I hope you can take a moment to celebrate your success in reaching out to start a new relationship. In working with social anxiety, we'll consider the exceptions in your life—the times when you have connected with strangers, when you’ve entered into a new social environment, when you’ve stayed longer at a social event. We’ll bring curiosity to what made those experiences exceptional for you. We’ll then bring those differences, as well as, newly learned skills into corrective experiences in the therapy room and the least risky environments for you outside of therapy. We will likely use EMDR and somatic therapy approaches to work through the engrained difficult messages and bodily experiences of social anxiety from your past to increase your confidence in your capacity for present and future social connections.
Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Social anxiety can be debilitating and may lead to feelings of loneliness and sadness. In my work with clients I support them in building their confidence and managing their anxiety in away that allows them to be in social setting in a much more comfortable ways.
If you experience intense anxiety in social situations you may be struggling with social anxiety disorder (social phobia). Social anxiety is the fear of judgment from others, whether it’s new people, authority figures, romantic interests, friends, acquaintances or strangers. This can make it difficult to do things like make friends, ask for a raise, go on dates, attend parties, or give speeches.
With Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), I’ll teach you skills for working with unhelpful thoughts and behaviors so you can reclaim your life from anxiety and move towards the nourishing connections you crave.
I have extensive experience working with social anxiety and also run a social anxiety therapy group called Social Anxiety, Shyness and Highly Sensitive Person Group. Social anxiety is often experienced as intense self-consciousness and a fear of being negatively judged by others and can get in the way of relationships and living the life we want. I help clients get to the root of their social anxiety. Understanding where it came from gives us clues as to what the anxiety is trying to protect or prevent. Often there are social traumas that created an intense vigilance and harsh inner critic as protectors. However, these protections likely have become outdated. With empathy I help clients heal and transform these painful moments to create a more compassionate and empowered self narrative so that they can safe again to connect with the world and people around them.
Marriage and Family Therapist, LMFT, LCSW, LPCC, ACSW, APCC, AMFT
Social Anxiety is the fear of judgement from others and many teens and adults struggle with it.
It is normal for teens to feel socially awkward from time to time and that doesn’t mean they have social anxiety. However, if they feel so much anxiety regarding social situations that it stops them from doing what they want to in life, then it might be social anxiety.
There are many root causes of social anxiety. While some people are naturally introverted, anxiety is an unnecessary extension of that. Social anxiety can also become entrained through conscious or unconscious habits of thought and expectation based on past experiences. No matter what your personality type or prior traumas you don't have to suffer with anxiety in any social situation, whether at a party, giving a presentation at work, or interacting with a clerk at the store. Using hypnosis I will help you resolve any negative feels around previously triggering situations and help you discover inner strength and confidence that will allow you to function well in any social situation.
To focus your attention and explore your inner self is some of the bravest and most powerful work there is. Psychotherapy, with the simple processes of attention and compassion can lead to deep and lasting change. I work collaboratively with you and use Hakomi Method Psychotherapy, and other methods
Often a strong inner critic and judging mind contribute to social anxiety- creating a different relationship with this critic will free you up to enjoy yourself and others much more.
Pre-Licensed Professional, Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (103346), Certified Yoga & Meditation Instructor
I have experience working with clients who experience social anxiety and agoraphobia. Anxiety is one of my specialties, and I have experienced it first hand myself. I approach these issues with ACT, body-oriented practices and mindfulness and practices of self-compassion and self-awareness.
Social anxiety can be incredibly isolating and overwhelming, making even the simplest social interactions feel daunting. You may experience intense fear of judgment or embarrassment in social situations, leading to avoidance behaviors and a sense of loneliness. In therapy, I specialize in providing support and guidance to individuals struggling with social anxiety. Together, we can explore the underlying thoughts and beliefs that contribute to your anxiety, develop coping strategies to manage symptoms, and gradually expose you to social situations in a safe and supportive way. My goal is to help you build confidence, overcome fears, and cultivate more fulfilling connections with others, allowing you to participate more fully in life. Visit my website to schedule your free consultation call.