SPACE therapy for parents in Oak Park & across Illinois
You can step out of the cycle of “giving in” or “giving up” and into something new.
The whole house is on edge—and anxiety is the one in charge.
Maybe your child is in therapy but still panics when you leave the room. Maybe you’re answering endless reassurance questions, stuck in bedtime routines that drag on for hours, or navigating school drop-offs that leave you both in tears.
If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like your child’s anxiety, OCD, or other big feelings are calling all the shots in your home, you’re not alone. And you're not doing anything wrong.
SPACE is a parent-based approach that helps you shift what’s not working so your child can feel more confident—and you can breathe again.
Sometimes the bravest thing a parent can do is stop trying to “fix” everything.
What is SPACE and how does it work?
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is a structured, evidence-based program designed to help parents reduce accommodations (the well-meaning things we do to help our kids avoid anxiety).
Instead of trying to change your child’s thoughts or behaviors directly, SPACE focuses on your specific role—how you can respond with calm, confidence, and clarity, even when things are hard. Essentially, it teaches you how to gently shift the patterns at home that are keeping your child (and you) stuck.
This method can be especially helpful if:
Your child…
Refuses therapy or hasn’t responded to it
Struggles with OCD rituals that seem to dominate daily life
Asks for constant reassurance, avoids situations, or gets stuck in rigid routines
And you…
Are tired of guessing how to help and want a clear plan
Feel like your own life is on hold—work, hobbies, or date nights—because your child’s anxiety runs the show
Are ready to make real change, even if your child isn’t ready yet
The process
We’re not aiming for perfect parenting here. Small changes can lead to big shifts.
Here’s how SPACE works:
Free Consult Call (20–30 minutes)
We’ll talk about what’s going on, what you’ve already tried, and what you’re hoping for from this therapy experience. Some parents know that their child has general anxiety, separation anxiety, OCD, ARFID, or another type of challenge, while others are just beginning to understand what their child is experiencing. Wherever you are in that process, I’m here to support you, explain how SPACE works, and help you decide if it’s the right fit.
Parent Intake Session
This is a chance for you to speak freely about your child’s strengths, your concerns, your frustrations, and what’s been weighing on you. I want you to walk away from this session feeling supported and more grounded.
Optional Child Session
If helpful, I may meet with your child to get a fuller picture, but it’s not required for SPACE to work.
Weekly SPACE Sessions (50–60 minutes, virtual or in-person)
Together, we’ll move through three core phases:
Support Strategies: Learning how to respond when your child is anxious or upset
Identify Accommodations: Spotting the patterns (some might be invisible!)
Reduce Accommodations: Gently shifting those patterns so your child builds resilience
When you shift how you respond, your child shifts what they believe they can handle.
SPACE supports…
General, Social, & Separation Anxiety
Not every family comes in with a diagnosis—and that’s okay! Many parents come to SPACE because they’re stuck in cycles of avoidance, reassurance, or anxiety-driven decisions. You might be walking on eggshells, canceling plans, or giving in just to avoid meltdowns. SPACE gives you a roadmap to respond differently—so that your child’s anxiety doesn’t control the whole household.
These might sound familiar:
Your child avoids school, sleepovers, or social situations
Separation anxiety makes it hard to leave your child with a sitter, go to work, or even step into another room
You’ve adjusted your routines, work schedule, or social life to keep things calm
Your child calls or texts you from school throughout the day
You’re constantly coaching, soothing, or managing their stress
SPACE helps you step out of those exhausting loops and start making slow, steady changes that shrink anxiety’s grip—so your child (and your family) can get back to life.
Picky Eating and ARFID
If mealtimes feel more like battles than family time, you’re not alone. I also work with families navigating ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder) and extreme picky eating using the SPACE approach—which means helping you support your child without pressure, power struggles, or forcing bites.
You might relate if:
Your child eats only a few foods (and the list keeps shrinking)
Mealtimes are stressful or highly structured
You’re following strict “food rules” to avoid meltdowns
You’ve seen nutritionists, tried feeding therapy, and still feel stuck
I know these patterns can be incredibly stressful—not just for your child, but for the whole family. With SPACE, we focus on building trust, reducing anxiety around food, and helping you feel more confident in your role as a parent.
OCD
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can feel so overwhelming for both kids and parents. It’s more than just “being particular”—it involves intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviors that can take up a lot of energy and create stress for the whole family. If you’re caught in the cycle of trying to prevent your child’s distress by accommodating these behaviors, SPACE can help.
Your child might:
Have rituals or routines that must be done perfectly
Ask the same questions over and over
Get very upset when things don’t go exactly as planned
Dictate your entire schedule with consistent rules just to avoid a meltdown
If your child has a diagnosis already or you have an inkling that OCD might be what they’re experiencing, there is help for you here. SPACE gives you a chance to learn how to respond calmly, gently shift patterns so your child can build real resilience—and allows you to finally breathe easier.
A calmer, more confident presence—even in the hard moments
A new way to support your child without rescuing or fixing
A deeper understanding of what’s really driving the behavior
Confidence in how you respond, knowing it's helping shrink anxiety—not feed it
You can walk away with…
A clear plan that actually works (and lasts)
Less second-guessing, more clarity
The ability to shift unhelpful patterns—gently, effectively, and with tools you can keep using long after we're done
More energy, more balance, and more connection in your family
You don’t have to wait for your child to feel ready.
SPACE gives you the tools to start now.
Frequently asked questions about sPAce treatment
FAQs
-
SPACE certification requires completing formal, intensive training directly from the creators of SPACE. It’s not a weekend workshop — it’s a structured clinical training with a very small number of certified providers worldwide. As of 2026, I am the only certified SPACE provider in Illinois. Working with a certified provider means you’re getting the approach as it was designed, not an approximation of it.
-
There are currently very few certified SPACE providers in the United States, and I am the only one in Illinois. Learn more about my training and certification.
I offer in-person sessions in Oak Park and the western suburbs of Chicago, and virtual sessions throughout Illinois. If you’re anywhere in the state, you can access certified SPACE treatment without needing to travel.
-
No — and this is one of the things that makes SPACE genuinely different. Because the work happens with parents, your child doesn’t need to be present, willing, or even aware that you’re working with a therapist. Many families come to me precisely because their child refuses therapy or isn’t ready. You don’t have to wait for your child to be on board for things to start changing.
-
That’s actually a common reason parents turn to SPACE. Kids don’t always want to talk (especially in therapy), and they might be caught in routines, avoiding things that feel too hard, or stuck in big feelings that seem impossible to break through. SPACE gives you the tools to start shifting things at home without prying or pushing. It’s more about changing how you respond in ways that help your child feel safer, more capable, and less controlled by their anxiety or OCD.
-
Not at all. SPACE can be effective with children, tweens, and teens. The approach focuses on patterns—not age—so it’s flexible enough to fit wherever your child is developmentally.
-
Every family is different, but many parents start feeling more grounded and hopeful within the first few sessions. Real change takes time, but the steps are clear, doable, and designed to build momentum.
-
Visit the contact page or send me an email and we can set up a consultation phone call.
-
Yes. SPACE is well-suited to virtual delivery because the sessions are with parents, not children. I offer virtual SPACE sessions throughout Illinois, which means families anywhere in the state can access certified SPACE treatment without needing to travel to Oak Park.