based accommodations
  • How to set calm, confident boundaries
  • How to respond effectively to anxiety-driven behaviors 

All with the support of a therapist trained in the SPACE model.

“Parents don’t cause anxiety, but they’re uniquely positioned to help change how it shows up.”

Online, Accessible, And Flexible

SPACE sessions can be conducted virtually via Zoom. We offer SPACE treatment to clients in most US States and internationally. That means:

  • No commutes
  • Flexible scheduling
  • Comfort and privacy from your home  Access to treatment even if local services are limited 

Prefer a child-focused approach? Explore Individual Therapy for Children for ages 6+, grounded in play, CBT, and skill-building methods. s

Frequently Asked Questions 

Are You Ready to Take the First Step?

Schedule your free initial consultation to learn more about how SPACE treatment may be right for your family. 

Request a Free Consultation