When Your Child’s Anxiety is Running the House and You’re Exhausted
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) is a parent-based treatment in Jersey City, NJ and across NJ, NY, and FL
If your days feel consumed by anxiety, reassurance, rituals, arguments, or negotiations — and you're secretly wondering if you're making it worse — you're not failing as a parent. SPACE gives you a clear, research-backed plan to help your child's anxiety improve. You'll learn how to support them in a way that actually builds their confidence and resilience without power struggles.
What SPACE Looks Like in Real Life
SPACE is not about fixing your child or convincing them to stop feeling anxious. It's about making small, supported changes in how you respond to their anxiety. These changes create the conditions for your child to grow, gain confidence, and overcome their anxiety.
In SPACE, you’ll learn how to:
Respond without endless reassurance (“You’ll be okay,” “Nothing bad will happen”)
Stop getting pulled into anxiety-driven routines (for example: extra checks, repeated questions, leaving early or late)
Reduce helping behaviors that anxiety has come to depend on (for example: sleeping in their bed, speaking for them)
Set limits that are calm, predictable, and supportive, rather than reactive or exhausting
Help children face fears at their own pace, without forcing or arguing
Feel confident in how you're responding, even when your child pushes back
Sessions are parent-only, which means meaningful change can happen even if your child refuses therapy or says nothing is helping.
You’re not expected to be perfect, just motivated and consistent.
SPACE may be a good fit for your child if they:
Are ages 4-18 years old
Need constant reassurance (“Are you sure?” “What if…?”)
Avoid things they can do (school, eat, sleep, activities)
Have rituals around bedtime, food, transitions, or separation
Become distressed when routines change
Rely on you to manage their anxiety for them
If you're reading this and nodding along, but still not sure, that's okay! That's actually what the free consultation is for.
Or check out my free Parental Accommodation Checklist below. It takes five minutes and will help you see the patterns clearly. It will help you spot if you’re accommodating your child’s fears.
Here’s What Working Together Looks Like:
Step 1. Free Parent Consultation
A 15-minute call to see if SPACE is the right fit for your family.
Step 2. Parent Sessions
I meet with you in-person in Jersey City, NJ or virtual anywhere in NJ, NY, FL. Your child doesn’t need to attend. Sessions are 60-minutes and $220/session.
Step 3. Step-by-Step Plan
Together, we create and practice a plan to gradually provide support to your child and reduce anxiety-driven behaviors.
Step 4. More Confidence, Less Anxiety
Over time, your child builds tolerance for anxiety and fear, and home life feels calmer, more connected, and more like yours again.
Hear more from me about SPACE!
A Parent-Based Approach That Works
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions is a type of therapy that helps kids 4 -18 years old overcome their anxiety without requiring them to attend therapy. It can help with:
Separation Anxiety
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Generalized Anxiety or constant “what ifs”
Fear of Sleeping Alone and “sleep scaries”
Social Anxiety
Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia
Specific Phobias
Illness and Health Anxiety
School Refusal
Selective Mutism
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), restrictive eating, or “picky eating”
Highly Dependent Adult Children (“Failure to Launch”)
SPACE works because you become the change that is needed for your child to overcome their anxiety.
The Solution
SPACE was developed and researched by the Yale Child Study Center. Instead of changing your child’s behavior directly, SPACE helps change how you respond to your child’s anxiety with a step-by-step plan.
Through this work, you'll learn how to:
Offer emotional support without reinforcing anxiety.
Reduce the way you accommodate their fears without creating conflict.
Set compassionate boundaries that build trust and confidence.
Help your child face challenges with resilience.
Build a calmer home environment.
Parents Often Ask…
Does my child have to attend?
No. SPACE is a parent-based approach. Sessions are designed for parents only. During the initial assessment, I may ask to meet with your child for one session, but ongoing sessions are with parents.
How long does it take?
Most parents participate in 8-12 sessions over the course of a few months. The exact length depends on your child’s needs and the pace you feel comfortable with making changes.
Does it work virtually?
Yes. SPACE is highly effective both online and in-person.
What if SPACE is not the right fit?
The free consultation is an opportunity to talk through what’s been going on and determine whether SPACE matches your family’s needs. I may also recommend a one-time assessment session with your child to ensure we’re targeting the right concerns. Regardless, you’ll leave with clear recommendations about how to best support your child and your family.
How much does it cost?
SPACE sessions are 60-minutes in length and cost $220 per session. I am private pay and do not accept insurance, but I can provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance if you have out-of-network benefits.
Hi, I’m Stephanie.
As a licensed therapist, a mom, and someone who has worked with children and families for over 15 years, I know how much you love your kid. I also know how depleting it is when every day revolves around their anxiety.
What I've seen again and again in my work is that parents aren't the problem, but they are the solution. SPACE works because you are already the most important person in your child's life. We just need to shift how you're showing up in those hard moments.
This isn't about being a perfect parent. It never was. It's about being a consistent, supported, and confident one and that's exactly what we'll work toward together.
You don’t have to keep managing anxiety alone
If you’re feeling stuck, exhausted, or unsure what to do next, SPACE can offer a clear path forward without blame or pressure.