What is Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions?
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a research-based program developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz and his team at the Yale Child Study Center to teach parents how to help their children manage through anxious emotions that negatively affect their daily life, reducing long-term anxiety. If you feel like your child or family is being held hostage by anxiety-driven avoidance, SPACE can help you build a roadmap towards greater confidence in the whole family.
How long does the program take to complete?
We usually recommend booking a block of 12 sessions. Depending on your preferred pace for learning, the many factors in your family’s life and the level of impact your child’s anxiety is having in your home, it can take 6-12 sessions to learn the content, and anywhere from 5-10+ sessions to learn to put the theory into practice with your child/ren.
Why does SPACE target parents – isn’t it the children who need support?
Absolutely … and you are their first and most important support system! The entire purpose of SPACE is to skill you up to help your child learn to manage their anxiety. While you will probably find some real opportunities for personal growth in the SPACE program, the focus is on training you to help your child with their anxiety.
As parents living real, messy life with your kids, you are uniquely positioned to help them learn and practice the skill of tolerating and moving through anxiety right there on the frontlines, as challenging situations arise in your child’s world.
Wait … does that mean I am to blame for my child’s anxiety?
Your child’s anxious emotions are not your fault. You’re not the problem, but you CAN be a big part of the solution. This is because the nature of anxiety is relational; anxiety naturally drives children to their attachment figures for reassurance and problem solving, rather than doing the hard and scary work of coping on their own. When children come to us for support, as parents, we have a fantastic opportunity to interrupt that cycle and change the story of anxiety in our child’s life! SPACE empowers you with the training and support you need to guide your child into greater independence and confidence in their lives.
What is involved in the SPACE program?
- Initial Appointment for parents
- 8-12+ weeks of parent sessions
- Parents attend private 50 minute SPACE sessions weekly for a minimum of 8 weeks (we highly recommend booking a block of 12)
- These sessions can be in person, virtual, or a blend of both; we recommend the first 4-6 sessions are in person if possible
- Sessions are booked with one of our trained SPACE facilitators with parenting experience. We will always try to match you with the best fit in terms of expertise in your particular situation.
- Parents work through the initial training and theory in the first 6-8 sessions, then work with the support of their facilitator to apply their skills to their child’s specific challenges in a clear step-by-step process, with lots of feedback and fine-tuning opportunities
- Parents learn how to manage through their own distress while supporting their child/ren
Payment, Insurance and Billing
- Sessions can be billed under any participating and present family member; any special billing instructions must be provided in advance to accounts@nowwhatsupports.ca
- Sessions are billed under Social Work (usually covered in benefit plans under Social Work, Psychotherapy or Counselling)
