SPACE Therapy
SPACE Therapy provides a proven path forward—by equipping parents with the tools to help their children thrive.
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
Childhood anxiety can affect the whole family. You may find yourself rearranging routines, offering constant reassurance, or avoiding certain situations just to keep the peace—yet the anxiety still seems to grow.
SPACE Therapy (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a proven, parent-focused approach that helps you break this cycle. Rather than working directly with your child, SPACE works by empowering you, the parent, with tools and strategies that reduce anxious patterns and encourage healthy independence.
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How it Works
Developed at the Yale Child Study Center, SPACE is a structured treatment program designed specifically for childhood and adolescent anxiety.​ Research shows that parents can make a powerful difference in helping their children overcome anxiety. In a landmark study, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) was found to be just as effective as individual Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in reducing child anxiety.
Families who participated in SPACE also experienced meaningful decreases in stress and in the patterns of accommodating their child’s fears (Lebowitz et al., 2019, Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry).
At our practice, we believe in empowering parents as change-makers. Through approaches like SPACE, we partner with families to strengthen everyday functioning and build understanding and confidence that lasts well beyond therapy.
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What to Expect
Supportive partnership with Dr. Allain every step of the way.
If your child is struggling with anxiety, you don’t have to face it alone.
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Parent-Focused
Parent-focused sessions, usually without your child present. Identify and reduce the ways you unintentionally make anxiety stronger like avoiding triggers and giving constant reassurance.
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Guidance
Learn strategies and scripts to try at home that allow you to respond with calm support – showing your child you understand their fears while gently encouraging them to face challenges.
3
Measurable
Small shifts lead to big results. Together, we will see gradual, measurable change by helping your child build confidence and resilience so anxiety no longer runs the household.
Who can benefit from SPACE?
SPACE Therapy is an excellent option for families with children or teens experiencing:
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Separation anxiety
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Social anxiety
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Generalized worry
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Specific phobias (dogs, storms, needles)
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Obsessive-compulsive symptoms
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School avoidance or refusal
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Your child resists or refuses therapy.
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Traditional child-focused therapy hasn’t been effective.
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You want practical tools you can use at home right away.
Frequenty Asked Questions
What is SPACE therapy?
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is an evidence-based, parent-focused treatment developed at Yale. Instead of working directly with the child, parents learn skills to respond supportively to anxiety while reducing accommodations that reinforce it.
Does SPACE Therapy really work?
Yes. Research shows SPACE is as effective as individual child therapy for treating anxiety, including separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, OCD, and school refusal. Many families see meaningful improvements within just a few months.
How is SPACE different from traditional child therapy?
What age range is SPACE Therapy for?
SPACE was designed for parents of children and teens (typically ages 6–18) who struggle with anxiety. The strategies can be adapted for younger children or older adolescents depending on family needs.
Do children attend SPACE Therapy sessions?
Usually, SPACE sessions are with parents only. In some cases, children may attend a session briefly, but the focus remains on equipping parents with tools to create change at home.
Can SPACE Therapy help if my child refuses therapy?
Absolutely. SPACE was designed to work even if children don’t participate in therapy. Since the treatment focuses on parents, your child doesn’t have to be directly involved for positive changes to happen.
Evidence-Based Care
Dr. Allain is an active participant in a 3-year randomized clinical trial with the Yale Child Study Center—the same team that developed SPACE. This study is comparing SPACE treatment to general parent education and support for parents of teens (ages 14–17) with anxiety.
By contributing to this research, Dr. Allain stays at the forefront of parent-based interventions, ensuring that the care you receive reflects the latest science and best practices. This means the strategies she uses are informed by the latest science and best practices — not just theory.
The Evidence Behind SPACE​​
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In a randomized controlled trial of 124 children (ages 7–14), SPACE was as effective as CBT for reducing childhood anxiety symptoms.
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Families completing SPACE saw greater reductions in family accommodation—a key driver of anxiety maintenance—than CBT families.
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Recent 2023–2024 studies confirm strong results even with telehealth and light-intensity versions, with ~70% response rates.
“Diagnoses of anxiety or depression among Texas children increased by 23% from 2016–2020. Despite this need, around 71% of Texas youth with mental health concerns go untreated.”– Every Texan, 2023; US News, 2024
