PARENTING WORKSHOPS
Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
WHAT IS SPACE?
I am offering parenting classes on an ongoing basis to provide to support to parents of anxious children. These classes help parents to navigate the fine line between supporting your children with their anxiety but also instilling confidence and independence. In the course we will cover education about anxiety, ways in which anxiety is supported by the family, and ways parents can change their own behaviors to decrease anxiety symptoms in their children. The class is based on the SPACE Treatment Program developed by Dr. Eli Lebowitz at the Yale Child Study Center. You can learn more about SPACE here.
WHY SPACE?
I put this group together in an effort to provide support to parents who are trying to find therapy for their children but keep coming up against long waitlists across the state of Oregon. Many of the parents who attend my classes may be on my waitlist and/or other waitlists for providers in Bend. The goal is that the class will reduce some of the distress your family is experiencing while you wait and hopefully reduce your overall length of time your child needs to be in therapy.
The SPACE Parenting Program has been proven to be as effective as child focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in reducing child symptoms of anxiety and more effective at reducing parental accommodation than child focused therapy. Research on SPACE in a group format showed significant reduction in parental accommodation of anxiety, power struggles between child and parent, and feelings of hopeless in parents. So, the bonus of this class is – you can help your child by attending the class yourself!
If you want to read more about how SPACE could be helpful to your child, please click here to read a Blog Post I wrote that will share more information.
WHO IS IT FOR?
Families who are good fit for this group include parents of children with fairly significant anxiety that impacts the entire family system.
Any age between preschool to adolescent.
Typical diagnoses addressed include generalized anxiety, OCD, separation anxiety, phobias, nighttime anxiety/bedtime struggles, or social anxiety.
Families who attend this class may currently have their child in therapy with another therapist or may be looking for therapy at this time.
Typical children who are helped by this group require a lot of help from parents to manage their anxiety. Examples include elaborate sleep routines to help the child fall asleep or stay asleep, parents having to stay close to their child due to separation anxiety, parents having to follow “rules” or participate in OCD rituals, or parents who have to help soothe or reassure their child frequently so the child does not become too upset.
Families who are not a good fit for this class include parents of children with more mild anxiety or whose anxiety does not include much need for parental involvement or support.
WHERE & WHEN & HOW MUCH
The In Person class is held in person at the NWX Collective Building @ 2900 NW Clearwater Drive on Wednesdays from 5:00-6:30 pm.
The Virtual class will be hosted Tuesdays at 9:00-10:30am via Zoom. Anyhow can join the Virtual class, regardless of location.
The cost of the class is $850, which covers 8 sessions and one individual screening appointment with Dr. Niemeyer. Payment is required up front at the start of the class. If you have been directly referred to this class but need a sliding scale, please discuss as limited sliding scale spots are available.
UPCOMING GROUPS:
April 30th - Virtual Class Tuesdays 9:00-10:30am- Full
May 1st - In Person Class Wednesdays 5:00-6:30pm - Full
*Currently recruiting for August 2024 Class
HOW TO GET INVOLVED
Please click here to answer the Questionnaire about your child and your interest in the class. You will then be contacted to schedule a screening appointment and assigned to the next class, based on your preference and availability.
