Who is this program for?

Kids and teens ages 7 to 18 with anxiety, OCD, school refusal, perfectionism, panic, social anxiety, separation anxiety, or specific phobias. We work with families when individual therapy alone hasn't been enough, typically because anxiety has become bigger than weekly sessions can hold, or because parents need their own structured support to change patterns at home.

Anxiety & OCD Program for Kids & Teens · Ages 7–18

When your child’s anxiety has become bigger than weekly therapy can hold.

A structured program for kids and teens with anxiety, OCD, school refusal, or panic. Combined with a parent class that teaches you how to break the cycle of accommodation at home. Because anxiety lives in the family system, not just the child.

Schedule a Program Consult Not sure if this fits? Take our 2-minute quiz →

You’ve already tried the things you were told to try.

Validation. Deep breaths. The reassurance loop that calms her down for ten minutes. Letting him stay home from the birthday party because the meltdown wasn’t worth it. Accepting that bedtime now takes ninety minutes because the worries have to be checked in a specific order.

You’re not doing it wrong. You’re doing what any loving parent would do when their child is suffering. But the anxiety isn’t getting smaller. It’s getting more elaborate. And weekly therapy alone hasn’t been enough to shift it.

This program is for what comes next.

Two parallel tracks. One coordinated team.

Anxiety in children is a family pattern. Your child has their own work to do, and so do you. Both tracks run together because they have to.

For your child or teen

Individual Anxiety/OCD Therapy

Weekly individual sessions with a therapist trained in evidence-based anxiety and OCD treatment. The work is active, not just talking about anxiety, but practicing facing it.

ERP for OCD, gradual, supported exposure to triggers without rituals
CBT for anxiety, identifying and shifting the thought patterns that fuel worry
ACT skills, learning to live with anxiety without letting it run the show
Real-world practice between sessions
Coordination with your child’s school when helpful

For you, the parent

SPACE Parent Class

A recurring parent class teaching the SPACE protocol, an evidence-based program from Yale Child Study Center. You enroll while your child is in therapy and meet weekly with other parents in the same situation.

How accommodation maintains your child’s anxiety long-term
How to be supportive without accommodating
How to communicate changes to your child without conflict
How to handle protests, escalations, and pushback
Skills you use in your home, every day, immediately

Evidence-based approaches.

These aren’t generic talk therapy. Each protocol has decades of research behind it, with specific procedures designed for specific anxiety presentations.

ERP

Exposure & Response Prevention

The treatment with the strongest research evidence for OCD. Gradual, supported exposure to triggers while resisting compulsions. Teaches the brain that anxiety passes on its own.

SPACE

Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions

Yale-developed parent program. Teaches you how to reduce accommodation while staying supportive. Works without requiring child participation.

CBT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

The most-studied therapy for anxiety. Identifies the thought patterns that fuel worry and replaces them with more accurate, flexible thinking.

ACT

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy

Skills for living a meaningful life when anxiety is part of the picture. Useful when anxiety has been chronic or when avoidance has shaped major life choices.

Who this program is for.

Kids and teens ages 7 to 18 with anxiety or OCD that has become persistent, intense, or interfering, and whose families are ready to do the work alongside them.

OCD with rituals or intrusive thoughts Hand-washing, checking, ordering, mental compulsions, “just right” feelings, intrusive scary thoughts your child can’t stop having.

School refusal or school avoidance Stomachaches in the morning, panic at drop-off, missed days that turn into missed weeks, the school calling you again.

Separation anxiety beyond the typical age Bedtime that takes ninety minutes. Sleepovers that have to end early. The follow-around-the-house that hasn’t softened since age four.

Panic attacks or specific phobias Racing heart, dizziness, the conviction something terrible is happening. Or the dog, the elevator, the highway, the thing your child won’t go near anymore.

Social anxiety or selective mutism The kid who’s talkative at home but won’t order at restaurants. The teen who can’t do oral presentations or ask a question in class. Public restrooms that are off limits. Parties that get declined and photos that get dodged. The friendships not happening.

Perfectionism that’s become paralyzing Homework that takes four hours. Erasing until the paper tears. The avoidance of trying anything new because it might not be perfect.

Program snapshot.

The practical details. What you can expect, when, and how.

