STAR (Stepped-Care Treatment for Anxiety Resilience)

Welcome! The information on this website will accompany STEP 1 Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) program. SPACE is a parent-based therapy designed to treat child anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although children and adolescents don’t attend the therapy sessions, we are going to be treating their anxiety! In the following modules, you will be introduced to the fundamental concepts behind SPACE, as well as what the next few sessions of therapy will look like. You will also be mailed a copy of the book “Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD” by Eli R. Lebowitz, which is an essential resource that provides additional information to help implement certain steps of the program. 

Each week, you will be assigned modules to complete and chapters to read before your therapy session. Before your first therapy session you will be expected to finish reading chapters 1-7 of the book. Completing all the modules and materials will help you maximize the time you have in each therapy session and tackle your child’s anxiety with confidence!

You will meet with a therapist for four 45 minute therapy sessions and three 10-15 minute phone check-ins throughout the next 7 weeks. Between each session and check-in, you will be assigned homework that gradually reduces your child’s anxiety in a step-by-step manner. You and your child will also be assigned surveys to complete during weeks 3, 6, 10, 14, and 18 of therapy