We are pleased to be able to offer a new way to approach childhood anxiety: teach the parent skills to respectfully respond.
Three Story Clinic Therapist Kelly Archer has recently completed extensive training for the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program developed by the Yale Child Study Centre.
The SPACE program provides an alternative to traditional cognitive behaviour therapy or medication for children with anxiety. Instead of focusing on the child, the SPACE program teaches the parents skills that help them identify new ways to respond to their child’s anxiety in a manner that conveys acceptance and instils confidence in the child’s ability to cope with anxiety
For example, instead of letting a child with social anxiety avoid school, parents learn to say “I know you’re feeling upset right now, but I know you will be okay” and send their child off to school.
The SPACE program is well-suited to parents of children aged six to twelve (6-12) who suffer from childhood anxiety and want to learn new ways to respond respectfully to their child’s anxiety.
The SPACE program provides an alternative to traditional cognitive behaviour therapy or medication for children with anxiety. Instead of focusing on the child, the SPACE program teaches the parents skills that help them identify new ways to respond to their child’s anxiety in a manner that conveys acceptance and instils confidence in the child’s ability to cope with anxiety
For example, instead of letting a child with social anxiety avoid school, parents learn to say “I know you’re feeling upset right now, but I know you will be okay” and send their child off to school.
The SPACE program is well-suited to parents of children aged six to twelve (6-12) who suffer from childhood anxiety and want to learn new ways to respond respectfully to their child’s anxiety.
Does it work?
A recent study followed 124 children aged seven to fourteen (7-14) with anxiety disorders who were randomly assigned either cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for the children or Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) for the parents.
The study found that the SPACE therapy worked just as well as the CBT and parents in the SPACE program reported a much better relationship with their children than the CBT group.
Learn more about Kelly Archer or contact her directly via phone (778-888-8515) or email to find out if the SPACE program is right for you and your child.
The study found that the SPACE therapy worked just as well as the CBT and parents in the SPACE program reported a much better relationship with their children than the CBT group.
Learn more about Kelly Archer or contact her directly via phone (778-888-8515) or email to find out if the SPACE program is right for you and your child.