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Episode #71 - The Parent Is the Intervention: What Therapists Need to Know About BPT and SPACE with Grace Berman, LCSW

Earn Continuing Education Credits (CEs): By listening to this episode, you can earn CEs if you join the Affirm Academy! To learn more and register, visit affirmmentalhealth.com, and click on the "Join the Affirm Academy" button.

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Course Information: https://www.canva.com/design/DAHEx3SjNn4/YYhpzRA8P0PooWCNxqFUJQ/view?utm_content=DAHEx3SjNn4&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h9fde65f80a

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Episode Summary: In this episode, I’m joined by Grace Berman, LCSW, to explore evidence-based approaches for treating children with anxiety, ADHD, and behavioral challenges.

We break down how therapists can integrate Behavioral Parent Training (BPT) and SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions) to reduce parental accommodation, improve child behavior, and build emotional regulation through parent-mediated interventions.

This conversation highlights how to move beyond diagnosis and use a functional approach to child behavior, including reinforcement, extinction bursts, natural consequences, and parent consistency to support long-term outcomes.

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Topics Covered:

  • Child anxiety treatment
  • ADHD in children
  • Behavioral Parent Training
  • SPACE therapy
  • Parental accommodation
  • Emotional dysregulation
  • Extinction bursts
  • Natural consequences
  • Parent-mediated interventions
  • Evidence-based therapy for children

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About Our Guest: Grace Berman is a licensed clinical social worker and adjunct professor at Columbia University School of Social Work. She specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with anxiety disorders and OCD at the Ross Center. Previously, she trained as an Advanced Clinical Social Work Fellow at the Yale Child Study Center, where she later served as a faculty clinician, and held clinical and supervisory roles at the Child Mind Institute. In addition to her clinical work at the Ross Center, she is co-director of Community Education, providing workshops and consultation to schools, caregivers, and community organizations.

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Connect with Grace Berman:

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Conflict of Interest Disclosures:

The host, Shaina Siber-Sanderowitz, LCSW, is the Founder of Affirm Mental Health, an accredited CE provider. She receives financial compensation from Affirm Mental Health for the development and delivery of continuing education content. No other financial conflicts of interest were reported.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for clinical training or treatment. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please reach out to a licensed professional.

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