Supporting Parents of Anxious Childhood Emotions
SPACE
Supporting Parents for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is an evidence-based treatment modality developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center. It is specifically designed to address a wide variety of anxiety disorders, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and related challenges in children and young adults.
Crucially, SPACE is a parent-focused intervention. It was initially developed for children who are anxious or protective of their symptoms and refuse to participate directly in therapy themselves. Because the treatment is conducted entirely through the parents, the child does not even need to attend the sessions to benefit from the outcomes.
SPACE systematically examines the role of family dynamics and its impact on the child's presenting condition. Research demonstrates that well-meaning but excessive family accommodation—such as changing household routines, answering questions on the child's behalf, or helping them avoid distress—unintentionally maintains and exacerbates maladaptive anxiety over time.
Through the SPACE framework, parents learn to shift from accommodation to supportive parenting. This involves validating the child's genuine distress while firmly conveying confidence in their innate ability to cope. By systematically reducing accommodations, parents foster their child's independent coping mechanisms and emotional regulation skills.
The high success rate of the SPACE modality has been exceptionally encouraging. Beyond childhood anxiety and OCD, this robust protocol is now effectively utilized to treat:
Childhood Depression: Addressing withdrawal and avoidant behaviors.
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Reducing parental accommodations surrounding restrictive eating patterns, sensory aversions, or fears of choking and vomiting.
Failure to Launch: Supporting parents of young adults who are struggling to transition into independent, self-sufficient adulthood.
what is SPACE treatment? (Youtube)
Breaking Free of Anxiety - A Journey Through SPACE (Youtube)