Empowering Families: The Transformative Impact of SPACE Training for Children with Anxiety and OCD

by Amy DiLaura, CHC Marketing Manager

Parents of children with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) know that the path to improvement isn’t always a straight line. These issues can be challenging to manage, and often require a comprehensive approach involving therapy, support, and sometimes medication.

In addition to traditional patient-based therapy, sometimes families can benefit from SPACE (Supporting Parents for Anxious Childhood Emotions) training: an approach that focuses on teaching parents or caregivers how to support their children in managing anxiety-related behaviors.

SPACE training to treat anxiety and OCD

CHC’s Maya Chatav, PhD is a licensed psychologist who works with children, adolescents and families with a range of concerns, including anxiety, depression, anger, and inattention and hyperactivity. She has specialized training in working with anxious children and adolescents and incorporates SPACE training as part of her approach.

She shares what makes SPACE so effective and how it can be used to treat anxiety and OCD.

What is SPACE and how is it different from other therapy models?

“SPACE is an evidence-based treatment for children and adolescents with anxiety and OCD. It was developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center. SPACE is different than many other evidenced-based anxiety programs, in that while the child is ultimately the “client,” in SPACE treatment we only work with the parents.

Rather than focusing on the child’s actions, during SPACE treatment the therapist helps parents alter the way in which they respond to their child’s anxious behaviors. SPACE treatment teaches parents to make changes to their own behavior that lead to a decrease in overall anxiety symptoms for their child.

Studies show that SPACE treatment can be as effective as other treatments–such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy–in which therapists work directly with the anxious child.”

Who can benefit from SPACE?

“Any child with anxiety or OCD can be good candidate for SPACE treatment, but it is a particularly helpful option for children who will not or cannot participate in treatment directly. SPACE can also be a great option for younger children with anxiety, as parents of younger children are often doing lots of accommodating and protecting behaviors to manage their child’s anxiety. Changing those accommodating behaviors, in a supportive manner, can really help the child’s anxiety improve.

SPACE is also very helpful for parents who experience anxiety themselves. Parents with anxiety might value the treatment’s support for noticing when and how their own anxiety might be impacting accommodating and protecting their child in ways that might not be helpful.”

What can a parent expect from SPACE?

“SPACE is usually structured into 12 weekly sessions. The overall goal is to help parents learn ways to be more supportive of their child’s emotions, while at the same time decreasing the accommodations they’re making for their child’s behaviors and symptoms.

First, we explore how accommodating children’s anxious behaviors stop children from working on their fears and finding ways to get through uncomfortable situations. The therapist then helps parents get comfortable with doing less accommodating and changing how they respond to their child’s discomfort. Sometimes accommodations can become so habitual, we don’t even notice them anymore. For example, some families avoid travel because it triggers their child’s anxiety or check their child’s homework multiple times because the child is so uncomfortable with the idea of making a mistake. SPACE therapists can help parents pick easier accommodations to alter first, as children can be very resistant to these changes.

During SPACE treatment parents practice ways to respond to their children when they are anxious and upset due to these changes in accommodations. Parents learn how to support and validate their child’s emotions, and at the same time express belief that they can get through the uncomfortable feelings. For example, a parent might tell their child, “I am going to wait ten minutes after you text me while I am out. I know it might feel uncomfortable, but I know you can get through it.” As goals for changes are met, parents are supported to collaborate with their children on what behaviors they might want to work on next.”

SPACE training equips parents with practical skills and knowledge

SPACE training empowers parents by giving them the knowledge and skills to support their children effectively, and with confidence and compassion. By guiding parents to navigate the challenges of anxiety and OCD, SPACE empowers them not only to manage symptoms but also to cultivate a nurturing environment where both children and parents can thrive.

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Maya Chatav, PhD  has worked with children, adolescents and families presenting with a range of clinical concerns, including depression, anxiety, trauma, anger, inattention and hyperactivity and adjustment to new life circumstances. She has specialized training to work with younger children (age 2-7 years) along with their caregiver, and with anxious children and adolescents (SPACE treatment).

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