Therapy for Social Anxiety
Support for people who want connection, but fear it at the same time.
Maybe you want to make friends, date, build relationships, or simply feel more at ease in a room full of people—but anxiety gets in the way.
I offer online therapy for adults in California who want to feel more confident, connected, and comfortable being themselves around others.
When being around people feels difficult
You may spend a lot of time wondering:
Did I say the wrong thing?
Do they actually like me?
What am I supposed to say now?
Did I make that interaction awkward?
You may want to reach out to people but hesitate.
You might avoid parties, group settings, dating, networking, or even everyday conversations because you already know how uncomfortable you'll feel.
And sometimes, the hardest part is coming home afterward and replaying the entire interaction in your head.
And then the question pops up, “Where does this come from?”
What we can work on together
Social anxiety isn't just about being shy.
It can affect how you see yourself, how you interpret other people, and what you believe will happen when you put yourself out there.
In therapy, we'll look at those patterns and work on the things that are keeping you stuck.
We’ll work towards helping you:
Feel more comfortable initiating conversations
Understanding and navigating social situations
Challenge the thoughts that make you second-guess yourself
Become less focused on how you're being perceived
Build confidence in relationships and friendships
Get more comfortable with vulnerability and connection
Spend less time replaying conversations afterward
Take social risks without needing to feel completely confident first
Confront negative self talk
The goal isn't to become the most outgoing person in the room. It's to feel like you can be yourself in the room.
What therapy with me looks like
We'll start with your actual life, not a generic list of social skills.
I'll want to understand what social situations feel difficult for you, what happens internally when you're around other people, and what you've been avoiding because of it.
From there, we'll create an approach that's specific to you.
I may use talk therapy, EMDR, cognitive therapy, communication skills building, and other evidence-based approaches to help you understand the roots of your anxiety and change the patterns that keep you feeling stuck.
You don't have to suddenly become comfortable with everything. We'll work toward small changes that build on each other.
What could change?
Maybe you finally reach out to someone instead of waiting for them to contact you.
Maybe you stop assuming someone doesn't like you because they seemed distracted.
Maybe you go to the party.
Maybe you stay at the party.
Maybe you come home and don't spend the next three hours analyzing everything you said.
These may sound like small things.
But when anxiety has been making your world smaller, they can give you a lot of it back.
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Not necessarily. Shyness can be a personality trait or a temporary feeling. Social anxiety involves a level of fear or worry about social situations that can interfere with relationships, work, school, or everyday life.
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That's something we can talk about. Therapy isn't about judging you for not knowing what to say or how to act. We can explore what feels difficult and build your confidence with social situations over time.
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Therapy can't create friendships for you, but it can help address the anxiety, avoidance, self-doubt, and internal thought patterns that may be making connection difficult.
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That's understandable. You don't have to perform in therapy. You can tell me when something feels uncomfortable, and we'll work at a pace that feels manageable for you.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trauma Therapy
You don't have to become someone else.
You can learn to feel more comfortable being the person you already are around other people. If you’re ready for a change, reach out for a free consultation.