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The Parent Center

Parenting a child with anxiety can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) gives parents practical tools to recognize how anxiety shows up in their child’s body, thoughts, and behaviors and, most importantly, how to respond in ways that build confidence rather than dependence. You’ll learn how to reduce unhelpful accommodations, turn reassurance into true support, and create a clear, realistic plan to help your child face challenges. With hands-on strategies, role-plays, and supportive guidance, this training empowers you to make small, effective changes at home that bring big results for your child’s growth and resilience.

Parent Workshops & Trainings

Parent Drop-In

Parent Drop-Ins are free monthly Zoom meetings on the last Wednesday of each month. Parents can get practical guidance and support from youth mental health experts for youth mental health and behavioral challenges. Ask questions, learn strategies, and get help responding effectively to anxiety, difficult behaviors, and emotional struggles at home.

SPACE Training

SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) is an evidence-based program that helps parents support children with anxiety and OCD. Parents learn to respond supportively while reducing accommodations that can unintentionally reinforce anxiety. SPACE helps children build confidence, independence, and resilience.

Parent Management Training

An evidence-based approach that helps parents manage challenging behaviors such as defiance, tantrums, and aggression. Parents learn practical strategies to encourage positive behavior, set clear expectations, and use consistent consequences. PMT can improve cooperation, emotional regulation, and the parent-child relationship.

Parent Project

A monthly, in-person education workshop led by youth mental health experts, delivered directly in schools across San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties. Workshop content is tailored to the interests and needs of each school’s parent community. Parents meet in person and are able to connect with other parents in their school community.

Parent Drop-In Sessions

Parent Drop-Ins are free, 1-hour sessions where parents can seek guidance from experts specializing in child, adolescent, and young adult mental health challenges. Parents can also connect with others facing similar challenges. Clinical Psychologists who specialize in anxiety, depression, eating disorders, suicidality, and medication, experienced youth mental health experts, host each session. Parent Drop-Ins are held on the last Wednesday of every month at 5:30 pm. You can register below to receive the Zoom link, and submit questions ahead of time.

Upcoming Parent Drop-Ins:

Please contact us to schedule a Parent Drop-In session for your school or parent group. We host in-person sessions in San Luis Obispo and Santa Cruz counties.

Register and submit questions

How Can We Help?

If you have questions or would like to make an appointment, please complete this form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. You can also email kerri@cymh.org or call our SLO Center at (805) 996-0535 or our Santa Cruz Center at (831) 222-0052.

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