For Immediate Release
Greenwich, CT
September 11, 2024
Anxiety Institute, a clinical treatment center specializing in treating acute anxiety disorders, announced today the participation in a recent panel discussion, focusing on the innovative SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) intervention. This event was hosted by TCA (Therapeutic Consulting Association), and featured prominent experts in the field of childhood and adolescent anxiety, including Dr. Eli Lebowitz, developer of the SPACE Intervention from Yale Child Study Center, Dr. Dina Nunziato, Chief Clinical Director of Anxiety Institute, and Dr. Lisa Rosen, Director of the Parent Support Program at Mountain Valley Treatment Center.
Highlighting the Power of SPACE Intervention
The panel provided an in-depth exploration of SPACE, a parent-based approach to treating childhood anxiety, OCD, and related conditions. Unlike traditional child-led therapies, SPACE focuses on adjusting parental behaviors to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and strengthen family dynamics.
“The SPACE intervention aligns with our commitment to providing families with the tools and support they need to navigate anxiety treatment.” said Dr. Dina Nunziato of the Anxiety Institute.
Key Takeaways from the Panel:
- Supportive Parenting: The SPACE model emphasizes validation of a child’s distress, while instilling confidence in their ability to manage their anxiety independently.
- Reducing Accommodation: A major focus of SPACE is helping parents gradually reduce accommodations they make to ease their child’s anxiety. These accommodations can inadvertently reinforce anxiety but can be changed in a supportive way.
- Proven Efficacy: SPACE has demonstrated outcomes comparable to traditional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), as evidenced by multiple randomized controlled trials. The treatment has been particularly effective for families whose children are resistant to direct child-based therapy.
SPACE Intervention at Anxiety Institute
Anxiety Institute has fully integrated the SPACE intervention into their treatment programs. Families participating in the program benefit from structured guidance and ongoing support aimed at creating lasting, positive changes in how parents respond to their child’s anxiety.
“We’ve seen firsthand how transformative the SPACE model can be for families,” noted Dr. Dina Nunizato “By focusing on parents, we’re able to help the entire family system improve in a meaningful, lasting way.”
About Anxiety Institute
Anxiety Institute is the only clinical treatment center specializing in acute anxiety disorders that uses advanced, proven techniques while nurturing the patient in their local home environment. Utilizing the most up-to-date, evidence-based treatments, our outpatient services focus on treating teens and young adults, while coaching their parents. Anxiety Instituted is located in New Jersey, Connecticut and Virgina. To learn more, visit anxietyinstitute.com.
Media Contact:
Birgitta Johnson
(612) 280 – 4503
“My personal knowledge and experience of anxiety and fear, as a victim and as a conqueror, has gifted me the valuable asset of emotional intelligence. Knowledge and experience that will give me the empathy to connect with others and the grit to overcome adversity.”