Social Anxiety

Social situations that feel effortless for others can feel overwhelming when you’re dealing with social anxiety. The constant worry about how you’ll be perceived, what you’ll say, or whether you’ll embarrass yourself can make social interactions feel exhausting rather than enjoyable. You deserve to feel confident and at ease in your connections with others.

Recognizing Social Anxiety

Social anxiety can show up in many different ways, and you might recognize some of these patterns:

• Feeling nervous and stressed in social situations, especially with new people
• Constantly worrying about how to navigate social groups or conversations
• Writing mental scripts for yourself before speaking, afraid you’ll freeze up
• Experiencing imposter syndrome at work or in social settings
• Finding it difficult to make or maintain relationships
• Cancelling plans at the last minute, leading to increased isolation
• Physical symptoms like racing heart, sweating, or feeling shaky in social situations
• Replaying social interactions afterward, wondering if you said something wrong

Building Social Confidence

Social anxiety is incredibly treatable, and you don’t have to navigate social situations with constant worry. In therapy, we’ll work together to:

• Understand your patterns - Identify specific triggers and situations that feel most challenging
• Challenge anxious thoughts - Learn to question the critical inner voice that assumes the worst
• Develop coping strategies - Build practical tools for managing anxiety in the moment
• Practice gradual exposure - Slowly expand your comfort zone at a pace that feels manageable
• Build social skills - Develop confidence in conversation and interpersonal connection
• Address underlying concerns - Work through fears of judgment, rejection, or not being good enough

Reclaiming Social Connection

One of the most rewarding aspects of addressing social anxiety is rediscovering the joy in human connection. When you’re not consumed by worry about how others perceive you, you can be more present, authentic, and engaged in your relationships. Social situations can become opportunities for connection rather than sources of stress.

Primary approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Ready to feel more confident in social situations? Contact me to schedule a consultation.