Social Anxiety therapists in Santa Clarita, California CA

Most of the clients I work with have some form of social anxiety. I enjoy supporting my clients by giving them tools and skills they can use to overcome fear and increase the ability to tolerate and enjoy social interactions.  

Our mission here at West Valley Counseling is to provide affordable therapy to individuals and families. All of our therapists are licensed to practice as pre-licensed and licensed therapists in the State of California. Our staff is diverse, multi-cultural and LGBT informed.  

Assisting clients with social anxiety is one of my specialties. I will share with you many tools and coping mechanisms, as well as help you feel the way you would like to feel when challenged in social situations.  

So often shame and social anxiety are tied together. It has been said that "It is a joy to be hidden and a disaster not to be found". I find this to be very true. We all desire closeness and intimacy, however, often when we experience conditional worth, shame based parenting and other traumas early in our lives, we can naturally develop a fear of people. Social anxiety is to be afraid of being ourselves for fear of rejection or some other shame/imperfection. Learning to love ourselves, heal from the shame, and reclaim our birthright of belonging is the work.  

I run a group for young adult women who struggle with social anxiety. This group allows each member to learn about anxiety, to share what they struggle, to learn coping strategies, and to gain some support from other members. With the pandemic and quarantine, many clients have begun to struggle with social anxiety and I work with these clients to learn how to understand the anxiety they feel and how it impacts their daily life.  

We are all being asked to be better, bigger, more successful and happier. There are those of us that retreat to those demands. We can explore you're unique contributions so that social demands are silenced.  

Challenge your negative and anxious thoughts. At times it may feel like there’s nothing you can do about the way you feel and how you think. In reality, though, there are a number of things that can help. Be mindful. Being mindful and practicing mindful meditation helps you to be present and aware of your thoughts and feelings in a non-judgmental and positive way. Go to a coffee shop. If you enjoy watching movies online or catching up on your favorite TV show, then try taking your tablet or laptop to your nearest coffee shop. Create an exposure hierarchy. Identify and rate how each social situation makes you feel in terms of anxiousness. For example, 0 would mean no anxiety, and 10 would be a full-blown panic attack. Don’t focus on yourself. It’s hard to stop the endless mind chatter when you’re in situations that make you particularly anxious. We often turn inward and focus on ourselves and how others will perceive us, almost always assuming it will be negative. Adopt a healthier lifestyle to reduce anxiety.  

Interfacing with other people can sometimes feel daunting. As we get to explore and understand where these fears are emanating from, huge changes can be made in people's lives. I help people to confront the dynamics that created the anxiety around other people.  

Through an accepting and supportive guidance, I work together with adults, teenagers, and families using proven therapeutic techniques to provide solutions to their concerns. I empower clients to clarify goals and guide them to communicate more effectively and feel better in their relationships.  

My hope and intent is for you to feel heard, seen, supported and hopeful about you and your circumstances. Van Gogh said it best, "I feel there is nothing more truly artistic than loving people." Our creative collaboration will equip you in getting your needs met in healthy ways.