SPACE

Supportive Parenting for Anxious
Childhood Emotions

A child draws spaceships on a chalkboard, an example of a child who might need Bay Area SPACE Treatment.

Bay Area Space Treatment

Supporting kids, NOT their anxiety!

What is Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions?

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions, also known as SPACE, is an evidence based treatment developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz from the Yale Child Study Center that empowers parents to support their child's ability to manage uncomfortable feelings and learn important independence skills at every age and stage. While you can't MAKE your child feel a certain way, the skills you learn in SPACE can help you create an environment in which they can connect with their own inner resources, build valuable skills, and become strong, independent humans.

SPACE is for kids who…

  • Are melting down in the morning.

  • Are avoiding school.

  • Feel like things need to be a certain way.

  • Need constant reassurance.

  • Struggle to go to bed, be alone, eat a variety of foods.

  • Isolate from peers.

  • Get stuck during transitions.

  • Blow up when things aren’t going as expected.

  • Struggle with anxiety or OCD.

Five high school students smile, showing how teens can feel with supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions.
Moon stars and planet illustration for Bay Area SPACE Treatment branding.

SPACE is for parents who feel:

  • Frustrated with their inability to help their child.

  • Fatigued by the feeling of dragging children through their days.

  • Sad that your child is missing out on things they use to enjoy.

  • Confused about your child’s behaviors.

  • Hopeless, like nothing will work.

  • Out of sync with their partner in their parenting approach.

  • Ready to try a new approach.

SPACE could benefit you by:

  • supporting you through your experience.

  • teaching you skills to support your child in learning to manage big emotions.

  • helping you build a meaningful and lasting relationship with your child.

  • developing a foundation for building resilience with tools and strategies for effective parenting.

A girl wears an astronaut costume, an example of a child who could benefit from supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions..

SPACE is Based in Research

Research shows the Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions treatment protocol is AS EFFECTIVE as individual cognitive behavioral therapy in shifting anxious patterns in children and teens of all ages, and can be more effective than trying to engage children in individual therapy on Zoom. If you would like to learn more about SPACE by the creator, Dr. Eli Leibowitz, check out www.spacetreatment.net or contact Bay Area SPACE Treatment Founder Mindy Szelap, LCSW.

Planet and stars illustration for Bay Area SPACE Treatment branding.

Bay Area SPACE Treatment Services

  • Boy sits by a spaceship smiling, how a child feels benefitting from supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions.

    Therapy

    Children with anxiety and parents of children with anxiety are invited to work 1:1 with Mindy.

  • Girl holds hands to face and smiles,  how a child feels benefitting from supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions.

    Workshops

    Learn how to navigate your child’s anxiety in a virtual, facilitated group for parents.

  • Girl looks at colorful space drawings on a chalkboard, how a child feels benefitting from supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions.

    Professional Consultations

    Mindy is available to lend her expertise to a multitude of professionals through consulting.

Mindy Szelap,LCSW

Mindy Szelap, LCSW, is the founder of Bay Area SPACE Treatment and an experienced mental health professional who has dedicated over 25 years to supporting children, teens and families who are struggling with chronic medical and mental health issues. She specializes in anxiety, depression, OCD, and complex medical issues, providing her clients with the support and tools they need to live a meaningful, self directed life and find more joy and connection in their families.

A girl in a yellow dress smiles, an example of a child Mindy Szelap might support.

Mindy “treated our child for somatic anxiety that manifested as chronic stomach pain in our child. After a handful of sessions, the issues resolved and our child learned ways to face and self manage anxiety to handle challenges at school and in general. A calming presence for both child and parents.”

-Prior Client, Shared via ShareCare

Moon and stars illustration, part of Bay Area SPACE Treatment Branding.

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Spaceship illustration, part of Bay Area SPACE Treatment branding.