SPACE Treatment for Childhood Anxiety

A Parent-Based Approach

When your child struggles with anxiety, it can feel like your whole family is affected.

Maybe you've started sleeping in your child's room because bedtime has become impossible, or you answer dozens of reassurance questions every day. You avoid birthday parties, speak for your child in social situations, change family routines... to prevent meltdowns. These responses come from love and in the moment, they often seem to help.

Unfortunately, they can also unintentionally keep anxiety going.

We now offer SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an evidence-based treatment that helps parents reduce childhood anxiety by changing the way they respond to it. The remarkable part? Your child does not have to attend therapy sessions for SPACE to be effective.

What is SPACE?

SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a structured parent-based treatment developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center. Instead of teaching coping skills directly to the child, SPACE helps parents learn new ways to respond to anxiety that encourage resilience, confidence, and independence.

Research has shown that family accommodation (changes parents naturally make to help a child avoid anxiety) can unintentionally reinforce anxious behaviors over time. SPACE teaches parents how to remain supportive while gradually reducing those accommodations in a thoughtful, compassionate way.

Does SPACE Really Work?

Yes. SPACE is one of the most well-researched parent-based treatments for childhood anxiety available today.

In a randomized clinical trial involving children ages 7–14 with anxiety disorders, researchers found that SPACE was just as effective as children receiving individual Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which is a consistently recommended treatment for childhood anxiety. Families participating in SPACE also experienced significant reductions in family accommodation and parenting stress.

Additional research has continued to support these findings, demonstrating that helping parents reduce accommodation can lead to meaningful improvements in children's anxiety symptoms, even when children are reluctant to participate in therapy themselves.

Who Can Benefit from SPACE?

SPACE may be a great fit if your child experiences:

Separation anxiety
Social anxiety
Generalized anxiety
Specific fears or phobias
Panic symptoms
School avoidance or school refusal
Selective mutism
Obsessive-compulsive symptoms (OCD)
Anxiety related to medical procedures or sleep

It can be especially helpful for children who:

Refuse to attend therapy
Are too anxious to engage in treatment
Become very overwhelmed during counseling sessions
Have made limited progress with traditional therapy alone
Already attend therapy but whose parents want additional tools to support progress

What Happens During SPACE?

Unlike traditional child therapy, parents attend the sessions while the child continues their normal routine.

Together, you'll work with a SPACE-trained therapist to:

Understand how anxiety affects your family's daily life
Identify what ways you are unintentionally accommodating your child's anxiety
Learn supportive language and scripts that communicate your confidence in your child instead of continuing to use reassurance
Develop gradual, specific, and individualized to YOU plans for reducing accommodations
Learn how to navigate difficult parenting moments while strengthening your child's confidence

The goal is NOT to force a child into uncomfortable situations. Instead, parents learn how to communicate, "I know this is hard, and I know you can handle it," and children become more independent, more willing to face challenges, and less controlled by their anxiety.

Why Parents Often Find SPACE Empowering

Many parents come into therapy feeling exhausted.

You've likely tried everything you know to help your child feel better, be less reactive, or more cooperative, yet nothing seems to last. SPACE helps parents move away from feeling like they must constantly prevent anxiety and move toward feeling confident in their both their parenting and in helping their child manage their life with confidence instead of fear.

Parents frequently report feeling calmer, more effective, and more connected to their child throughout the process. As accommodations decrease, parents and children often discover they are capable of handling more than they believed.

SPACE at In Bloom Counseling

At In Bloom Counseling, two of our clinicians have completed specialized training in the SPACE model and are excited to offer this evidence-based approach to families in our community (Deerfield, Highland Park, Northbrook, Lake Forest, Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, and throughout Illinois via telehealth).

Our therapists understand that every family is unique. We tailor SPACE to your child's personality, developmental level, and the specific situations where anxiety is interfering with everyday life. Whether your child struggles with bedtime, school, social situations, separation, or persistent worries, we'll work alongside you to create a realistic plan that supports lasting change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child come to sessions?

No. SPACE is designed for parents or caregivers. Children benefit through the changes parents make at home.

Can SPACE be combined with my child's current therapy?

Absolutely. Many families use SPACE alongside individual therapy, play therapy, or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. It can also be effective as a stand-alone treatment.

How long does SPACE take?

Many families complete the program in approximately 10–12 sessions, although treatment is always individualized based on your family's goals and progress.

Is SPACE only for severe anxiety?

No. SPACE can help children whose anxiety is beginning to interfere with daily life as well as those experiencing more significant anxiety disorders or OCD.

Ready to Learn More?

If your child's anxiety has started to impact family life or if you've found yourself constantly changing routines to help your child avoid distress, SPACE may provide a different path forward.

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