Anxiety & OCD: Through the Lens of NVR
Anxiety & OCD: Through the Lens of NVR
Train with the leading & award-winning provider of Non-Violent Resistance Training for Professionals
Join our exclusive one-day online workshop with Warren Matofsky, ‘Anxiety & OCD: Through the Lens of NVR’
The workshop will run on Wednesday 18th March 2026, and is suitable for NVR and/or S.P.A.C.E (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
This bespoke workshop guides practitioners through the development and delivery of an online group for youth anxiety and OCD, using a co-developed digital tool, PACMAN (Parent And Carer Module for ANxiety)
The online groups received S.P.A.C.E (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions: Lebowitz & Omer, 2013), adapted for delivery in a UK CAMHS setting with young people and their families, who are affected by moderate to severe anxiety & OCD. Warren will share how to facilitate this online group intervention for parents and carers, using the co-developed digital tool and techniques that were developed over the 9 years he has spent facilitating and supervising this group. You will be given exclusive access to the tool through joining this event.
In preparation of the workshop, you will receive pre-training tasks, which will include reading / watching of videos – this will take approx 2-3 hours, and needs to be completed ahead of the event.
This workshop is also available privately in-house, contact us for prices for your team. Email: training@partnershipprojectsuk.com.
THIS WORKSHOP IS NOT S.P.A.C.E TRAINING
To access S.P.A.C.E training please follow this link: https://www.spacetreatment.net/training
About the Workshop
For the past 8 years, Warren has led the development, delivery & supervision of a highly effective digital group format of the SPACE model (Lebowitz & Omer, 2013). Group therapy with PACMAN (Parent And Carer Module for ANxiety) was developed in Sussex CAMHS with young people and their families, who are affected by moderate to severe anxiety & OCD. This bespoke workshop will guide you through how to deliver this 3-month online group intervention format, using this co-developed digital tool, that you will be given exclusive access to through joining this event.
PACMAN includes all the psycho-educational and tracking tools that families will need, allowing practitioners to focus group time on building an inclusive group space, safe enough for parents & carers to engage with the process of change and work on overcoming the common barriers that emerge in clinical practice. This is a neuro-inclusive format, that has consistently been delivered to mixed groups, where some families have children with neurodevelopmental diagnoses and others will not, to enable sustainable delivery in resource-limited services.
This online group psychotherapy format has been repeatedly shown to be effective in improving child functioning, reducing family accommodation, and leaving the home environment calmer. The workshop will include lots of practical group-based techniques and conversational inquiries that Warren has developed in adapting the New Authority model to a British context.
This workshop is suitable for NVR practitioners who are new to the SPACE model, as well as those who have completed the specialist 2-day SPACE training with Eli Lebowitz and are interested in applying this model in a group format with complex, clinical populations.
In line with the New Authority Model (Omer, 2011), the workshop will include ideas for working across home-school communities with recommendations for working with schools on reducing accommodation as part of educational support.
All delegates will receive a digital training pack, including exclusive access to PACMAN, preparatory reading materials, a brief introduction to online group dynamics, training in the use of key outcomes measures to evaluate the intervention, support materials for guiding accommodation reduction in schools & colleges and a full training slide pack.
Learning Outcomes:
- Describe how the New Authority model applies to maintenance of child anxiety and OCD difficulties
- Introduce collaborative group spaces organised by parent and carer preferences and safe group boundaries
- Use digital tools to support families to understand how family accommodation maintains child anxiety problems and develop planned alternative responses
- Use conversational inquiries to support parent/carer motivation to change how they respond to their child’s difficulties
- Use group intervention techniques to address parental self-blame and shame
- Apply ideas about accommodation reduction to support in school and the community
- Evaluate the impact of brief group therapy with parents and carers, on child functioning and family accommodation
Reviews
"It is really practical in terms of supporting facilitators of anxiety groups like this. Also the flow of the presenter and the experience that was brought to the workshop made it really helpful and realistic. Also there was NO waffle. New ways of exploring accommodation and ability to overcome it."
