For many people, shyness leads to avoiding social events and interactions and keeps them from engaging in activities that they may feel uncertain about. Generally, the key to overcoming shyness and the fear of being judged is to push through the uncomfortable feelings. Therapy can help you to create a plan to gradually overcome fears associated with feeling judged or nervous in social situations. We can work together to set small achievable, realistic goals to offer you the opportunity to gain comfort in social situations. By facing anxiousness this way you can, at your own pace, ease into becoming comfortable doing things you used to avoid.
Social Anxiety can manifest in so many ways - ways that are often discounted as just being "too sensitive" or "a loner". Often the reasons for that kind of anxiety are based on formative socialization experiences. We can take our time and look back at how you learned to be in connection, and discover together what might be able to be un-learned.
Social anxiety can impact individuals from so many aspects, so our therapists like to work with you to see what you want to do in social settings. One aspect is building confidence in who you are and not feeling like you have to mask yourself.
Registered Psychotherapist, Master of Arts in Counselling Psychology 1994
Social anxiety can be related to our sense of self/our self esteem; feeling a sense of empowerment in relationships; feeling that we are accepted just as we are; no change needed. It can involve learning new communication skills. Social anxiety if also related to experiences of shame. Bringing shame out into the light of day can help.