Social Anxiety Therapy in NYC

Reduce your social anxiety and become more confident interacting with others

Home » Conditions » Social Anxiety

What Is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety or social phobia is a condition that causes people intense nervousness around interacting with others. Common situations that trigger social anxiety can include party gatherings, work functions, dating, public speaking, a coworker meeting, talking on the phone, or texting.

Those with social anxiety have an intense fear of being judged, rejected, or evaluated by others. They may also worry excessively over embarrassing themselves or being ostracized by a group. Understandably, this can result in a person avoiding certain social situations entirely.

Social anxiety can impact daily function – interfering with work, relationships, and other social activities. It can also lead to loneliness, isolation, and depression. However, with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and other evidence-based treatments, those with social anxiety can work through their fears and live a more self-confident life.

Different friends sitting in cafe after study spending time together, focus on frustrated lonely shy guy sitting apart, separately of others teenagers feels unhappy having problems with communication

Social Anxiety Symptoms

Social anxiety symptoms can differ across individuals. Some common features of social anxiety are:

Fear of being judged or scrutinized
Intense anxiety over meeting new people
Worry you may embarrass or humiliate yourself
Avoiding eye contact during conversations
Physical symptoms such as blushing, sweating, trembling
Cancelling dates because you’re too nervous
Avoid speaking to certain people – like a boss or coworker
Anxiety for hours or days ahead of a social event
Worry that you might say the wrong things
Self-analyzing your performance during conversations
Avoiding situations where you’re the center of attention

Therapy for Social Anxiety in NYC

CBT for Social Anxiety

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be highly effective in treating social anxiety. It helps individuals by first identifying thoughts and beliefs that contribute to their anxiety, such as fears of being judged, criticized, or embarrassed in social situations. Once these anxious thoughts are identified, CBT helps individuals reframe them and start to see social interactions in less threatening ways.

The next step is guiding individuals through gradual exposure to their feared social situations. This allows one to experience these situations in a step by step manner, which typically reduces anxiety over time and builds confidence.

CBT therapy for social anxiety can include an understanding and evaluation of one’s core beliefs about oneself, the world, and the future. (One’s core beliefs can trigger social anxiety.)

It can also incorporate mindfulness skills to help one stay in the moment of a social interaction – to stay engaged more naturally with others and avoid getting distracted by one’s thoughts.

Exposure & Response Prevention Therapy for Social Anxiety

Exposure and response prevention therapy (ERP) is a form of CBT used to treat social anxiety that involves gradually exposing individuals to feared social situations such as meeting someone new, attending a group gathering, going to a social event, or a one-on-one meeting with a co-worker. Psychologists can set up “imaginal” exposures which can take place in-office, engage clients in role play, and encourage real life interactions for “in-vivo” exposures. A key component of this therapy is learning to tolerate anxiety in social situations such that socially avoidant safety behaviors are reduced or eliminated. With consistent practice, over time, distress tolerance increases and anxiety is often reduced allowing for more comfortable social interactions.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy for Social Anxiety

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an excellent adjunct to CBT and ERP for social anxiety by helping individuals develop the skills to create a healthy distance from their anxious thoughts rather than being overwhelmed by them. This can be particularly useful when engaging in exposures to feared social situations as it can enhance distress tolerance. ACT techniques including cognitive defusion, anchoring, and mindful observation are often employed. This therapy encourages taking action that aligns with personal values, which for many people with social anxiety means a desire to engage in social activities rather than avoiding them.

Mid age man talks with a female counselor at home. One on one meeting

What Causes Social Anxiety?

Contributing Factors

A few contributing factors that make it more likely for a person to develop social anxiety include:

Emotional, Physical, or other Abuse: Experiencing abuse in any form can often lead to trust issues, hyper vigilance, low self-esteem, and difficulty processing emotions – which may result in social anxiety.
Negative Peer Interactions: Whether you’ve been rejected by friends, excluded by coworkers, betrayed by those you trust, or bullied in childhood – these can be contributing causes to social anxiety.
Over-controlling Parenting Styles: If you grew up with parents who excessively micromanaged your behaviors, emotions and decisions as a child – creating a world of anxiety at home – you might be more suspectable to social anxiety as an adult.
Insecure Attachment Style: People with insecure attachment styles may have more fear of rejection, hold a negative self-image, struggle with emotional regulation, or have stunted social skills. Social anxiety can result.

Common Triggers

People with social anxiety can become very anxious in different situations. Some common examples are:

New environment: Switching to a new school, job, or city often involves meeting many new people, which can be intimidating. It’s common for social anxiety to worsen in a new environment.
Public Speaking: Giving a presentation at work, or answering a question in class can trigger a great deal of anxiety and induce panic attacks.
Going to Parties: Those with social anxiety can find attending parties or work functions very distressing.
Dating: Meeting someone of romantic interest can be anxiety provoking for many people, but for those with social anxiety it can be extremely stressful.
Authority Figures: Interactions with a boss at work, a professor at school, or other authority figures can be a particular trigger for those with social anxiety.

Benefits of Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Therapy for social anxiety offers several benefits, including:

More self-confidence, less self-consciousness
Improved social and romantic relationships
Reduced worries, fears, and anxiety levels

Group of young people, friends and family gather on social event or barbecue in the garden on sunny summer day. Multi ethnic group of people enjoy spending day together

Feel Better with BHNY

If social anxiety is affecting your life, our clinicians are here to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Differences in Agoraphobia vs. Social Anxiety?

Agoraphobia is the fear of places or situations that can cause helplessness, feelings of being trapped, or embarrassment. A person with agoraphobia will not want to enter a place or situation they cannot easily escape from.

Agoraphobia and social anxiety are very similar, often overlapping and causing similar avoidances. The primary difference is the underlying motive for the fear. A person with agoraphobia fears not having control, while a person with social anxiety fears judgment.

What Does Social Anxiety in Children Look Like?

Children with social anxiety may be hesitant to join groups and play with other kids. They may be shy when it comes to participating in class discussions. A child with social anxiety may also have separation anxiety, seeing their parent as their safe place and not wanting to leave them for a classroom full of strangers.

There is a difference between typical shyness in children and a social anxiety disorder. If you are concerned your child struggles with social anxiety, you can get them tested and seek counseling for them.