SPACE Program
SPACE Program
An Evidence-Based Approach That Starts With Parents
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a parent-focused treatment approach for childhood anxiety developed at the Yale Child Study Center. Unlike many therapy approaches that primarily involve direct work with the child, SPACE works through parents and caregivers. The focus is on helping families understand how anxiety operates, recognize patterns that may be keeping anxiety going, and respond in ways that support both connection and growing independence.
When a child is anxious, parents naturally respond by trying to help. They may provide reassurance, step in during difficult moments, help a child avoid situations that feel overwhelming, or adjust family routines to reduce distress. These responses are understandable and often come from a place of care. In the short term, they can help a child feel calmer and reduce stress for the family.
Over time, however, some patterns of accommodation may unintentionally make it harder for a child to discover that they are capable of managing anxiety. When children have fewer opportunities to face uncomfortable situations with support, they may continue to experience anxiety as something that must be avoided rather than something they can learn to handle.
SPACE is not simply a substitute for child therapy or an approach used only when a child does not want to participate. It is a structured treatment model that recognizes the important role parents play in helping children develop confidence with anxiety. By changing how caregivers respond to anxiety, families can create opportunities for children to build coping skills, increase independence, and develop a stronger sense of capability.
At Coherence, Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP provides SPACE for families seeking support with childhood anxiety. Treatment focuses on understanding the child’s anxiety patterns, identifying where accommodations may be occurring, and helping parents make gradual, thoughtful changes while continuing to provide warmth, support, and connection.
The goal of SPACE is not for parents to step back or become less protective. It is to help families find a balance between supporting a child through difficult moments and creating space for that child to learn, grow, and develop confidence in their own ability to cope.
Anxiety in children does not happen in isolation. It affects the child, but it also affects the family patterns and routines that develop around the anxiety. When a child is distressed, parents naturally respond by trying to help. They may offer reassurance, step in during difficult moments, help their child avoid situations that feel overwhelming, or adjust routines to reduce stress for everyone involved.
These responses are understandable and often come from a place of care. In the moment, they can be very effective at reducing distress. A child feels calmer, a difficult situation is avoided, and the immediate pressure on the family decreases. Over time, however, frequent accommodation can sometimes make it harder for a child to learn that they are capable of managing anxiety on their own.
When a child consistently avoids feared situations or relies on reassurance to feel safe, anxiety may continue to feel like something that must be escaped rather than something that can be tolerated. The child may miss opportunities to discover that uncomfortable feelings can pass and that they can handle challenges with support.
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) helps parents look at these patterns with compassion and develop new ways of responding. The goal is not to remove support or leave a child to manage anxiety alone. Instead, parents learn how to provide encouragement, connection, and confidence while creating more opportunities for their child to build independence.
At Coherence, Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP provides SPACE by helping families make gradual, thoughtful changes that fit their child and their circumstances. The focus is on strengthening the parent-child relationship while helping children develop greater confidence in their ability to face anxiety-provoking situations.
SPACE Is a Strong Fit When
- The child refuses individual therapy or is not yet developmentally ready to engage in it clearly
- Prior individual therapy helped the child understand their anxiety but didn’t change behavioral patterns at home
- Family accommodation is high and is clearly maintaining or worsening the anxiety
- Parents recognize that their own responses, as caring as they are, may be contributing to the cycle and are motivated to change them
- The child is very young and parent-focused intervention is the most developmentally appropriate option
Please note that contacting this practice does not establish a patient provider relationship.
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What SPACE Treatment Looks Like at Coherence
SPACE at Coherence is structured around regular parent sessions, with both parents or caregivers encouraged to participate when possible. Because the approach works through changes in how caregivers respond to anxiety, parents are not simply observers of the process. They are an important part of the treatment.
Early sessions focus on understanding how anxiety shows up for the child and how it affects the family’s daily life. Parents work with Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP to identify patterns that may be unintentionally maintaining anxiety, understand where accommodations have developed, and create a plan for making changes that are realistic and appropriate for their family.
A central part of SPACE is learning how to respond to anxiety in a way that communicates both understanding and confidence. Parents practice recognizing that their child’s fears and distress are real while also showing trust that the child can develop the ability to handle difficult moments. This balance allows children to feel supported without reinforcing the belief that anxiety is something they cannot manage.
Changes within SPACE are introduced gradually. Families work together to identify specific situations where adjustments may help and develop new responses at a pace that feels manageable. Throughout treatment, parents receive guidance and support as they practice new approaches, navigate setbacks, and apply SPACE principles to real-life situations.
At Coherence, Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP helps families translate SPACE strategies into everyday life. The goal is not to eliminate anxiety or create a perfect response to every situation. It is to help families build patterns that support confidence, flexibility, and a child’s growing ability to face challenges with support.
Learn More About SPACE
To discuss whether the SPACE program might be the right approach for your family, or to schedule a consultation with Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP, reach out to Coherence.
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How SPACE Fits Into Coherence's Broader Anxiety Services
The SPACE program is one part of the broader anxiety support available at Coherence. Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP and Dr. Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP provide therapy and support for children and adolescents experiencing anxiety, with treatment recommendations based on the individual child, family, and concerns being addressed.
Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP provides SPACE for families where a parent-focused approach is clinically appropriate. Other children may benefit from individual therapy focused on understanding anxiety, developing coping strategies, practicing new responses, and gradually building confidence in situations that feel challenging. For some families, a family-focused approach may be helpful when anxiety is closely connected to relationships, routines, or patterns within the home.
Anxiety is also an important consideration during neuropsychological evaluation. Both Jennifer Linton Reesman, PhD, ABPP and Dr. Korrie Allen, PsyD, ABSNP consider anxiety as part of the broader clinical picture when completing evaluations, understanding daily functioning, and developing recommendations.
For families who are unsure where to begin, an initial consultation can help clarify the most appropriate next step. Factors such as the child’s developmental stage, how anxiety appears in everyday life, previous treatment experiences, family patterns, and the goals of the family all help guide recommendations.
SPACE is a valuable approach for many families, but it is not the right fit for every child or situation. At Coherence, the focus is on understanding what will best support the individual child and family rather than applying the same treatment approach to every experience of anxiety.