SPACE Therapy Outline

The below outline provides a general overview of a typical  SPACE therapy over the course of about 10–12 weeks. The actual course of treatment is adapted based on your family’s needs.

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Session 1: Introduction & Assessment

• Discuss presenting concerns and goals

• Review the SPACE model and how parent-only therapy works

• Begin identifying accommodations and anxiety cycles

Session 2: Understanding Accommodation

• Map out the specific ways the family may be accommodating the child’s anxiety

• Explore how accommodations are well-intentioned but reinforce avoidance

• Begin tracking daily patterns

Session 3: Setting Goals

• Identify one or two target accommodations to gradually reduce

• Clarify the child’s typical reactions to accommodation changes

• Introduce support statements and validate the parenting role

Session 4: Planning the Intervention

• Develop a step-by-step plan to reduce the first accommodation

• Prepare supportive responses for resistance or distress

• Rehearse how to respond calmly and consistently

Sessions 5–7: Implementation & Troubleshooting

• Begin reducing selected accommodations

• Review weekly progress and parent experiences

• Problem-solve setbacks, emotional reactions, or escalations

• Adjust strategies as needed

Session 8: Addressing Parental Emotions

• Explore how the child’s anxiety affects the parent emotionally

• Support parents in tolerating their own distress during the change process

• Reinforce supportive, non-accommodating responses

Sessions 9–10: Adding New Targets

• Identify a second accommodation to reduce, if appropriate

• Review success from previous change

• Encourage consistency and long-term mindset

Sessions 11–12: Consolidation & Maintenance

• Review progress and celebrate wins

• Discuss relapse prevention and what to do when setbacks occur

• Develop a long-term support plan