If your child is struggling with anxiety, you're probably doing everything you can to help them feel better.
Maybe you’re trying to talk them out of their fear, make things easier so they won’t panic or just trying to hold everything together. But despite your best efforts, the anxiety is still there.
Your child might be avoiding school, pulling away from friends, or refusing to do the things they used to enjoy.
And you? You’re exhausted, second-guessing every decision, and feeling increasingly isolated while your family life looks further and further from how you imagined it.
The truth is: parenting an anxious child requires a different approach from parenting a non-anxious child.
Your support makes a huge difference and you can help your child make meaningful changes by changing your own responses. It starts with learning how.
This 5 week programme will give you a structured, evidence-based roadmap for supporting your anxious child that's been shown to be as effective as individual CBT.
By focusing on something you can control, which is what you do as parents, you'll gain confidence and give your child the opportunity to cope differently.
You’ll learn how to:
Respond to your child’s anxiety in a way that’s calm, clear, and supportive
Limit the cycle of accommodation (so anxiety isn't calling the shots)
Help your child become more confident and resilient over time
Feel more connected to your child and to yourself as a parent again
Respond to your child’s anxiety in a way that’s calm, clear, and supportive
Limit the cycle of accommodation (so anxiety isn't calling the shots)
Help your child become more confident and resilient over time
Feel more connected to your child and to yourself as a parent again
Get personalised support from the beginning, so you can share your family's unique story and ask questions.
We'll go through the complete SPACE process together. You'l learn the skills, practice them and get regular coaching so you can stay on track.
A private check-in to troubleshoot challenges, get clarity on what’s working, and feel fully supported in applying the SPACE approach to your real-life parenting moments.
The next group is taking place from Monday 3rd November - Thursday 4th December 2025. There are 10 calls over the 5 week period.
Your individual intake session will take place between then and the start of the group and will be scheduled after you register. Your individual coaching call will happen during the 5 weeks of the programme.
The cost of the programme is £295 per family (up to 2 parents per family).
Spaces are limited to keep the group intimate and supportive.
The programme is led by experienced SPACE providers, Will Sessions and Demetra Brege.
Fill in the form below to join the waitlist for November and we'll email you as soon as registration is open and invite you to our free introductory session.
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a parent-based programme developed at Yale University. It helps parents support their child or teenager who is struggling with anxiety, OCD, or related difficulties, without requiring the child to participate directly in therapy.
The group programme is designed for parents or caregivers of children, teens and young adults experiencing anxiety, OCD, or related emotional challenges. It’s especially helpful if your child is unwilling or unable to engage in therapy themselves.
The programme focuses on reducing family accommodation - the well-intended changes parents make to reduce a child’s distress (e.g., providing excessive reassurance or avoiding anxiety triggers). In SPACE, parents learn how to respond supportively while helping their child face fears more independently.
Delivered via Zoom, the online group follows a structured weekly format. You'll join a small group of fellow parents and caregivers, and together you’ll learn how to respond more effectively to your child’s anxiety by reducing accommodations.
No, SPACE is a parent-only programme. Research shows that working with parents alone can lead to significant improvements in a child’s anxiety symptoms.
Each session includes:
Live teaching from trained SPACE facilitators
Interactive discussions and Q&A
Practical tools and techniques
Group support and shared experiences
Homework to apply between sessions
You’ll receive digital handouts and worksheets to support your learning.
The programme runs for 10 sessions, 2 each week for 5 weeks. Each session lasts around 60 minutes.
It’s best to attend all sessions, but we understand that things come up. We do not record sessions for privacy reasons but f you miss one, you’ll receive a summary and materials from that week.
Yes. SPACE has shown strong results in helping families, even when a child’s anxiety has been persistent or severe. Parents often report greater confidence and reduced family stress after completing the programme.
Not necessarily. While SPACE can be effective on its own, it can also be used alongside a child’s individual therapy. It’s especially helpful when a child is not currently in therapy or is reluctant to engage.
Absolutely. SPACE can complement your child’s therapy or serve as a standalone approach if your child isn’t in treatment. It focuses on empowering you with tools that can shift family dynamics in a supportive and effective way.
SPACE is a structured, evidence-based intervention developed by clinical psychologists. It focuses specifically on how parents can respond to anxiety-driven behaviours and promote emotional resilience, rather than general parenting strategies. It is not just a discussion group, it’s a research-backed intervention. You’ll receive structured guidance, proven tools, and professional facilitation based on clinical research into childhood anxiety and OCD.
SPACE could be a good fit if:
Your child experiences anxiety or OCD
You often find yourself adjusting daily life to reduce their distress
You’re looking for tools to help your child manage anxiety more independently
To register your interest for an upcoming group fill in the contact form above.