Social anxiety can be persistent and impact your relationships and daily life; however, therapy can be supportive in addressing it. In your work with me, you will have an opportunity to interact with someone new, identify challenging beliefs, thoughts and emotions, and better understand them, their origin, and how they have impacted you. In addition, in therapy with me, you will be able to create opportunities to nurture the self and explore new ways to safely expose oneself to different social interactions and develop new skills. Book a free consultation to explore if we are a good fit.
Social awkwardness is a common aspect of social anxiety, where individuals feel uncomfortable or uncertain in various social situations. Symptoms may manifest as difficulty maintaining eye contact, stumbling over words, excessive self-consciousness, or feeling like an outsider. It can lead to avoidance of social gatherings, which further perpetuates anxiety.
Therapy for social awkwardness focuses on building self-awareness, improving communication skills, and desensitizing individuals to social situations. It's about enhancing social confidence and helping individuals feel more at ease in various interactions, ultimately improving their overall quality of life. Even if you arent ready to address this part yet, I am well-versed in working with individuals that struggle with social anxiety.
Registered Psychotherapist, HBEd, MA (Hons.), Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)
Did you know that shyness is actually NOT a character trait but a stress response of being around others? It has to do with a lack of self-esteem and self-acceptance often tied to a history of ECEs (early childhood experiences).
It's normal to experience anxiety in social situations occasionally. However, if it starts affecting your daily life, it could be a sign of social anxiety or social phobia. This is a common anxiety disorder that can interfere with everyday activities and limit opportunities.
Don't let social anxiety take over your life. Contact us today to book a consultation with one of our mental health specialists who can help you learn strategies to overcome this debilitating disorder.
Do you always worry about doing something you think is embarrassing, such as blushing, sweating or appearing incompetent? Social anxiety is more than shyness. It's a fear that does not go away and affects everyday activities, self confidence, relationships and work or school life. Many people occasionally worry about social situations, but someone with social anxiety feels overly worried before, during and after them. It's a common problem that usually starts during the teenage years. It can be very distressing and have a big impact on your life.
Our therapy for social anxiety helps young clients feel more comfortable in social situations. We teach practical skills to reduce anxiety, build confidence, and improve social interactions.
The experience of social anxiety can be a severe hindrance towards happiness, professional achievements, and having the best relationships. Social anxiety is rooted in early experiences. My approach is for us to first see what the social concerns are and then to explore early interactions which have had an impact on their development. We will then work towards dismantling them from the present down to the roots. Clients have experienced a sense of freedom from their constant worries of being judged and a significant improvement in self-confidence and self-expression.
Due to the pandemic, you may feel your anxiety in social environments to have increased. Or, you may have always dealt with some degree of social anxiety. Together, we will work on the steps needed for you to reduce the symptoms of social anxiety in a warm, compassionate way.
I approach the issue of Social Anxiety from an Adlerian perspective. As with all forms of anxiety I recognize this problem results from a feeling of being overwhelmed by stress. Together with my client, whether it's an adolescent, child (together with their family) or an adult, we use CBT and exposure therapy to help uncover mistakes in the private logic and shift to a more realistic way of viewing ourselves in a social situation. Perfectionism and other mistaken ideas are often at the heart of social anxiety. By challenging unhelpful and unrealistic ideas in an empathetic and supportive way we are able to redefine our view of self and others.