Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions: Practical Tips for LDS Parents in Utah and California
Parenting is a journey full of emotions.
When your child faces anxiety, it can feel overwhelming. For Latter-day Saint parents in Utah and California, navigating the balance between faith and mental health adds another layer of complexity—and opportunity. The Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program provides a compassionate, effective approach to helping children manage anxiety. This method is especially beneficial for addressing challenges like:
Scrupulosity
And other anxiety-related struggles
In this guide, we’ll explore practical tips tailored for Latter-day Saint parents. We will combine SPACE principles with faith-based guidance to create a supportive and nurturing environment for your child.
Understanding Anxious Childhood Emotions in Latter-day Saint Contexts
Children and adolescents experience anxiety in different ways, often shaped by their environments and beliefs. While some children openly express their worries, others may show signs through behavioral changes, avoidance, or a heightened focus on perfectionism. These tendencies can intersect with a child’s spiritual life, creating a unique set of challenges for Latter-day Saint families.
For instance, a child with generalized anxiety might experience excessive worry about school or friendships, while a child with religious OCD may become fixated on spiritual “perfection.” They might become fixated on questions about their worthiness. Or. whether they have done the right thing, or whether they have sufficiently repented. These patterns, while very distressing for both child and parent, are not reflections of faith or moral character. They’re symptoms of anxiety or OCD.
Common Signs of Anxiety in Latter-day Saint Children
Children experiencing anxiety often show their struggles in subtle yet significant ways. For Latter-day Saint children, these signs may uniquely intertwine with their faith. Thus, making it essential for parents to recognize them early. Here are some common indicators of anxiety that may appear in children:
Asking for Reassurance About Their Spiritual Worthiness Again and Again
A child may often seek validation from parents, church leaders, or teachers, asking questions like, “Am I a good person?” or “Will God forgive me?” This constant need for reassurance often stems from an underlying fear of not measuring up to perceived spiritual standards.
Avoiding Certain Activities, Like Attending Mutual or Scripture Study, Out of Fear of 'Doing Something Wrong'
Children with anxiety, especially scrupulosity, often experience an overwhelming fear that they’ve done something wrong—such as telling a lie or engaging in inappropriate behavior. This fear can make participating in church-related events, like mutual or scripture study, feel daunting. They may avoid these activities out of concern that they’ll be judged. Or, that their perceived mistakes will disappoint others or God. This avoidance not only impacts their spiritual growth but also hinders their ability to build meaningful connections within their faith community. Similarly, these fears often extend to perfectionistic tendencies at school, where children may agonize over every detail of their work, fearing it’s not “good enough.”
Engaging in Repetitive Behaviors, Such as Saying the Same Prayer Over and Over to Ensure it’s 'Perfect'
Children with anxiety, particularly those grappling with religious OCD or scrupulosity, may feel compelled to perform rituals or prayers repeatedly. These actions are often driven by a need to feel “clean” or “worthy”. But, they can escalate into distressing and time-consuming habits. Other signs might include:
Physical symptoms like headaches or stomachaches before church events,
Emotional meltdowns when faced with spiritual discussions,
Or excessive guilt over small mistakes.
Anxiety in children may also manifest in perfectionism. This can appear as an obsessive striving to do everything "just right" to avoid disappointing family, leaders, or God.
Recognizing these behaviors as signs of anxiety rather than deliberate defiance or a lack of faith is critical. Understanding the root of your child’s struggles allows you to respond with compassion and begin building a supportive environment where they feel safe addressing their concerns. Early recognition also opens the door for interventions like SPACE or other targeted approaches, which can significantly alleviate the burden of anxiety for your child and your family.
What Is SPACE Treatment, and How Does It Help?
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is a parent-focused treatment program designed to support children struggling with anxiety, OCD, and related challenges. Created by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at Yale University, SPACE shifts the therapeutic focus to parents rather than children. Parents learn tools and strategies to address their child's anxiety indirectly by adjusting their behaviors and responses. This unique approach recognizes that parents play a pivotal role in shaping a supportive environment, one that fosters growth and resilience without reinforcing anxious behaviors by accident. Notably, children don’t attend the sessions; the program is entirely parent-driven.
SPACE involves two primary changes parents make to help their children thrive.
The first is responding supportively to their child’s anxiety symptoms. This means validating their emotions while reframing fears in a constructive way. This also helps children feel understood without deepening their anxieties.
