Parental Support for Child and Teen Anxiety and OCD in San Marino

When your child’s anxiety becomes a family struggle…

When a child struggles with anxiety or OCD, the entire family feels it. Parents often describe walking on eggshells, changing routines, or accommodating rituals just to keep the peace. Of course every parent wants to help their children, but these accommodations can actually perpetuate and strengthen your child’s symptoms.

The good news is that there is a different way to help your child. Because even in cases where your child is unable or unwilling to attend therapy themselves, there is an effective, parent-directed treatment for child and teen anxiety and OCD: SPACE.

What is SPACE?

SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is an evidence-based treatment developed at the Yale Child Study Center by Dr. Eli Lebowitz. Unlike other treatment options for anxiety and OCD, SPACE does not require children to participate directly in therapy. Instead, it empowers parents to make changes in how they respond to their child’s symptoms, and support them in confronting their anxiety in a helpful and effective manner.

• Effective even when children cannot or will not engage in treatment: SPACE is designed for situations where kids avoid therapy, refuse to talk, or are too young to engage meaningfully. Parents can still create powerful change.

• The child is not forced to change: The focus is on parents, who learn how to reduce accommodations that keep anxiety strong while increasing supportive responses that build confidence.

• Shifts the family dynamic: By modifying parental behaviors, families break the cycle of anxiety and avoidance, leading to lasting improvements in a child’s ability to cope.

My Approach

My graduate research focused on the role of parental support in the treatment of childhood anxiety, and that passion has guided my work ever since. Later, I trained directly with Dr. Eli Lebowitz in SPACE, as well as supplemental training in applying SPACE principles for ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and “Failure to Launch.” For more information about how I work with Failure to Launch, click here.

In general, the SPACE program is delivered to parents over 12 weeks.

Getting Started

If your child is struggling with anxiety or OCD, and are unable or unwilling to attend therapy themselves, you do not have to manage this alone. SPACE can help your entire family move toward greater calm, connection, and resilience.

If this sounds like a good fit for you, or you’d like to know more, click the button below to schedule a free consultation call.