How Parents in Utah Can Support Children with Anxiety & OCD Using SPACE Treatment
Parenting a child with anxiety or OCD can feel overwhelming. Especially when you see them struggling with fears or compulsive behaviors that interrupt their daily life.
For parents in Utah, particularly within the Latter-day Saints community, the challenges can be compounded by the desire to align your parenting approach with your faith. This is where Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) comes in. Developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale University, SPACE is a parent-focused program designed to empower you with tools to help your child thrive.
Unlike traditional treatments where the child is the primary participant, SPACE focuses entirely on helping parents make meaningful changes at home to reduce anxiety symptoms. Whether your child is dealing with generalized anxiety, social anxiety, or more specific struggles like religious OCD or scrupulosity, SPACE offers hope and practical solutions. This guide will walk you through what SPACE is, how it works, and how it can make a difference for your family.
What Is SPACE Treatment?
SPACE stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. This innovative approach equips parents with tools to support their child’s emotional growth and independence. What sets SPACE apart is that children don’t attend sessions. Instead, parents work with an OCD therapist to learn and apply strategies to address their child’s anxiety or OCD. By focusing on parent behavior changes, SPACE ensures that families can tackle these challenges together in a supportive and effective way.
The two main principles of SPACE are: responding in a supportive way to your child’s anxiety symptoms and reducing accommodations that reinforce anxious behaviors. Supportive responses involve validating your child’s emotions without amplifying their fears. This might look like saying, “I understand this feels really hard right now,” instead of trying to immediately fix the problem or offering excessive reassurance. Reducing accommodations means stepping back from behaviors that unintentionally reinforce anxiety. For example, if your child insists on avoiding social situations, you might encourage participation over time instead of shielding them from every possible discomfort.
How SPACE Treatment Supports Latter-day Saints Families
For Latter-day Saints families in Utah, SPACE aligns beautifully with gospel principles of love, patience, and resilience. The program’s focus on validation and gradual growth complements teachings about grace and personal progression. SPACE treatment encourages parents to guide their children with empathy. Helping them see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles to avoid.
For example, family prayer or scripture study can become structured opportunities to practice SPACE principles. If your child struggles with perfectionism in prayer, you can focus on the effort and sincerity behind their actions rather than on “getting it right.” Similarly, if your child feels overwhelmed by attending church, SPACE can help you break this down into manageable steps, like attending one part of the meeting at a time.
Bridging Faith and Mental Health
Faith can be a powerful source of comfort and strength. But, it can also create extra pressure for children with anxiety or OCD if not approached in a thoughtful way. SPACE helps parents balance these dynamics by promoting a supportive, non-judgmental environment. Incorporating scripture and teachings about God’s love and grace into your parenting approach can reinforce SPACE principles in a faith-compatible way.
For example, sharing messages like Doctrine and Covenants 6:36—“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not”—can remind your child that their worth isn’t defined by their struggles with anxiety or OCD. This reframing can help your child see faith as a source of peace rather than a source of fear.
Practical Strategies for Latter-day Saints Parents
Create a Safe and Structured Environment
Children with anxiety thrive in predictable environments. Establish routines for family prayer, scripture study, and church activities that reduce uncertainty and stress. For instance, setting aside a specific time each week for family scripture study can provide a comforting structure. Focus on connection and effort rather than perfection. This can help reinforce that faith is about growth, not flawless execution.
Break Challenges Into Small Steps
If your child feels overwhelmed by social situations at church, start small. For example, begin by attending just the sacrament part of the meeting. Gradually increase their participation as they build confidence and feel more comfortable. Breaking challenges into manageable steps ensures that your child feels supported without becoming overwhelmed.
Encourage Open Dialogue About Feelings and Faith
Normalize conversations about doubts, fears, and struggles. Creating a safe space for these discussions allows your child to express themselves without fear of judgment. During the family home evening, you might share a story of your spiritual growth, emphasizing that faith journeys are personal and often involve overcoming challenges. This approach models resilience and openness for your child.