The second is reducing accommodations—actions parents may take to soothe their child’s immediate anxiety but that inadvertently perpetuate avoidance or fear. For Latter-day Saint parents, these principles align well with fostering faith-based values. They encourage both emotional resilience and spiritual growth in children while maintaining a supportive, compassionate family dynamic.
How Does SPACE Fit Into Latter-day Saint Values?
For Latter-day Saint families, SPACE offers a framework that complements gospel teachings of agency, growth, and trust. As parents reduce accommodations, they encourage children to develop confidence and face challenges with faith rather than fear. This process parallels the principle of personal accountability in spiritual progression. It helps children learn to navigate difficulties while trusting in their abilities and divine support. Additionally, SPACE’s emphasis on validating emotions without judgment aligns beautifully with the Christlike model of showing empathy while guiding others toward strength and self-reliance. By integrating SPACE strategies, Latter-day Saint parents can support their children’s emotional needs while reinforcing their spiritual foundation.
How Latter-day Saint Parents Can Apply SPACE Principles
Helping your child manage anxiety while nurturing their spiritual growth can feel like a delicate balance. For Latter-day Saint parents, applying SPACE principles offers an effective way to support your child emotionally while maintaining their connection to faith. This approach involves validating your child’s emotions without reinforcing their fears, reducing accommodations in a gradual, loving manner, and emphasizing faith as a source of strength rather than perfection. Let’s explore practical ways to integrate these principles into your family life.
Validate Without Enabling
Children with anxiety often need reassurance. But, too much reassurance can reinforce their fears as a byproduct. Validation involves acknowledging your child’s emotions without encouraging avoidance behaviors.
Example: If your child feels anxious about attending a church activity, you might say:
“I can see that you’re feeling nervous about mutual tonight. It’s okay to feel this way—it’s a hard thing for you right now. Let’s talk about what might help you take the first step to go.”
This approach helps your child feel heard without avoiding the challenge altogether. By validating their feelings, you create a safe space for them to express their concerns while gently guiding them toward growth.
Reduce Accommodations Over Time
Parents often accommodate anxious behaviors out of love, but these accommodations can signal to your child that their fears are insurmountable. SPACE teaches parents to reduce these accommodations step by step.
Example: If your child struggles with religious OCD and often fears they’ve done something wrong—such as telling a lie or watching something inappropriate—start by delaying reassurance when they seek validation. Instead of immediately responding, gently encourage them to reflect on their actions and remind them of God’s grace and understanding. Over time, guide them to build trust in their judgment and develop confidence in handling uncertainty, reinforcing both their emotional resilience and spiritual growth.
Emphasize Faith as a Source of Strength
In Latter-day Saint families, faith can serve as both a support system and a potential source of anxiety for children with religious OCD. Reframing faith as a journey rather than a standard of perfection can help your child embrace their spiritual growth without fear.
Example: Share stories from The Book of Mormon about imperfect but faithful individuals, like Nephi, and his struggles with doubt and reliance on the Lord (2 Nephi 4:17–20). Explain that even Nephi faced moments of insecurity but found strength by trusting in God’s grace. Highlight that spiritual growth often involves learning from mistakes, which strengthens faith rather than diminishes it.
By reframing faith and gently encouraging progress, you create a supportive environment where your child can grow emotionally and spiritually. A safe place to embrace challenges as chances for development rather than reasons for fear.
Addressing Religious OCD in Latter-day Saint Homes
Religious OCD, or scrupulosity, is a challenging condition where individuals become consumed by fears of moral or spiritual “failure.” For Latter-day Saint children, this may manifest as an overwhelming fear of committing sins, persistent doubts about their worthiness, or an excessive focus on following doctrinal teaching on subjects like repentance or the law of chastity. These symptoms can disrupt their spiritual journey and create unnecessary stress, making it crucial for parents to recognize and address the signs early.
To support a child with religious OCD, it’s important to separate their faith from the intrusive thoughts caused by OCD. Reassure them that these thoughts are not a reflection of their spiritual worthiness or devotion, but rather a mental health challenge that can be addressed. Encourage your child to tolerate uncertainty as a natural part of spiritual growth. For example, instead of offering constant reassurance, guide them in developing trust in God’s plan, even when answers feel unclear. Seeking professional help is also essential. Specialized programs for religious OCD treatment in Arizona or treatment for scrupulosity in Provo, UT, offer faith-sensitive approaches. These include evidence-based therapies like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) to help your child find balance.