Specialist Systemic Psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"This training was really easy to follow, informative and enjoyable. I've loads of ideas AND the tools to be supported and send to parents - very refreshing, thankyou"
Family and Systemic Psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"The training was incredibly well resourced with access to the PACMAN padlet as well as the padlet specific to the training. I learnt so much from working through the PACMAN padlet prior to the training."
Principal Clinical Psychologist,
Participant 2025
"I will take away practical ways of supporting families with this approach, also liked the New Authority model and parents as an anchor metaphor. it was really informative and well presented by knowledgeable trainer"
Assistant Psychologist,
Participant 2025
"Trainer was brilliant"
Outreach support worker
Participant 2025
"Lots of new information for dealing with Anxiety in the NVR format. Thank you"
Advanced Practitioner Systemic Team,
Participant 2025
"Alot to take away, including responses about the adult behaviour in contrast to the child's"
Senior Youth mental health practitioner,
Participant 2025
"I thought there was a good balance between teaching and opportunities to practice. The pre-workshop learning was also really valuable and helped focus the content of the workshop itself onto the nurances of facilitation"
Principal Clinical Psychologist,
Participant 2025
"Loads to take away - especially the intricacies of facilitating NVR parenting groups. Thanks for today, very interesting and informative/useful"
Family Therapist,
Participant 2025
"Use of padlet was good getting us prepared however, there was confusion about the different versions!"
Principal Systemic Psychotherapist (CAMHS),
Participant 2025
"Several members of my team attended today - I think we will discuss/reflect together about how we can put the learning into practice. My biggest reflection is about how my organisation (children services) might unintentionally encourage parents to accommodate their child(ren) and how we can counter that. It was well resourced, comprehensive training - it has given me much to think about and unpick "
Advanced practitioner,
Participant 2025
"I feel that the learning has helped to navigate the difference between accommodation and adaptation."
Systemic Practitioner,
Participant 2025
"I like all the resources available to us as practitioners and the set out of each session. it was good to do the role plays to keep parents in mind"
systemic practitioner,
Participant 2025
"I have more confidence with working with anxiety and NVR"
Independent Practitioner,
Participant 2025
"I plan to go away and begin facilitating this group in our CAMHS service. I appreciate the ideas around addressing guilt/Shame and the structure advised."
Principal Psychologist,
Participant 2025
"This training was well paced, useful and enjoyable. Warren lead by example and gave examples, demonstrated the skills and shared his experience and knowledge. He kept the group engaged"
Family and Systemic Psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"I've gained more confidence to offer strategies for OCD, but concerned about the possible lack of understanding in the participants applying this about the real anxiety of an autistic experience which is invisible and invalidated - to be helpful, we need to do something different. EG EBSA is a v natural response to a traumatic environment for an autistic yp, not an accommodation that should be reduced. Without accommodation the experience leads to autistic burnout and extreme mental health presentations. It is understanding of the anxiety that needs to first underpin any work on OCD presentation."
Family and systemic psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"I liked the supporters mapping exercise; more confidence in the framework and how to deliver in parent groups, reflection on barriers/ambivalence to change (recurrent theme of impasse- will explore more with colleagues and families)"
Senior Clinician,
Participant 2025
"A better understanding of accommodation and how to support parents dealing with anxiety and OCD within my work"
Parenting Co-ordinator,
Participant 2025
"Thorough. Pre-information quality. Practice skill opportunities."
Associate Play Therapist,
Participant 2025
"I will take away the importance of parental support groups. Reflective ideas to use with parents in therapeutic 1:1 work"
Associate Play Therapist,
Participant 2025
"Thank you. Very interesting training session"
Associate Play Therapist,
Participant 2025
"Very good training for thinking and working with Anxiety."
