Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) at Whole Wellness
At Whole Wellness Counseling in Ithaca, New York, and Orchard Park, New York we recognize the pervasive impact of pediatric anxiety and are committed to providing effective solutions through the evidence-based program, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE). Developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center, SPACE is a parent-based treatment program specifically designed for children and adolescents grappling with anxiety, OCD, and related problems.
SPACE Q&A
What is SPACE?
SPACE is a parent-based treatment program that targets anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder in children and adolescents. Dr. Eli Lebowitz's research at the Yale Child Study Center has validated SPACE's efficacy through randomized controlled clinical trials. Our SPACE-trained therapists work specifically with parents, aiming to reduce parental anxiety.
SPACE treatment sessions provide a unique and effective approach to addressing pediatric anxiety by focusing on the role of parents and caregivers. By teaching parents supportive responses and reducing accommodations, SPACE equips them with the skills and tools necessary to support their child in overcoming anxiety, OCD, or related problems. The program recognizes the importance of shifting the focus from reinforcing anxiety to fostering resilience, making it a transformative option for families seeking solutions for their anxious children.
Unlike many treatments for pediatric anxiety that target the child directly, SPACE recognizes the critical role parents play in the solution. The two main changes emphasized in SPACE treatment are:
Supportive Responses: Teaching parents to respond more supportively to their anxious child.
Reducing Accommodations: Guiding parents to decrease the accommodations made to the child's symptoms.
Who Attends SPACE Treatment Sessions?
The focus of SPACE treatment sessions is on parents and caregivers. In most cases, the child or adolescent does not need to attend these sessions. The primary objective of SPACE is to equip parents with the skills and tools necessary to support their child in overcoming anxiety, OCD, or related problems.
What are Family Accommodations?
At the core of the SPACE treatment is attention to Family Accommodations, the changes caregivers make in their own behavior in response to intense childhood emotions, including anxiety and distress. Accommodations encompass a range of modifications, both active and passive, made by parents to alleviate their child's anxiety. Despite the parent's well-intentioned efforts, these accommodations can reinforce and intensify anxiety in the long term. SPACE acknowledges that parents are a crucial part of the solution, and the program works to shift the focus from reinforcing anxiety to fostering resilience.
If you're a parent seeking effective solutions for your anxious child, the SPACE program can provide you with the skills and tools necessary to support their journey towards resilience. By focusing on reducing accommodations and teaching supportive responses, SPACE empowers parents to play a critical role in their child's recovery.
Don't hesitate to reach out and discover how SPACE can make a difference in your family's life. Additionally, you can explore further information about SPACE here.