Spiritually-Informed Therapies for Religious OCD
One of the most effective treatments for religious OCD is ERP. This is a therapy that helps children confront their fears without resorting to compulsive behaviors. For Latter-day Saint families, finding a therapist who respects your religious values while addressing OCD symptoms is key. Spiritually-informed therapies integrate spiritual principles, helping children embrace their faith as a source of strength rather than a source of anxiety. When combined with parental support, these approaches can guide your child toward emotional healing and a healthier relationship with their beliefs.
Practical Strategies for Latter-day Saint Parents
Supporting a child with anxiety requires both thoughtful preparation and a compassionate approach. For Latter-day Saint parents, blending faith-based principles with evidence-backed methods can create a nurturing environment that empowers your child to grow emotionally and spiritually. The following strategies align with the SPACE framework. All while incorporating gospel-centered insights to foster resilience and trust.
By focusing on small, achievable steps, modeling faith as a source of comfort, and creating an open space for dialogue, you can help your child navigate anxiety while strengthening their connection to their beliefs. Let’s explore these strategies in detail, complete with examples that illustrate their application in everyday life.
Create a Safe and Structured Environment
Children with anxiety thrive in predictable environments. Establishing routines for scripture study, family prayer, and church activities can help reduce uncertainty.
Example: Set aside a consistent time each week for family scripture study. Focus on connection rather than “perfect” understanding. This reinforces that faith is about effort, not perfection.
Use Faith to Build Resilience
Help your child see faith as a source of comfort, not pressure. Share messages from General Conference or scriptures that emphasize Heavenly Father’s grace, love, and understanding.
Example: Highlight passages like Doctrine and Covenants 6:36 (“Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not”) to show that even doubt is part of turning to the Savior.
Break Challenges into Small Steps
If your child feels overwhelmed by social anxiety at church, start with manageable goals.
Example: Attend just the sacrament part of church meetings at first. Increasing participation over time as they feel more comfortable.
Encourage Open Dialogue About Feelings and Faith
Normalize discussions about doubts and fears. This helps your child feel safe expressing their struggles without judgment.
Example: During the family home evening, share a story of personal spiritual growth that involved overcoming challenges. Emphasize that everyone’s faith journey looks different.
The Role of Professional Help
While SPACE principles are very effective, some families may need extra support. If your child’s anxiety is having major impacts on their daily life, school, or spiritual well-being, professional help can offer support. In locations like Provo, UT, and Arizona, treatment centers specializing in OCD and anxiety disorders offer tailored support for Latter-day Saints families. Programs like ERP therapy or SPACE-based interventions can provide your child with tools to manage their symptoms while respecting their faith.
Parenting an anxious child is a journey of patience, love, and learning. By embracing SPACE principles, reframing faith as a source of strength, and seeking professional support when needed, Latter-day Saint parents can help their children thrive on an emotional and spiritual level. Above all, remember that you are not alone in this process. Your love, combined with evidence-based strategies and faith-driven resilience, can create a nurturing environment where your child feels safe to grow, face their fears, and find joy in their spiritual journey. With faith and the right tools, both you and your child can navigate this path toward healing and hope.
Discover Compassionate Religious OCD Treatment in Arizona and Utah
Navigating the challenges of religious OCD can feel overwhelming. But, with the right support and effective treatment, it’s possible to find peace and regain balance in your life. Whether you’re in Arizona, Utah, or beyond, Mountain Home Center is here to guide you through this journey with compassion and expertise. Through tailored treatments like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and supportive strategies grounded in faith, I help individuals and families address the unique challenges of religious OCD, including scrupulosity. Here’s how you can take the first step toward healing:
Reach out through our contact page or directly at claire@mountainhomeocd.com
Meet with a compassionate OCD therapist.
Support your child’s journey to resilience and faith with compassionate strategies for managing religious OCD!
Additional Services Offered at Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD
At Mountain Home Center for Religious and Moral OCD, I provide a range of evidence-based treatments designed to support your mental health and well-being. Beyond addressing moral OCD, I offer specialized care for various OCD themes, anxiety disorders, and challenges related to relationships. With an understanding of the unique needs of Latter-day Saints, I am committed to offering compassionate, personalized care that aligns with your values. Whether you’re navigating religious OCD, relationship OCD, or generalized anxiety, I am here to help you find clarity and peace. Take the first step toward a balanced, fulfilling life by exploring our services and reaching out today. Together, we can work toward healing and spiritual harmony.