Advanced Practitioner Systemic Team,
Participant 2025
"Able to gain a good insight into the workshop and the evidence behind it"
Parenting Co-ordinator,
Participant 2025
"Good handouts"
CYPMHS SFP Social worker,
Participant 2025
"I liked the access to knowledge from the person who developed it"
family therapist,
Participant 2025
"I have come away with a group to implement in my service"
Clinical Psychologist,
Participant 2025
"I liked the access to the platform before the training and access to the trainer's platform as well. the trainer was knowledgeable and the pace was good."
Systemic, Family and Couples Psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"delivering to a group of parents saves resources"
Systemic Practitioner,
Participant 2025
"interesting and structured use of NVR/SPACE. Much to ponder and take into my practice"
NVR practitioner,
Participant 2025
"strong knowledge of subject matter and experience"
Family Therapist,
Participant 2025
"I appreciated that we were kept in the same break out room as this made it much more accessible. Online can be tricky but this felt well structured with well planned breaks and the pace was generally good."
Child Psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"I enjoyed getting in contact with other professionals and getting access to the working materials"
Family Therapist,
Participant 2025
"It will enhance our offer of support to families who feel they are struggling and can't carry on"
Advanced practitioner,
Participant 2025
"Opportunity to think about how to run online groups. Lots of good background material"
Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist,
Participant 2025
"I liked the gentle approach and experience of learning reflecting on families we work with and using parts of the model and going through group process."
Family Therapist,
Participant 2025
"It has given some insight in to how to tweak NVR for families where there is anxiety and OCD"
Systemic Family Psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"Exploring ideas of OCD patterns of accommodation, accommodation mapping, adaptations, tools for a brief intervention"
Family and systemic psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"I felt that the mix of knowledge sharing, role play and breaks was well managed."
Systemic Practitioner,
Participant 2025
"presenter had such a good knowledge of subject matter"
Clinical Psychologist,
Participant 2025
"I liked the opportunities to practice and observe role plays. There is a lot of information provided."
Principal Psychologist,
Participant 2025
"hope to incorporate it in my clinical work"
Principal Systemic Psychotherapist,
Participant 2025
"accessible for time poor parents"
Family Therapist,
Participant 2025
"intervention shorter than SPACE/NVR and more specific to OCD/anxiety"
Parent Facilitator,
Participant 2025
"good brief intervention, sharing of resources, activities and role plays to understand the ideas"
Family Therapist,
Participant 2025
"helpful to learn about accommodation and to think about applying the group setting"
Social Worker,
Participant 2025
"I enjoyed and appreciated the structure approach of the training. It was informative and personalised."
Advanced Specialist Mental Health Practitioner,
Participant 2025
"Accessibility; lack of travel = work-life balance ; great use of sharing materials - i.e. direct links to tools ; good use of break out rooms to practice skills"
Clinical Psychologist,
Participant 2025
Meet Warren Matofsky
Warren Matofsky
Dr Warren Matofsky, Principal Clinical & Community Psychologist, group psychotherapist & senior teaching fellow (University of Surrey, SPFT Sussex CAMHS)
NVR Association (NVRA) Accredited Practitioner and Supervisor
Trained in Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE)
Prior to clinical training, I worked for 15 years as a youth & community worker in Sussex, Palestine & Haiti. I have specialised in child & family Mental Health work and group psychotherapy over the past 20 years in CAMHS. I completed my Psychology & Philosophy BA degree, disheartened by psychology’s narrow focus on experimentalism & cognitivism. However, my own experience as a “mental health patient” & survivor-activist, pushed me back to training, as what I experienced on the ward & in the therapy room often seemed ad hoc, uncollaborative & unsafe. This informed my research interests in power, gender and group process pursued through the Surrey PsychD programme (2002-2005) and my group relations training (Tavistock, 2007-2011). My interest in power has pushed me to interrogate how I work with my white, cis-male, educated privilege and create supervisory contexts that are safe enough to support mutual learning on working with differences & similarities.
Important Information
How much does it cost?
Early Bird: £135+VAT*
Full Price: £150+VAT
Groups Discounts:
Save 10% for groups of 10 or more,
or save 15% for groups of 20 or more.
This workshop is also available to book privately in-house for your team, email: training@partnershipprojectsuk.com for more info.
