Social Anxiety therapists in Chicago, Illinois IL
We are proud to feature top rated Social Anxiety therapists in Chicago. We encourage you to review each profile to find your best match.
Social Anxiety
Clark Thompson, PsyD, MA
Psychologist, PsyD, MA
Through specialized virtual assessments, I help individuals understand how social anxiety impacts their cognitive functioning, daily performance, and overall quality of life, providing comprehensive evaluations from the privacy and comfort of home. My approach to social anxiety assessment goes beyond symptom identification, examining how anxiety affects attention, memory, decision-making, and executive functioning—crucial insights for developing effective treatment strategies. With extensive experience evaluating the intersection of anxiety and cognitive performance, I provide detailed assessments that differentiate social anxiety from other conditions, identify specific triggers and patterns, and offer evidence-based recommendations for therapy, accommodations, and coping strategies tailored to each client's unique needs and goals.
7 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60656
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Social Anxiety
Dr. Sam Macy
Psychologist, PsyD
Social anxiety can limit us personally and professionally, making life smaller and less-realized. I use an integrative therapeutic approach to help people feel more confident in social interactions, and more willing to take "good risks" towards a more expanded and empowered life.
16 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60605
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Social Anxiety
Nostos Psychotherapy
Psychologist, PsyD
We help individuals to manage feelings of discomfort and stress related to social anxiety.
12 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60661
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Social Anxiety
Lincoln Park Psychology, Inc
Psychologist, Licensed Clinical Psychologists, LCPC, LPC, LCSW, LSW, CADC, AMFT
Social anxiety can make everyday interactions feel overwhelming, leaving you stuck between wanting connection and fearing judgment or embarrassment. Our therapy services help you break free from the fear that holds you back from social situations, public speaking, meeting new people, or simply being yourself around others. Through evidence-based approaches, we'll help you understand the roots of your social anxiety, challenge anxious thoughts, develop practical coping strategies, and gradually build confidence in social settings. You'll learn that the catastrophic outcomes you fear rarely happen, and that you can handle uncomfortable situations more effectively than you think. Social anxiety doesn't have to control your life—with the right support, you can develop genuine comfort in your own skin and create the meaningful connections you deserve.
17 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60657
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Social Anxiety
Jason Herr
Psychologist, Psy.D.
I work with individuals struggling with social anxiety, fear of judgment, and difficulty feeling comfortable or confident in social and professional settings. With extensive clinical experience treating anxiety across community mental health and private practice settings, I incorporate biological and neurological education to help clients understand how anxiety affects the brain, body, and nervous system. I also teach practical skills to regulate the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, helping reduce reactivity and increase a sense of calm and control. Together, we build confidence, strengthen communication, and learn how to become more comfortable with the inherent lack of control in social environments, supporting more authentic and relaxed engagement.
16 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Pavan Prasad
Psychiatrist, M.D.
Dr. Prasad specializes in treating mood disorders and Adult ADHD . He use a holistic approach, treating the full person rather than just symptoms. Dr. Prasad helps to treat treat mood, self-esteem, and concentration problems, as well as working with more diffuse issues around identity, interpersonal
11 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60611
Social Anxiety
Dr Calvin Young
Counselor/Therapist, PhD, LCPC
As a part of my treatment of anxiety disorders I address social anxiety as well with analysis and programmed treatment planning that assesses and addresses underlying and/or related psychological issues
30 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Reshma Rampersad
Psychologist, Psy.D.
Therapy for social anxiety is centered on creating a safe and supportive space where you can gradually build confidence in social situations. Using a blend of cognitive-behavioral strategies, exposure techniques, and mindfulness practices, we work to challenge anxious thoughts, develop effective coping skills, and increase comfort in interactions. My goal is to help you shift from fear and avoidance to a place of self-assurance and meaningful connection with others
7 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Reginald K. Riggins
Psychologist, PhD
I have over ten years of experience assisting client's with social anxiety. I use both a behavioral and cognitive approach to alleviate this concern and cultivate skills to maintain positive change by using exposure therapy.
