Inquire if interested!
- Next group begins September 2026
- Meets for 9 consecutive weeks: Tuesdays from 9:00-10:15am
- Facilitated by: Kristen Ohlenforst, PhD
- Format: In person
- Fee: $155 per family per session (i.e., $1,395 in total)
Scroll down for overview, dates, and session content…
This evidence-based 9-week treatment program is for parents of children and adolescents struggling with anxiety, OCD, and related disorders. We offer this group multiple times throughout the year — typically starting in Feb/Mar and Sept/Oct, and at other times in response to interest/demand.
Developed by the Yale Child Studies Center, this treatment is shown to reduce child/adolescent anxiety by means of providing parents with effective strategies for (1) responding more supportively to their anxious child, while (2) reducing the accommodations they have been making to their child’s symptoms. When SPACE treatment is successful, parents feel more equipped with tools to help their child overcome anxiety, OCD, and related problems; simultaneously, children feel less anxious and function better following treatment.
- September 22, 29
- October 6, 13, 20, 27
- November 3, 10, 17
overview & session content
phase i:
understanding accommodation and increasing support
- Session 1: Introduction & Increasing Support
Understanding childhood anxiety (as distinct from adult anxiety); rationale behind and evidence for working with parents. Defining supportive remarks and behaviors; examining parents’ habits and historic barriers to support. - Session 2: Charting Accommodation
Identifying current accommodations (parent- and family-based) and motivations behind such; increasing parental awareness of accommodations. - Session 3: Choosing a Target
Defining which parental behavior(s) to modify, so as to effectively reduce parental accommodation and childhood anxiety.
phase II:
strategically modifying parent behaviors
- Sessions 4: Making a Plan
Creating a detailed and specific plan for change; “stress-testing” your plan. - Sessions 5: Preparing for Obstacles
Anticipating your child’s reactions and crafting thoughtful, consistent responses - Session 6: Informing Your Child
Crafting an intentional message for sharing with your child; responding to your child’s reaction(s).
phase III:
implementing & enhancing plans;
strategies for moving forward
- Session 7: Implementation
Implementing your plan! Monitoring parental behavior; troubleshooting concerns; reviewing the role of praise. - Session 8: Processing & Trouble-shooting
Reviewing and modifying implemented plans to enhance success and reduce childhood anxiety. - Sessions 9: Additional Targets & Moving Forward
Choosing subsequent and future targets; increasing parental autonomy; reviewing resources for additional/future support.
Facilitator:
Kristen Ohlenforst, PhD has worked with children, adolescents, and adults throughout her training at UT Southwestern Medical Center and Stanford School of Medicine. As founder and Clinical Director of Therapy Dallas, she specializes in evidence-based individual and family-based interventions for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, ADHD, and behavioral difficulties.
Want to read more about SPACE?
Click here for books, videos, research, and more.
Click here for an article on the efficacy/outcomes of SPACE Parent Groups.
SPACE can also be delivered in an individualized format, for families seeking individual consultation and/or an alternate schedule. We welcome you to reach out to our office at info@therapydallas.com with inquiries for such.