Just wanted to say thank you to all of the parents and professionals who are commenting on this forum. On my profile I mentioned that I am a parent of a very anxious/ depressed and avoidant 23 year old daughter who school refused after a bullying incident 10 years ago and has been on a down hill trajectory ever since. She has had a past history of OCD as a young child as well.
It has been a second full time job trying to help my daughter move forward in life with little success. It has taken a grave toll on our entire family unit. Therapy, meds.. have not helped one bit .She is a reluctant participant with a great degree of hopelessness and apathy.
Through reading and great luck I have happened onto Dr Lebowitz’s research on SPACE therapy and how I can apply this to our situation. I immediately identified with the theory. I immediately understood how it might help. Frankly we have nothing to lose. I am fearful but also excited as heck to start applying the practice.
The question now is HOW?! I can barely find information on SPACE much less a provider to support us. So please ! Everyone get trained and pass the word. There is a HUGE unmet need.. not only for the young kids just beginning their difficulties... but also for the young adults who suffer now and whose families really had no idea 10 years ago how over accommodation may have played a huge part in their ensuing problems. I will buy all the books and continue to Read as much as I can.
Again.. thank you to Dr Lebowitz and all the providers who have chosen to make it their life’s work to help people in despair and distress. You have a gift. We families are forever grateful.
Thank you for this post as well (just read another one). The issue of adult children who are struggling with anxiety and other problems and are unable to make the transition to independent adulthood is a very common one and unfortunately there are few resources available to parents. In many ways this stands out as one of the only (perhaps the only) unaddressed area in mental health. Even the actual prevalence of the problem is not really known, though it is definitely a very common one. We have successfully implemented SPACE strategies to helping parents make significant changes in the independent coping of their adult children. There are some differences relative to applying SPACE for younger children, but many core principles remain the same. You may email me directly if you like for a summary or overview the steps we usually recommend. Eli