SPACE starts with the parents 🙂

Our focus on your behaviour as a parent does not mean that you are to blame for your child's anxiety. You are not the problem here, however you are an important part of the solution. Anxiety disorders make it difficult for children to function independently. They tend to rely heavily upon their parents to help them cope rather than learning to cope on their own. As parents, we don't like to see our children suffering. It is natural to for parents to step in, take action and provide relief for their children when they are in discomfort. Parents are often torn between the need to help their child to feel better and the desire to show them that there is no real danger. SPACE Training focuses on changes that parents make to their own behaviour, because we actually can't make other people change, we can only change how we respond.

How many sessions or weeks?

SPACE Training takes between 8 to 12 sessions, depending on the family situation.

Research tell us we can change our brain

Have you heard of Neuroplasticity? It is the brain’s ability to change and adapt. There is now evidence that we can influence that process directly. Self-directed neuroplasticity means changing the structure of our neural pathways with conscious intention. And that is exactly what needs to happen to make behavioural changes. The key to self-directed neuroplasticity is awareness – which is a controlled attention – in which we use our focus to highlight on things within our awareness. However, attention is not enough. Will power is also needed to learn new strategies and skills if you intend to make any lasting changes.

Learn in a Way that Changes your Brain

Our training programs, courses and live events are set up to learn skills in the way that works best with how our brain processes information: short sessions with actionable information. Each makes you aware of a challenging behaviour - for example making demanding statements - and then teaches the skills to assist your child in more productive ways.

Is SPACE training considered therapy or counselling?

Even though the boundaries between counselling, coaching, training, therapy are sometimes blurry, SPACE Training is classified as psychoeducation. It is not conventional counselling or therapy, psychotherapy, or psychological service.

What do parents need to participate?

Parents (and other caregivers) require a device with high-speed Internet access as well as the Zoom application. The training itself will take place in our learning management system, in which participants can also find the workbook, materials, and worksheets. Since the training is online, parents are required to ensure 60 to 90 minutes of uninterrupted time. Please make sure all distractions are off and children and pets are occupied.

My child really does not have to attend?

Correct. SPACE Training is parent-based and therefore only the parent (or other caregivers) attend.

My child is resisting / self-harming / aggressive 🙁

This happens A LOT! You see, children notice your change in behaviour. Since they are depending on the parent to continue to accommodate their anxiety, kids may start to revolt. SPACE Training has two separate problem-solving modules about self-harm/threats and aggression that are highly recommended to implement if your family is experiencing extreme difficulties. Depending on the need, one or two problem-solving modules may be required. Each takes one to two sessions.

My partner is not cooperating. HELP!

Not a problem. SPACE Training has a separate module for cooperation between parents. It is NOT family and marriage counselling. This module focused on the shared interest of managing childhood anxiety at home.

Is SPACE Training the same as SPACE Treatment?

Yes and No. SPACE Training has incorporated the SPACE Treatment program, supplemented by various additional exercises to make the program even more effective. SPACE Treatment also focuses on OCD, whereas SPACE Training only focuses on childhood anxiety.

Can Parents really Change their Child's Behaviour by Changing their own Behaviour first?

Yes! I know how parents feel after dealing with childhood anxiety a lot. When I first learned about the full SPACE Treatment program, I was like, "No way, it can't work like this. The focus has to be on the child and not on me." But Just think about it. Parents learn one step at the time, from the time their children are born. Each experience is new, and each of these experiences can become successful when parents use the right approach. But sometimes parents need to learn what that approach is, just like learning any other skill. Childhood anxiety is not the parent's fault, but they can be part of the solution. Isn't that something any child is worth?

Stuttering

Help Children Become Fluent Speakers

The Oakville Program - Stuttering Treatment in Saskatchewan

Manage Childhood Dysfluency

The Oakville Program is a treatment for children that aims to reduce stuttering. Parents do not change the family lifestyle in any way, apart from 1) encouraging the child to use syllable-timed speech (STS) and 2) presenting contingencies for the child’s stutter-free and stuttered speech. These activities occur during practice sessions and occasionally throughout the day. The child’s parents deliver the treatment in the child’s everyday environment. The ultimate aim of the treatment is to achieve a normal speech rate and speech that does not sound unnatural in any way.

STG Health Services is currently finalizing the implementation of the Oakville Fluency program in Regina, Saskatchewan. If you are located anywhere else in Saskatchewan and have highspeed Internet, online treatment is also a possibility.

What is Syllable-timed speech (STS)?

Syllable-timed speech involves saying each syllable in time to a rhythmic beat. For example, “The children are play-ing on the tram-po-line.” “The kit-ten is drin-king its milk.” Typically, STS produces vowels of similar duration for each syllable. For young children, it can be useful to give STS a name, for example, “syllable talking”. STS is only used for a short period during this program in order to achieve periods of stutter-free speech. Emphasizing this short-term use of STS to the child aids compliance.

What are Contingencies?

The term “contingencies” refers to when parents give either verbal or non-verbal feedback to their child about their speech either after the child produces a period of stutter-free speech or after a stutter. The contingencies used in the Oakville Program are similar to those used in the Lidcombe Program;1 however, following stutter-free speech, there is no request for self-evaluation, and, following a stutter, a request is typically made for the child to repeat the stuttered word (or phrase containing the stuttered word) using STS. For example, a parent may say “Can you say ‘He is run-ning’ (parent using STS) again?” Parents provide contingencies during practice sessions and during everyday conversations. Praise is used far more frequently than correction.

Treatment Overview

At the beginning of treatment, the speech pathologist instructs the parent and child how to use STS using demonstration, imitation, and practice. Once the parent and child have learnt how to use STS with the speech pathologist, the child is encouraged to use STS in practice sessions and, later, occasionally during naturally occurring everyday conversations. Initially, STS practice sessions are encouraged 4–6 times per day for about 5–10 minutes each time. When this goal has been attained and there has been a drop in stuttering severity, contingencies for stutter-free speech and stuttering are introduced into the practice sessions and the number of practice sessions is reduced. As stuttering reduces further, STS is withdrawn and practice sessions reduce.

Daily Practice at Home

Parents are responsible for implementing the treatment at home with their child each day. Parents initially consult with the speech pathologist weekly, either by clinic visit or by webcam. Consultations typically last around 45 minutes. Consultations reduce to fortnightly when specific criteria have been met. During each consultation, the speech pathologist instructs the parent how to do the treatment and ensures that it is being done properly.

Course Features

Registration & Participation Fee

The fee includes access to scheduled Zoom sessions. Additional content and assignment is provided in the learning management system.

Private Fluency Therapy From CAD 140 per Session

Individual Speech Fluency Therapy is provided online by a Licensed Speech & Language Pathologist

Let us Contact you 🙂

When you complete the form below, one of the STG Professionals will contact you to talk about opportunities to start assisting your child. This call takes a maximum of 15 minutes.

2 Stages

Areas served

La Ronge

Saskatoon

Regina

and Greater Saskatchewan

In general, STG Health Services can provide services through video conferencing anywhere in Saskatchewan, as long as a broadband highspeed Internet connection is available.