Social Anxiety
What is Social Anxiety?
Social Anxiety – also known as Social Phobia – is characterised by an intense fear of social situations. It can affect people of all ages, often starting during the teenage years. Social anxiety goes beyond shyness, it can lead to distress, low mood, and have a significant impact on self-esteem and self-confidence. Left untreated, social anxiety can interfere with daily life, work, education, and relationships.
Common Symptoms
It’s natural to feel nervous in certain situations, such as giving a presentation or meeting new people. However, social anxiety involves a persistent and intense fear of social interactions, before, during, and after the event. You might notice:
- Excessive worry about everyday activities, such as starting conversations, speaking to strangers, or making phone calls
- Avoidance of social events, including meeting friends or attending gatherings
- Fear of embarrassment or being judged – for example, blushing, sweating, or shaking
- Feeling self-conscious about your appearance or behaviour
- Avoiding eye contact, withdrawing from conversations, or hesitating to join group discussions
- Physical sensations like trembling, rapid heartbeat, nausea, or dizziness
- Panic attacks, which may include intense fear and physical discomfort
How We Can Help
We provide evidence-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to support individuals struggling with social anxiety. CBT explores the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, offering practical techniques to help you manage and overcome your fears.
Key components of cognitive behavioural therapy for social anxiety include cognitive restructuring to identify and challenge unhelpful thought patterns, exposure techniques to gradually face feared situations in a safe and structured way, behavioural experiments to test predictions and explore new approaches, focus of attention training to shift away from internal worries and toward the present moment, and social skills practice to build confidence in communication and connection.
Our therapy is compassionate, tailored to your individual needs, and available both in person and remotely via phone or online sessions.
Together, we can help you overcome social anxiety, regain your confidence, and embrace the fulfilling life you deserve.
Your Free Consultation
- 20-minute session by phone or online
- A friendly, informal chat at a time that suits you
- Brief discussion about your challenges and goals
- Overview of how evidence-based therapy could support you
- Time to ask any questions
- No pressure, just a chance to see if we’re the right fit
Our Approach
We understand that taking the first step towards therapy can feel daunting. That’s why we’re passionate about ensuring you feel heard, understood, and respected from the very start. Our approach is warm, down-to-earth, and rooted in evidence-based therapies designed to support meaningful, lasting change. You will be treated with compassion, respect, and discretion, with a focus on creating a supportive and comfortable experience.