What is included?
– 1x Full Day Workshop – with networking and Q&A
– Confirmation of Attendance Certificate with CPD points
– Training Slides
– Pre-workshop training materials / tasks – which will include reading & watching of videos – this will take approx 2-3 hours and needs to be completed ahead of the event.
– PACMAN (Parent And Carer Modul
When & Where?
Wednesday 18th March 2026, 9:30am to 4:30pm
Hosted LIVE online via Zoom Pro
Who Can Attend?
The workshop is open to practitioners in CAMHS, mental health, social care, education, youth justice and the independent sector, who already have an understanding of the core principles of NVR and / or SPACE
Also available for Group Bookings, contact us today for a free no-obligation consultation & quote.
Email: training@partnershipprojectsuk.com
Why train with us?
Established in 2006
The first & foremost specialist provider of NVR training & workshops, supervision, and interventions & coaching in the UK
The leading provider in the UK
We've trained more professionals, & supported more families than any other provider
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Our team hold the highest NVR qualifications available, along with many years’ experience & specialist knowledge
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Winners of several prestigious awards such as 'Training Provider of the Year' 2025, and ‘Best NVR Training & Intervention Provider 2025 – UK’
Giving Back to the Community
We give our time with our special interest groups, offer pro-bono work where we can, and donate to relevant charities
Over 1000 Professionals trained each year
Over the last 3 years we have trained over 3000 people
Over 100 families supported each year
Each year we offer individual coaching & group sessions for over 100 families
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Amazing feedback and the highest scores for our NVR training
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We are registered with; CPD, Independent Safeguarding CIC, NVR Association (NVRA)
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Although we are predominantly in the UK, we have a worldwide reputation with students in many countries around the world
*Early Bird Tickets available until 31st October 2025
Information about SPACE
About Eli Lebowitz, PhD
Professor Lebowitz studies and treats childhood and adolescent anxiety and is Director of the Program for Anxiety Disorders at the Yale Child Study Center. His research focuses on the development, neurobiology, and treatment of anxiety and related disorders, with special emphasis on cross-generational and familial influences in these disorders. Dr. Lebowitz is the lead investigator on multiple funded research projects, and is the author of numerous research papers and of books and chapters on childhood and adolescent anxiety. He is also the father of three great boys.
SPACE: Discussing a Parent-Centred approach to childhood social anxiety with Eli Lebowitz, PhD.
Several questions arise when working with childhood anxiety. Is it more optimal to work with the child individually, the parents, or both? How do we help the child if there are obstacles to compliance or availability of the child? How can we empower parents to be the best resource for their children?
Dr. Eli Lebowitz, PhD, is the Director of Program for Anxiety Disorders at the Yale Child Study Center. He has long been involved in researching family accommodation and its influence on childhood anxiety. Dr. Lebowitz and his team at the Yale Child Study Center have since developed the SPACE program (spacetreatment.net).
SPACE is a parent-based treatment program for children and adolescents with anxiety, OCD, and related problems. His recently published book, “Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD: A Scientifically Proven Program for Parents”, is geared towards helping parents learn how to implement the SPACE program and become a valuable resource for their children.
Confidentiality
PartnershipProjects UK (PP) adheres to its confidentiality obligations at all times.
PP encourages all professionals (who may be undertaking any level of NVR training, accessing NVR individual or group supervision, submitting their coursework or attending PP’s accreditation module) be bound by their professional registrations or their service/local authority/organisation policies of confidential working practices.
In all cases, professionals will anonymise any family/parent references, in all cases change genders/ages/status’s when referring to case work examples in training/supervision etc.
Professionals who wish to share families personal information (names/gender etc) in their individual or group NVR supervision must be transparent and inform the families/parents/caregivers before sharing. In this circumstance, professionals must have formal written consent/permission from families/parents/caregivers to use their examples in this way.
Any information shared to PP, will be treated in line with current GDPR guidelines as per our Data Protection Policy which can be found on the following link; https://www.