7 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Dr. Aretha Steele (Mindful Healing Counseling)
Psychologist, PsyD
(Note: We have specific therapists who specialize in this area at our practice. See our website for more information)
17 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Mary Mesiha
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LICSW
College can be an exciting time—but it can also bring intense pressure to fit in, make friends, and find your place. If social situations leave you feeling anxious, self-conscious, or worried about being judged, you’re not alone. Many students quietly struggle with these same feelings. In therapy, we’ll work together to understand your anxiety, build coping skills, and increase your confidence so you can feel more at ease connecting with others and fully engaging in college life.
27 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Brittany Statler, Intuitive Wellness Therapy Group
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW
Headline: Beyond the "Polite Mask": Finding Genuine Connection in a World of Over-Control
The Loneliness of Always Being "On"
Do you find yourself meticulously managing how you come across to others or changing yourself to adapt to everyone in the room? For many high-achievers, social anxiety doesn’t look like shaking hands; it looks like a "polite mask," a rigid adherence to social rules, and an exhausting internal monologue that critiques every word you say. You may be highly successful and well-liked, yet you feel deeply disconnected and "on the outside" of your own life.
My Approach: Radically Open DBT (RO-DBT)
I specialize in a unique, evidence-based approach called Radically Open Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (RO-DBT). Unlike traditional therapies that teach you more self-control, RO-DBT is designed for those who already have too much of it. We focus on the "biological" side of social signaling to help you feel safe enough to be seen.
Together, we will target the roots of social isolation by:
Fostering Radical Openness: Learning to drop the shield of perfectionism and lean into the "messy" beauty of unfiltered human feedback.
Building Flexibility: Breaking the rigid "shoulds" that dictate how you interact, allowing you to be spontaneous and authentic in real-time.
Enhancing Social Signaling: Learning how to use your body and voice to signal safety and warmth, which naturally invites deeper, more rewarding connections.
20 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Jaylan Abd Elrahman
Psychologist, PhD
What an honor it is to be a supportive companion on your path to deeper wellness! I see therapy as a process wherein people can grow a more honest connection with themselves, learn and practice hope-generating perspectives and skills in their lives and stretch their imaginations for how to lovingly create a future that feels meaningful and liberating!
Dr. Jay works with adolescents and adults who:
* Struggle to manage the stresses of daily life and experience emotional distress, depression, grief and/or anxiety
* Are survivors of complex trauma, interpersonal, generational and/or collective trauma
* Yearn to clarify purpose in life, often exploring existential, spiritual, and identity-based questions
* Seek a space to dream beyond the moment they are in to create new futures for themselves and those they love
* Values justice-oriented, compassionate, and creative relational care
6 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60608
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Social Anxiety
Bergen Counseling Collective
Counselor/Therapist, LCPC
It's not shyness. It's the dread before social situations, the replaying of conversations afterward, the constant worry that you said something wrong or that people are judging you. You cancel plans because the relief of staying home outweighs the effort of showing up. Or you push through and spend the whole time managing the anxiety instead of actually being present. Social anxiety shrinks your world slowly, and the avoidance that feels like it's helping actually makes it worse over time. We can help you break that cycle with approaches that work, not just "put yourself out there" advice that ignores how hard that actually is. Telehealth throughout Illinois. BCBS PPO and Aetna accepted.
20 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60640
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Social Anxiety
Mun & Mind Therapy PLLC
Psychologist
Social anxiety can make everyday interactions feel overwhelming, leaving individuals worried about being judged, rejected, or misunderstood. For those navigating cultural differences, identity concerns, or experiences of exclusion, these fears can feel even more pronounced. Therapy can help you understand the roots of social anxiety, build confidence, and develop skills to engage more comfortably and authentically with others.
2 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Anne Zakaras
Counselor/Therapist, LCPC, ATR-BC, PMH-C
When social anxiety takes hold, everyday interactions can feel like a performance where you are constantly being critiqued. Anne provides a warm, deeply validating, and low-stakes environment to help you safely unpack the fear of judgment, rejection, and overthinking. As a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Certified Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) clinician, she specializes in helping individuals quiet the exhausting inner commentary that tells them they don't fit in, allowing them to rebuild real confidence in their relationships and public spaces.
