SPACE Treatment for Parents of Anxious Children
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions | Online in Virginia & Washington, DC
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is an evidence-based parent treatment program designed to help families reduce childhood anxiety. Connected Beginnings provides SPACE training to parents in Virginia and Washington, DC through online sessions, making it easier for families to access effective support no matter where you are located. Learn more about Connected Beginnings and the support we offer families here.
Help your child overcome anxiety with SPACE treatment for parents
Is your child’s anxiety starting to feel overwhelming and affect your family’s daily life? Your child may struggle with separation, school, social situations, bedtime, or constant worries. These challenges can create stress, exhaustion, and frustration for both parents and children.
SPACE treatment gives parents the tools to respond to anxiety in ways that reduce distress over time and help children build confidence and emotional resilience.
What to Expect from SPACE?
Duration: Typically 10 - 12 sessions
Format: Parent-only sessions (can include both parents)
Approach: Practical, evidence-based tools, empathy, and support for parents
What is SPACE Therapy?
SPACE is a research-based parent training program developed by Eli Lebowitz at theYale Child Study Center. It gives parents the tools to support their child’s worries and fears in a way that fosters resilience and independence. Unlike traditional child therapy, SPACE focuses on changing how parents respond to anxiety, which leads to meaningful improvement in children’s symptoms.
SPACE has been shown to be highly effective in reducing childhood anxiety, even when children do not attend therapy themselves.
How SPACE Helps Parents Support Anxious Children
Parenting a child with a lot of worries and fears is hard and often confusing. Parents naturally want to protect their child from fear and distress. However, certain well-intended responses such as excessive reassurance, avoidance, or accommodations can unintentionally reinforce anxiety. Through SPACE parent training, parents learn how to:
Respond with empathy and confidence
Reduce anxiety-maintaining patterns
Encourage independence and coping skills
Support their child through fears
Children learn that they can handle their worries, and anxiety gradually decreases.
SPACE Treatment Online in VA and Washington, DC
Connected Beginnings offers SPACE treatment online for parents located in Virginia and Washington, DC. Online SPACE sessions make it easy for busy families to get support from the comfort of their home while still receiving high-quality, evidence-based care.
You’ll be guided by Libby Hayes, LCSW. Learn more about what it’s like to work with me here.
If you’re wondering if this might work for your family, a free, 20-minute intro call is a simple place to start.
Frequently Asked Questions about SPACE therapy
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SPACE treatment works by teaching parents specific tools to respond to their child’s anxiety in ways that reduce distress over time and foster resilience. Parenting a child with frequent worries or fears can be overwhelming. Naturally, parents want to protect their children. However, some well-intended responses can unintentionally reinforce anxiety.
Because parents play a central role in how children learn to cope, changing parental responses can lead to meaningful reductions in childhood anxiety. SPACE provides practical, evidence-based strategies that allow parents to support their child with empathy while encouraging independence so children’s anxiety improves even if they are not directly involved in therapy.
I provide SPACE parent training online in Virginia and Washington, DC.
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SPACE treatment has been proven effective for children, teens, and young adult children experiencing a variety of anxiety disorders. It is also helpful for children who may not have a formal diagnosis but experience frequent worries, fears, or distress that interfere with daily life.
SPACE parent training can support children struggling with:
Separation anxiety
Social anxiety
Fears and phobias
Panic disorder or agoraphobia
Selective mutism
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Generalized anxiety
Sleep-related anxiety (trouble sleeping alone or nighttime fears)
Chronic worries
I provide SPACE treatment for parents online in Virginia and Washington, DC, helping families learn evidence-based strategies to reduce childhood anxiety, build resilience, and improve everyday life.
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SPACE treatment is effective for parents of children who may not have a formal diagnosis but are struggling with frequent worries, fears, or separation anxiety. Even if your child has never been in therapy, the strategies taught in SPACE can help parents reduce anxiety, build coping skills, and prevent worries from becoming bigger challenges in the future.
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Individual therapy sessions are $225 per session. I am an out-of-network provider, but I can check your out-of-network benefits and submit claims on your behalf through Thrizer. Many clients receive 60–80% reimbursement after meeting their deductible.
If you prefer, I can also provide a monthly superbill so you can submit claims directly to your insurance company.
Learn more about SPACE treatment fees and insurance here.
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Yes. SPACE parent training is offered online for parents located in Virginia and Washington, DC.
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SPACE is designed as a short-term parent training program and is usually completed in 10–12 sessions. Families often notice improvements in their child’s anxiety within the first few weeks of parent-focused interventions.
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In sessions, you’ll find a mix of humor, realistic parenting perspectives (I’m a parent of two boys!), and clear, evidence-based tools paired with empathy. You can learn more about me and my background here.