What Is SPACE?
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a proven, parent-based treatment programme designed to support children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, OCD, and related challenges.
Unlike traditional therapy approaches that focus directly on the child, SPACE works by guiding parents to make thoughtful adjustments in how they respond to their child’s anxiety. These changes can meaningfully reduce anxiety symptoms and improve a child’s day-to-day functioning.
A Different Approach to Treating Anxiety and OCD
When children feel anxious or distressed, it is natural for them to seek comfort from their parents. In turn, parents instinctively try to protect their children from distress.
This dynamic often leads to what is known as accommodations. Some level of accommodation is present in all relationships—it helps us stay attuned to one another’s needs. However, when these well-intentioned actions are used to help a child avoid anxiety triggers, they can unintentionally reinforce anxiety over time. Children may begin to feel that they are unable to cope independently without parental support.
Common examples of accommodations include:
- Avoiding places or situations that trigger the child’s anxiety
- Speaking on behalf of a child with social anxiety
- Providing repeated reassurance
SPACE works to gently and effectively break this cycle.
Evidence-Based and Clinically Proven
SPACE was developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center and has been validated through randomised controlled trials (Lebowitz, Marin, Martino, Shimshoni, Silverman, 2020).
Research shows that when parents shift how they respond to anxiety, children often become less anxious, more confident, and better able to cope on their own. This makes SPACE a well-supported option among evidence-based treatments for childhood anxiety and OCD.
Who Is the “Client”?
Although SPACE is designed to help children, the treatment is delivered entirely through parents. The child typically attends an initial assessment, after which sessions are conducted with parents only.
SPACE can be used alongside a child’s individual therapy or as a standalone, parent-led approach—particularly in situations where the child is reluctant or unwilling to attend therapy.
What Happens During SPACE Treatment?
In SPACE, parents learn practical tools and strategies to support their child more effectively.
The focus is not on changing the child directly, but on adjusting parental responses within the family system. These changes naturally influence the child’s behaviour over time.
Parents are guided to:
- Provide supportive responses—responding to anxiety with empathy while encouraging independence
- Reduce accommodations—gradually stepping back from behaviours that may unintentionally maintain anxiety
Is SPACE Right for You?
SPACE may be a suitable approach if you:
- Have a child experiencing symptoms of anxiety or OCD
- Feel unsure how best to respond to your child’s anxiety
- Notice a pattern of alternating between over-helping and feeling frustrated
- Find that your child’s anxiety is affecting family life
Reference:
Lebowitz, E. R., Marin, C., Martino, A., Shimshoni, Y., Silverman, W. K. (2020).
Parent-Based Treatment as Efficacious as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Childhood Anxiety: A Randomized Noninferiority Study of Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 59, 362–372.
If your child is experiencing anxiety or OCD, early support can make a meaningful difference. Speaking with an experienced mental health professional can help you better understand your child’s needs and explore appropriate, evidence-based options such as SPACE.
At Private Space Medical, our team of psychiatrists and psychologists works closely with families to provide thoughtful, personalised care in a supportive and confidential setting. If you would like to find out more, you are welcome to reach out for a consultation.
At Private Space Medical, our team of psychiatrists and psychologists works closely with families to provide thoughtful, personalised care in a supportive and confidential setting. If you would like to find out more, you are welcome to reach out for a consultation.