Anne’s integrative approach is uniquely designed to calm the hyper-vigilance of social anxiety. By pairing evidence-based clinical practices with creative art therapy, she offers a non-verbal outlet to process underlying insecurities when traditional "talk therapy" feels too exposed or intimidating. Together, you will practice regulating your nervous system in real-time, silencing the post-event rumination loop, and setting comfortable boundaries. Whether your social anxiety is a lifelong battle, tied to professional burnout, or amplified by major life milestones like chronic illness or the isolating transitions of parenthood, Anne is dedicated to helping you step back into connection with others on your own terms.
8 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60640
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Social Anxiety
Joanna Vergoth
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, NCPsyA
Social anxiety often reflects deeper fears of judgment, rejection, or exposure rooted in earlier relational experiences. Together, we explore how these patterns developed and work to transform the beliefs and nervous system responses that sustain them. My approach combines psychodynamic insight, CPT-informed belief restructuring, and somatic regulation strategies. Over time, clients develop greater ease in social interactions, improved self-expression, and a stronger internal sense of worth.
27 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Beck Gardner
Pre-Licensed Professional, M.A.
Social anxiety is another difficulty that people face which can often be helped by better understanding the nuances of your fears and the ways it may have once protected you. I hope to help you understand your social anxiety and feel supported as you try out new ways of being with people that might feel too scary to try alone.
3 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60657
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Social Anxiety
Allyson Stephens
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MSW, LCSW
It can be hard to engage socially especially if we have unresolved trauma. I want to help give you the tools to feel comfortable in social situations so you can get the support you deserve. I use IFS, EMDR, Somatic Therapy, CBT, and DBT for this issue.
8 Years Experience
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois (Online Only)
Social Anxiety
Natalie A Shafer
Counselor/Therapist, MA, NCC, LPC
For those who struggle with social anxiety, everyday interactions may feel overwhelming and bring fears of judgment, self-consciousness, or a tendency to withdraw. These responses are understandable and often rooted in a need for safety and belonging. Together, we explore the underlying patterns, build confidence, and develop ways of engaging with others that feel more comfortable and authentic.
2 Years Experience
In-Person in Chicago, IL 60607
Online in Chicago, IL Illinois
Chicago's size and diversity mean therapists here cover an exceptionally wide range of specialties, with strong representation in trauma, anxiety, depression, and cultural identity work across the city's distinct neighborhoods. The South and West Sides experience community-level trauma tied to violence and systemic inequity, driving particular demand for therapists who specialize in PTSD, grief, and resilience-focused work. The city is home to Rush University Medical Center, Northwestern Medicine, and the University of Chicago Medicine, with a large independent practice community concentrated in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Wicker Park, and the Loop. Chicago also has robust bilingual therapy communities serving its large Spanish-speaking, Polish, and Mandarin-speaking populations.
Social Anxiety therapists in Chicago, Illinois Statistics
Social Anxiety therapists in Chicago, Illinois average 16 years of experience and charge around $200 per session. 98% offer online sessions. The top treatment approaches are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (78%), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) (44%), and Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) (39%).
Average years in practice
16 Years Experience
Average cost per session
$200
Accept insurance
45%
Offer sliding scale
35%
Gender ID
| 59% |
Female |
|
| 37% |
Male |
|
| 3% |
Non-Binary |
|
| 1% |
Gender Fluid |
|
Session Type
| 55% |
In Person and Online |
|
| 43% |
Online Only |
|
| 2% |
In Person Only |
|
Top Treatment Approaches
| 78% | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) |
| 44% | Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT) |
| 39% | Person-Centered Therapy (Rogerian) |
| 38% | Behavioral Therapy |
| 34% | Psychodynamic Therapy |
| 32% | Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) |
| 31% | Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) |
Ages Served
| 98% | Adult |
| 76% | Young Adult |
| 53% | Senior |
| 51% | Teen |
| 25% | Children |
Client Focus
| 51% | Women |
| 39% | LGBTQ+ |
| 37% | Men |
| 27% | Military / Veterans |
| 21% | Christian |