Who it’s for Kids and teens ages 7–18 with anxiety or OCD that hasn’t responded enough to general therapy

Components Weekly individual therapy + recurring SPACE parent class

Individual therapy approaches ERP, CBT, ACT, matched to your child’s specific presentation

SPACE class length Typically 8–12 weeks of recurring parent sessions

Format In-person at our Spring & Woodlands locations, or telehealth across Texas

Insurance Individual therapy billable to most insurance plans we accept; SPACE class follows tuition model

How to start.

We make sure this is the right level of care before anyone enrolls. The first call is free and there’s no commitment.

Free consultation

A 15-minute call to understand what’s going on for your child. We’ll discuss whether this program is the right fit or whether something else makes more sense.

Initial intake

If the program is a fit, we move to a full intake assessment. This is when we confirm the treatment plan and match your child with a therapist trained in their specific presentation.

Begin treatment

Individual therapy begins immediately. SPACE class enrollment depends on the next cohort, but parents can start individual parent coaching sessions in the meantime.

Schedule a Program Consult

Or call (281) 210-6677 · info@connectionsfamilycenter.com

Common questions about the Anxiety & OCD Program.

What is the difference between general anxiety therapy and the Anxiety & OCD Program?

General anxiety therapy is your child meeting with a therapist weekly to work on anxiety. The Anxiety & OCD Program adds a structured parent component, a recurring SPACE parent class, that runs alongside your child’s individual therapy. Research is clear that anxiety in children is a family system. When parents learn the SPACE protocol, change happens faster and lasts longer because the home environment changes too.

What is SPACE?

SPACE stands for Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions. It’s an evidence-based program developed at Yale Child Study Center for parents of anxious children. The core insight: parents naturally accommodate their anxious child to reduce the child’s distress, but accommodation maintains anxiety long-term. SPACE teaches parents how to be supportive without accommodating, which gives the child room to face their fears. Notably, SPACE works without requiring the child to participate.

What is ERP?

ERP, Exposure and Response Prevention, is the treatment with the strongest research evidence for OCD. The therapist works with your child to gradually face the things that trigger their obsessions while resisting the compulsion to do the ritual that would normally relieve the anxiety. Done with care, ERP teaches the brain that the anxiety will pass on its own, and the OCD loosens its grip.

Do parents have to attend the SPACE class?

For most families, yes. The SPACE class is a core component of the program because parental accommodation is one of the strongest maintainers of childhood anxiety. The class teaches parents how to support without accommodating, and that change has to happen in the home environment, not just in the therapy office. We can discuss exceptions during your initial consultation if there are specific reasons one parent can’t participate.

What about adults with anxiety or OCD?

This specific program is built for kids and teens ages 7 to 18. Adults with anxiety or OCD are absolutely welcome at CCFC, we offer individual therapy with the same evidence-based approaches (ERP, CBT, ACT) for adults. Visit our anxiety and OCD page to learn more about adult treatment options.

What is the typical timeline?

Anxiety and OCD treatment is a real commitment but not endless. Many families notice meaningful change within 12 to 16 sessions of consistent work. ERP for OCD often shows results faster than expected once exposures begin. SPACE typically runs 8 to 12 weeks for parents. We track progress with you and adjust the plan as your child’s needs change.

Is the Anxiety & OCD Program covered by insurance?

Individual therapy sessions can typically be billed to insurance with most major plans we accept. The SPACE parent class follows a tuition-based model. We can verify your benefits and discuss costs before you enroll. See full insurance and fees →

My child refuses to come to therapy. Can SPACE work alone?

Yes. SPACE was specifically designed to work without requiring child participation. Many parents come to CCFC because their child has refused therapy, and SPACE has produced meaningful change just from parent participation. Once a child sees their parents handling things differently, many become more open to participating themselves.

Reviewed by Lauren Pasqua, PsyD, PMH-C Licensed Psychologist · Executive Director, Connections Child and Family Center · Over 20 years supporting parents, children, and families through life transitions · TX License #36214 · Last reviewed: September 2026

The birthday party your child actually goes to. The bedtime that takes fifteen minutes, not ninety. The morning where everyone gets out the door without a meltdown. That’s what we’re working toward.