Therapy for Social Anxiety
Therapy for Social Anxiety
Social anxiety isn't simply being shy or disliking small talk. It can affect your relationships, confidence, decisions, and ability to do things you genuinely want to do. You may find yourself holding back, trying to be the “right” version of yourself, or putting so much energy into how you're coming across that it's hard to enjoy the moment.
In therapy, we'll work on understanding the patterns that keep social anxiety going, building practical coping skills, and taking small steps toward the situations you've been avoiding. The goal isn't to turn you into the most outgoing person in the room. It's to help you feel more comfortable being yourself, even when there's uncertainty about what others might think.
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I accept select insurance plans, including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Florida Blue, Cigna, Carelon Behavioral Health, Curative, Health Net, and Meridian Health. Virtual and in-person sessions are available for eligible insurance plans, depending on your coverage and benefits.
If you're paying privately or I do not accept your insurance, my rate is $165 for the intake, and $140 per session. Your out-of-pocket costs for insurance-covered sessions will depend on your specific plan, deductible, and copay or coinsurance. If you're unsure whether your plan is accepted or want to explore your options, feel free to reach out!
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Social anxiety can show up in ways that aren't always obvious to other people. You might feel nervous meeting new people, speaking up in groups, attending social events, or sharing your opinions. You may worry about being judged, embarrassing yourself, saying the wrong thing, or making other people uncomfortable.
It can also look like replaying conversations in your head, overanalyzing texts, rehearsing what to say, avoiding attention, or feeling mentally exhausted after social interactions. You might even appear confident on the outside while privately questioning everything you said or did.
Social anxiety looks different for everyone, and you don't have to experience every one of these things for it to affect your life.
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Social anxiety can develop through a combination of experiences, learned patterns, temperament, and environmental influences. Past experiences of criticism, rejection, embarrassment, or feeling misunderstood can contribute to fears about how others perceive you. Family dynamics, relationships, and societal expectations can also shape beliefs about how you're supposed to act, look, or communicate to be accepted.
Over time, you might learn to cope by staying quiet, avoiding uncomfortable situations, trying to make everyone happy, or carefully monitoring how you come across. While these strategies may offer temporary relief, they can also make social situations feel more intimidating in the long run.
In therapy, we'll explore how these patterns developed without blaming you for the ways you've learned to protect yourself.
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Therapy can help you better understand your social anxiety, recognize the thoughts and fears that influence your behavior, and develop tools to navigate social situations differently. Together, we'll explore patterns such as assuming others are judging you, expecting the worst, or feeling responsible for making every interaction go perfectly.
We'll also work on building confidence through manageable steps toward situations you may have been avoiding. This might mean practicing speaking up, sharing your opinion, setting a boundary, initiating a conversation, or allowing yourself to be imperfect without immediately trying to fix it.
The goal isn't to eliminate every nervous feeling or make you stop caring about your relationships. It's to help you feel less controlled by the fear of judgment so you can connect with others and participate in life in ways that feel meaningful to you.
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My approach combines evidence-based practices, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy, with a compassionate, person-centered approach. Together, we'll explore the thought patterns, experiences, and beliefs that may be contributing to your social anxiety while building practical skills to help you respond differently.
I believe change doesn't have to happen all at once. We'll identify the smallest, most manageable place to start and work toward facing the social situations anxiety has been holding you back from, at a pace that feels challenging but achievable. Rather than waiting until you feel completely confident before doing something, we'll work on building confidence through small, meaningful steps.
I also bring a systemic and feminist perspective to my work, recognizing how relationships, family experiences, and societal expectations can shape the way we see ourselves and show up around others. We can explore the pressure to be likable, agreeable, or “easy to get along with,” especially when those expectations make it harder to speak up or be yourself.
My goal isn't to help you become someone you're not. It's to help you trust yourself more, feel comfortable expressing who you are, and stop letting the fear of other people's opinions make decisions for you.