Mountain Family TherapyCourses

Parenting Brave Kids (with Anxiety)

An evidence-based program that helps you ease your child's anxiety by changing what you do as the parent — offering supportive responses and gradually reducing accommodation. Based on the SPACE approach developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center.

What's inside

Module 0 — Start Here

  1. Welcome & how to get the most from this courseFree preview
  2. What this course is (and isn't)Free preview
  3. The core idea in 60 secondsFree preview
  4. How the course is structured & how to pace yourselfFree preview

Module 1 — Understanding Your Child's Anxiety

  1. What childhood anxiety really is🔒
  2. The anxiety cycle🔒
  3. "Is this my fault?"🔒
  4. A map of the common forms🔒

Module 2 — The SPACE Approach: Why You're the Lever

  1. The big shift🔒
  2. Why this works when pushing and comforting both fail🔒
  3. Your two tools, previewed🔒
  4. Becoming the calm, confident presence🔒

Module 3 — Family Accommodation: Seeing It Clearly

  1. What family accommodation is🔒
  2. Why it feels like love but keeps anxiety stuck🔒
  3. Your Accommodation Inventory (worksheet)🔒
  4. Spotting your patterns and triggers🔒

Module 4 — Supportive Responses: Your First Tool

  1. The two ingredients🔒
  2. Acceptance alone vs. confidence alone🔒
  3. The supportive statement formula🔒
  4. Common traps🔒
  5. Practice🔒

Module 5 — Choosing Your First Target

  1. Picking one accommodation to reduce first🔒
  2. From vague goal to concrete plan🔒
  3. Aim for an early win🔒
  4. Your Reduction Plan (worksheet)🔒

Module 6 — Announcing the Plan to Your Child

  1. Why you announce in advance, in writing🔒
  2. The anatomy of a good announcement🔒
  3. Short, warm, clear, non-negotiable🔒
  4. Draft your announcement (template)🔒

Module 7 — Implementing the Change & Handling Reactions

  1. Follow-through: consistency beats intensity🔒
  2. Expect it to get louder before it gets better🔒
  3. Staying supportive without re-accommodating🔒
  4. Managing your own guilt and anxiety🔒
  5. Responding to protest, tears, anger, and threats🔒

Module 8 — Getting Everyone on the Same Page

  1. Recruiting supporters🔒
  2. Aligning with an unsure co-parent🔒
  3. Handling people who undermine the plan🔒
  4. What to ask supporters to do🔒

Module 9 — Applying SPACE to Your Situation

  1. Separation anxiety & bedtime🔒
  2. Social anxiety & speaking for your child🔒
  3. Generalized worry & the reassurance loop🔒
  4. OCD-related accommodation & rituals🔒
  5. Physical complaints & school refusal🔒

Module 10 — Sustaining Progress & Troubleshooting

  1. When progress stalls🔒
  2. Moving on to your next target🔒
  3. Setbacks and regressions are normal🔒
  4. When to bring in a professional🔒
  5. Keeping the gains🔒
  6. Closing & next steps🔒