The Parenting Technique of YAMA and Anxiety Treatment
YAMA (You and Me Alone Time) is a parenting practice that involves setting aside dedicated, one-on-one time between a parent and child.
It is a time for the parent and child to connect, bond, and engage in activities without any distractions or interruptions.
Most Anxiety/OCD therapists suggest 15 minutes of YAMA time per day with each child.
YAMA is an important part of parenting for several reasons:
Building Strong Parent-Child Relationships:
YAMA provides an opportunity for parents to develop a strong emotional connection with their child. It allows them to spend focused, quality time together, fostering trust, open communication, and a deeper understanding of each other.
Individual Attention and Validation:
Children thrive when they receive individual attention from their parents. YAMA communicates to the child that they are valued, important, and loved. It allows parents to actively listen, validate their child's feelings and experiences, and provide the necessary support and guidance.
Emotional and Social Development:
YAMA contributes to a child's emotional and social development. It helps children develop a secure attachment to their parents, which is crucial for their emotional well-being. Through YAMA, children learn to express themselves, regulate their emotions, develop empathy, and enhance their social skills.
YAMA (You and Me Alone Time) can be helpful during anxiety treatment for several reasons:
Emotional Support: YAMA provides a dedicated and safe space for individuals with anxiety to connect with a supportive caregiver, such as a parent or therapist. This one-on-one time allows for emotional support, validation of feelings, and reassurance, which can help reduce anxiety symptoms.
Relationship Building: YAMA strengthens the bond between the caregiver and the individual with anxiety. It fosters a sense of trust, understanding, and connection, which can enhance the therapeutic relationship and create a supportive environment for anxiety treatment.
Individualized Attention: During YAMA, the caregiver can focus solely on the individual with anxiety, giving them undivided attention. This personalized attention helps the individual feel valued, heard, and understood, which can boost their self-esteem and overall well-being.
Active Listening and Validation: YAMA provides an opportunity for active listening, where the caregiver attentively listens to the individual's concerns, fears, and experiences related to their anxiety. Through active listening, the caregiver can validate the individual's feelings and experiences, which can be comforting and empowering.
Skill Building: YAMA can serve as a platform to teach and practice anxiety management skills. The caregiver can introduce relaxation techniques, coping strategies, and mindfulness exercises during this dedicated time, helping the individual develop skills to manage anxiety both during and outside of YAMA sessions.
Anxiety Exposure: Depending on the individual's readiness and specific treatment plan, YAMA can gradually expose the individual to anxiety-provoking situations or triggers in a controlled and supportive environment. This exposure can be a stepping stone towards gradually facing anxiety-inducing situations outside of YAMA sessions, contributing to anxiety reduction.
Positive Reinforcement: YAMA allows for positive experiences and reinforcement. Engaging in enjoyable and meaningful activities during YAMA can provide positive associations with the caregiver, promote a sense of accomplishment, and help counterbalance anxiety-related negative experiences.
It's important to note that YAMA alone may not be sufficient to treat anxiety disorders. It is typically incorporated as part of a comprehensive treatment approach, which may include evidence-based therapies like cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy, and mindfulness-based interventions.
YAMA acts as a supportive and nurturing component within the broader context of anxiety treatment.
At Kairos Wellness Collective, we offer child therapy, family counseling, and parenting therapy as an antidote to your child’s anxiety and OCD. We would be honored to be part of your family’s journey to mental wellbeing. Please reach out today!
