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Dr. Nina now offers an evidence-based treatment for the parents and caregivers of
children and adolescents with anxiety and OCD. This treatment approach is called
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) which was developed
by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center. It’s designed to help parents and
caregivers support their children who are struggling with anxiety-related and obsessive-
compulsive disorders.
Unlike other treatments that focus directly on the child, SPACE focuses on how parents
and caregivers can adjust their behavior to support their child’s emotional needs. The
idea is that by changing how parents respond to their child’s anxiety, they can help
reduce the child’s symptoms. SPACE includes training for parents to build their
confidence in managing their child’s anxiety. This includes learning specific techniques
and strategies to handle challenging situations in a way that promotes emotional growth
for the child. SPACE is a structured 12–18-week session that includes education, skill-
building exercises, and strategies for implementing changes at home. This approach
focuses on acceptance and validation of a child’s anxiety and helps build confidence in
the child’s ability to cope with distress. Through the course of therapy, the child will feel
supported by parents and caregivers.
SPACE believes the integration of acceptance/validation and confidence sends a
supportive message to the child.
Anxiety-related disorders include:
Social anxiety.
Generalized anxiety
Fears and phobias
Panic disorder and agoraphobia
Obsessive-compulsive disorder