Parent Coaching for Childhood Anxiety and OCD
Anxiety Institute’s Parent Coaching program supports families navigating child anxiety, behavioral challenges, and emotional distress. Using SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) and evidence-based strategies, we guide parents to strengthen connection, reduce accommodations, and foster emotional growth.
What Is Parent Coaching?
Parent coaching is a collaborative, skills-based process that empowers caregivers to play an active role in their child’s treatment. Unlike traditional therapy, where the focus is on the child, parent coaching centers on the parent’s role and influence within the family system.
Through coaching, parents learn how to respond effectively to anxiety-driven behaviors, reduce family accommodations, and set consistent boundaries with compassion. The process also emphasizes improving communication and emotional regulation at home, so families feel less reactive and more connected.
At Anxiety Institute, our approach is grounded in SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions), an evidence-based model from theYale Child Study Center, combined with other proven methods like cognitive behavioral coaching and psychoeducation. Parents discover not just what to do, but how to implement strategies in real life.
How Does Our Parent Coaching Program Work?
Parent coaching at Anxiety Institute is tailored to each family’s needs and integrates seamlessly with other treatment services your child may be receiving.
Coaching sessions typically occur weekly, either one-on-one with a clinician or in a small parent group. During these sessions, you’ll learn SPACE-based strategies to reduce enabling behaviors, practice skills for effective communication, and develop a personalized plan that reflects your child’s diagnosis, developmental stage, and family dynamics.
Our methods include:
SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions)
Cognitive Behavioral Coaching (CBC)
Psychoeducation on anxiety and avoidance
Motivational Interviewing to strengthen confidence and consistency
The goal is not to “fix” your child, but to empower you as a parent to respond in ways that promote growth, independence, and emotional resilience.
Schedule your first coaching session today.
What Are the Benefits of Parent Coaching?
When parents learn how to respond consistently and effectively to anxiety, children often make faster progress in treatment. Families who participate in coaching frequently notice less conflict at home, improved communication, and a more peaceful family environment. Parents also gain long-term tools they can apply as their child moves into new developmental stages.
Some of the most common benefits include:
Greater parental confidence in handling anxious behaviors
Reduced accommodation and enabling patterns
Lower conflict and reactivity between parents and children
Stronger collaboration between co-parents
Tools to support children who are resistant to treatment or school
Parent coaching helps families break the cycle of anxiety, creating lasting change that benefits both the child and the family system as a whole.
Who Is Parent Coaching For?
This program is designed for caregivers of adolescents and young adults (ages 12–25) who are struggling with anxiety, OCD, or related challenges. It is particularly helpful for parents who:
Are caring for a child with OCD, separation anxiety, social anxiety, or generalized anxiety
Notice themselves making frequent accommodations to reduce their child’s distress
Are struggling to set limits or maintain consistency at home
Have a child who is refusing treatment or school attendance
Want to reduce family conflict and strengthen communication
If you’re unsure whether parent coaching is the right fit, our team is available to talk with you about your family’s unique situation.
Where Can I Find Parent Coaching Near Me?
Anxiety Institute offers in-person and virtual parent coaching in:
- Greenwich, CT
- Madison, NJ
- McLean, VA
Find help today—
consult our team to begin.