Psychologist, Registered Clinical Psychologists - Dr Peter Gibbons and Adri Hunt
Social anxiety is frequently treated as part of ineffective personality functioning and therapy involves the exploration of events that triggered deep seated fears of rejection, ridicule and inadequacy
Social anxiety is used to describe feelings of anxiety and fear that occur in response to social situations. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), is commonly used to treat social anxiety disorder. CBT teaches you different ways of thinking, behaving, and reacting to situations to help you feel less anxious and fearful.
I have helped those struggling with social anxiety, fear of embarrassment, and a lack of confidence for a decade so understand the toll anxiety can have on your quality of life, but I also know that there is so much room for positive change when the right help is provided. I have extensive training in evidence-based therapy and have supported countless clients to overcome their fears. It is my passion!
Social Anxiety is essentially really acute shyness. It would be marked by really powerful feelings of discomfort when in a group situation. This would be the advanced version of the butterflies we may all have when going into a new situation or an important meeting.
When it comes to social anxiety the client-therapist relationship is an integral part of healing and can within itself, serve as a supportive and validating resource throughout the therapeutic process, fostering a sense of trust and empowerment for clients as they work towards integrating all aspects of themselves for greater self-awareness and clarity. Social anxiety can be extremely impactful and debilitating to anyone who has experienced it. The fear of social situations and interactions can manifest in a variety of ways with symptoms ranging from sweating, trembling, rapid heart rate and difficulty speaking to a complete withdrawal from all social interactions. This can stem from a fear of being judged, embarrassed, or of being rejected by others to underlaying issues such as trauma and low self-esteem. I provide a safe, compassionate and understanding space to help support and completely guide you to identify the root cause of the anxiety and welcome you to reach out through whatever means of communication you feel comfortable, so we can schedule a time to have a chat.