Recognizing the Signs of Anxiety and OCD in Your Child
Understanding the signs of anxiety and OCD is key to offering the right support. In children, anxiety might manifest as avoidance of certain situations, excessive reassurance-seeking, or physical symptoms like stomachaches. For children dealing with OCD, particularly scrupulosity (religious OCD), behaviors might include repetitive prayers, constant confessions, or avoiding religious activities for fear of “getting it wrong.”
For example, your child might repeatedly ask if they’re spiritually worthy or avoid attending mutual activities out of fear of making mistakes. Recognizing these patterns early is crucial, as it allows you to address their anxiety before it becomes more deeply entrenched.
Why SPACE Treatment Works
SPACE is transformative because it shifts the focus to what parents can control—their responses and behaviors. By reducing accommodations and modeling supportive responses, parents empower their children to face fears and build confidence. Over time, children learn to navigate their anxieties on their own, fostering resilience and emotional growth.
For Latter-day Saints families, SPACE also encourages a deeper integration of faith and mental health. By guiding children through their struggles with love and patience, parents can help their children see that their worth isn’t tied to perfection but to effort and progress.
How to Get Started With SPACE Treatment in Utah
If you’re ready to explore SPACE treatment, the first step is finding a therapist trained in this approach. In Utah, options like treatment for scrupulosity in Provo, UT, provide access to specialists familiar with the unique challenges faced by Latter-day Saints families. These professionals can guide you through implementing SPACE principles in a way that aligns with your family’s values and goals.
For families dealing with religious OCD, there are also options for religious OCD treatment in Arizona and other nearby states, ensuring you can find support no matter where you’re located. These resources offer a faith-sensitive approach to mental health care, helping families address anxiety and OCD while honoring their spiritual beliefs.
More Resources for Latter-day Saints Families
In addition to SPACE treatment, there are many resources available to support Latter-day Saints families dealing with anxiety and OCD. Books like Freeing Your Child From Anxiety by Tamar Chansky and Parenting a Child With OCD by Bonnie Zucker can provide helpful insights and strategies. Support groups, both online and in-person, can also offer valuable community and encouragement.
Finally, consider involving religious leaders who understand the importance of balancing faith and mental health. Compassionate, informed leaders can reinforce the principles you’re working on at home and provide additional spiritual guidance.
Supporting Your Child’s Journey With SPACE Treatment
Parenting a child with anxiety or OCD is no small task, but with SPACE treatment, you don’t have to face it alone. By learning how to respond in a supportive way and reduce accommodations, you can empower your child to navigate their fears. By doing so, you can build emotional resilience. For Latter-day Saints parents in Utah, SPACE offers a framework that aligns with gospel principles, helping you guide your child toward both spiritual and emotional growth.
If you’re ready to take the first step, consider reaching out to a SPACE-trained therapist in your area. Whether you’re seeking religious OCD treatment in Arizona, treatment for scrupulosity in Provo, UT, or support closer to home, help is available. With the right tools and a compassionate approach, you can make a meaningful difference in your child’s journey toward peace and confidence.
Find Relief from Religious OCD with SPACE Treatment in Utah or Arizona
Supporting a child with religious OCD or scrupulosity requires understanding, compassion, and effective treatment. With accurate diagnosis and evidence-based approaches like SPACE and ERP, families can overcome the challenges of OCD together. Whether you're seeking religious OCD treatment in Arizona or treatment for scrupulosity in Provo, UT, Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD is here to guide you. Take the first step toward peace by following these simple steps:
Reach out through our contact page or directly at claire@mountainhomeocd.com.
Meet with a compassionate OCD therapist.
Begin the journey to supporting your child and manage symptoms in healthier, faith-compatible ways.
Other Services Offered by Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD
At the Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD, we provide more than just religious OCD treatment in Arizona or treatment for scrupulosity in Provo, UT. Our evidence-based services address a wide range of challenges. We also offer services including OCD themes, anxiety disorders, and relationship struggles. Understanding the unique experiences of Latter-day Saints, we offer compassionate, personalized care that aligns with your values and spiritual goals.
Whether you’re navigating religious OCD, relationship OCD, or general anxiety, our goal is to help you find peace and restore balance. Together, we can create a path toward emotional resilience and spiritual fulfillment. Reach out today to learn more about our services and begin your journey to improved well-being.
