How is SPACE Treatment Different from Talk Therapy?
As a parent, it can be challenging to watch your child struggle with anxiety or OCD. Traditional talk therapy is often the first approach families consider, but it may not always be the best fit—especially when children resist or struggle to engage in therapy. Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is a groundbreaking, research-backed treatment designed to help children with anxiety and OCD by working directly with parents. But how does SPACE differ from traditional talk therapy, and why might it be a better approach for some families? In this blog, we’ll explore these key differences and how SPACE offers a faith-sensitive, effective way to support your child’s mental health.
What is Talk Therapy?
Talk therapy is a broad term that encompasses various therapeutic approaches aimed at helping individuals process their emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Some common forms of talk therapy include:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – A structured approach that helps individuals challenge and reframe negative thought patterns.
Psychodynamic Therapy – Focuses on exploring past experiences and unconscious influences on current emotions and behaviors.
Humanistic Therapy – Encourages self-exploration and personal growth through open-ended discussions.
In traditional talk therapy, a child would meet with a therapist to discuss their anxiety or OCD symptoms, learn coping strategies, and gradually develop greater emotional resilience. While this can be beneficial for many, some children may be hesitant to participate, making it difficult to achieve lasting progress.
What is SPACE Treatment?
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is an innovative, parent-focused intervention designed to reduce childhood anxiety and OCD without requiring direct child participation. Instead of working directly with the child, SPACE empowers parents to make strategic changes in their responses to anxiety-driven behaviors.
Developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center, SPACE is backed by research demonstrating that when parents change how they accommodate their child’s anxiety, the child’s symptoms improve—even without attending therapy themselves.
Key Differences Between SPACE Treatment and Talk Therapy
1. Who is Involved?
Talk Therapy: Focuses on direct interactions between the child and therapist.
SPACE Treatment: Works through parents, who implement changes at home to support their child’s emotional growth.
2. Focus of Treatment
Talk Therapy: Aims to help children understand and manage their emotions through personal reflection and therapist guidance.
SPACE Treatment: Focuses on reducing parental accommodations—well-intentioned behaviors that inadvertently reinforce anxiety by preventing the child from facing their fears.
3. How Anxiety and OCD are Addressed
Talk Therapy: Uses techniques such as cognitive restructuring and exposure therapy to help children work through their fears.
SPACE Treatment: Helps parents shift their responses to their child’s anxiety, creating an environment that encourages resilience and independence.
4. Effectiveness for Resistant Children
Talk Therapy: Can be challenging if a child is unwilling or anxious about therapy.
SPACE Treatment: Does not require child participation, making it highly effective for children who resist traditional therapy.
5. Application to Religious and Moral OCD
Talk Therapy: Involves direct conversations about religious fears and scrupulosity.
SPACE Treatment: Teaches parents how to respond to scrupulosity-related distress in a way that reduces compulsive reassurance-seeking and fosters confidence.
Why SPACE is a Game-Changer for Parents
Many parents feel helpless when their child struggles with anxiety or OCD, often accommodating their child’s fears in an effort to provide comfort. SPACE empowers parents by giving them concrete strategies to break the cycle of anxiety and promote lasting change. Through this approach, parents learn how to:
Reduce their involvement in their child’s anxiety-driven behaviors.
Respond with support rather than reassurance or avoidance.
Foster resilience in their child without creating unnecessary distress.
By shifting the focus from the child’s behavior to the parents’ responses, SPACE helps the entire family create an environment where anxiety no longer takes center stage.
How to Get Started with SPACE Treatment in Utah
If you are struggling with how to best support your child’s anxiety or OCD, SPACE treatment may be an effective solution. We offer specialized SPACE therapy tailored to families navigating anxiety and scrupulosity within a faith-based context. If you’re ready to take the next step in supporting your child’s mental health, schedule a consultation today with Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD to learn how SPACE treatment can empower you to create positive change in your child’s life. You can start your therapy journey by following these steps:
Reach out through our contact page or directly at claire@mountainhomeocd.com.
Meet with a compassionate OCD therapist.
Start finding the right support for you and your child.
Other Services Offered by Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD
At Mountain Home Center, I offer more than just support for moral OCD through SPACE treatment. My evidence-based treatments are designed to help you address a variety of challenges, including different OCD themes, anxiety disorders, and relationship struggles. Understanding the unique needs of Latter-day Saints and others seeking faith-compatible care, I am committed to providing compassionate and personalized support tailored to your journey. Whether you’re managing religious OCD, relationship OCD, or general anxiety, I am here to help you find balance and peace. My goal is to empower you to achieve mental well-being while staying true to your values and spiritual foundation.
