SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions)
A Proven Approach to Help Your Child Manage Anxiety
Does your child feel anxious or upset when things don’t go as planned? Do you find yourself making accommodations to avoid triggering their fears? You are not alone—and there is support.
SPACE is a groundbreaking parent intervention developed at the Yale Child Study Center. It equips parents and caregivers with practical tools to target their child’s anxiety and obsessive behaviors—without requiring the child to attend sessions.
What is SPACE?
SPACE shifts the focus from “fixing” your child to transforming the family environment. Instead of focusing on changing your child’s behavior directly, you’ll learn how to adjust your own responses in ways that reduce anxiety and strengthen your child’s ability to cope.
Through this program, you’ll learn how to:
- Support your child more effectively in moments of stress
- Reduce accommodations that unintentionally maintain anxiety
- Empower your child to face fears and build resilience
“We have seen a tremendous change in Amanda’s ability to handle stress and be by herself. We are spending far less time making accommodations for her each day, and she seems much happier and less fearful as a result.”
—Shannon, SPACE intervention group parent
How It Works
- Format: 8 weekly live sessions on Zoom
- Facilitators: Groups led by CCY’s expert team of psychologists and clinicians trained in SPACE
- Group size: Limited to 8 families for personalized support
- Structure: Each session combines large-group learning and small-group practice to help you implement strategies at home
Although children do not attend SPACE sessions, they benefit directly from the changes you make at home.
What SPACE Addresses
SPACE is effective in reducing symptoms of:
- Separation anxiety
- Social anxiety
- Generalized anxiety
- Phobias and fears
- Panic disorder and agoraphobia
- Selective mutism
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Program Schedule & Details
Fall 2025 Sessions—Now Enrolling
- Session 1: September 8 – October 27
Mondays, 11:45am – 1:00pm
Led by Ali Pietrykowski, LMFT
- Session 2: October 28 – December 16
Tuesdays, 11:45am – 1:00pm
Led by Ellie Pelc, PsyD and Karen DeVaney, PsyD
Cost: $150 per session for up to two parents/caregivers ($1,200 for 8 weeks). If the SPACE group does not work for your schedule, individual SPACE is available at our hourly therapy rate (contact us for details).
Insurance & Reimbursement: We provide superbills that you may submit for possible reimbursement . Coverage varies by plan—please contact your provider to confirm eligibility (CPT code 90849).
Eligibility: Families complete a brief assessment to confirm fit for the program. If SPACE is not the right match, our clinicians will recommend other options.
Benefits of a Group: We’ve found tremendous benefits to doing SPACE within a group model.
- Connection: Many parents began the intervention feeling alone and isolated. They quickly realized that “we are not the only ones going through this.”
- Community: We frequently hear how helpful it is for parents to hear how other families have navigated similar challenges. You may gain new tips and new ideas not only from the facilitators, but from other parents too.
- Accountability: Learning and applying new skills can be improved when you’re making the changes together as a group
