The Courage Lab
SPECIALIZED CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT ANXIETY TREATMENT
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPY FOR CHILDHOOD ANXIETY
We specialize in the treatment of childhood and adolescent anxiety using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a structured, evidence-based approach that helps young people understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Anxiety disorders are among the most common mental health concerns in youth, affecting approximately 1 in 5 children and adolescents, and often interfering with school, relationships, and daily functioning. Treatment is active and skill-focused, incorporating tools such as fear ladders (gradual, step-by-step plans for facing fears) and exposure-based interventions, which help children safely and systematically approach anxiety-provoking situations. To ensure therapy is engaging and developmentally appropriate, we integrate games, creative activities, and hands-on exercisesthat reinforce coping skills and emotional learning.
We have particular expertise in treating social anxiety, separation anxiety, specific phobias, generalized anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and school avoidance, and we tailor each treatment plan to the unique needs of the child and family. Our goal is to help children and adolescents build confidence, reduce avoidance, and develop practical tools they can use across settings.
We also support high school students in navigating academic stressors and the college application process, helping them manage pressure, build effective coping strategies, and maintain emotional balance during this demanding stage.
SPACE (SUPPORTIVE PARENTING FOR CHILDHOOD ANXIOUS EMOTIONS)
We specialize in SPACE, an evidence-based, parent-based treatment developed at the Yale Child Study Center for children and adolescents struggling with anxiety, OCD, picky eating, and related concerns. Unlike traditional therapy models that focus primarily on the child, SPACE works directly with parents to create meaningful change in how anxiety is supported and managed within the home.
Anxiety often leads children to avoid feared situations, and over time, families may naturally begin to accommodate these fears by providing reassurance, modifying routines, or helping the child avoid distress. While well-intentioned, these patterns can unintentionally reinforce anxiety and limit a child’s ability to build confidence. SPACE helps parents gently shift these patterns by reducing accommodations while increasing supportive, validating responses that communicate both understanding and confidence in the child’s ability to cope.
Through SPACE, we guide parents in learning how to respond effectively to anxiety, set clear and compassionate limits, and support their child in gradually facing fears. This structured, collaborative approach empowers parents with concrete tools they can use consistently at home, leading to increased independence, resilience, and long-term improvement in anxiety symptoms.
A unique strength of SPACE is that parents can participate even if their child is unwilling to attend therapy, making it a highly flexible and effective option for many families. In addition to individual parent coaching, we offer psychoeducational groups that provide support, shared learning, and practical strategies in a collaborative setting. Our work is grounded in a culturally responsive approach, recognizing that parenting practices and family dynamics are shaped by each family’s values, background, and lived experience.
Is SPACE Right for Your Family?
SPACE may be a good fit if:
Your child struggles with anxiety, OCD, or significant fears
You find yourself frequently reassuring, accommodating, or helping your child avoid distress
Your child is resistant to attending therapy
Anxiety is impacting daily routines, such as school attendance, sleep, or family functioning
You want to learn practical, evidence-based strategies to support your child at home
You are looking for a collaborative, parent-focused approach that creates change beyond the therapy session
SPACE is designed to empower parents as agents of change, helping families move from patterns of accommodation to patterns that foster confidence, independence, and resilience.