How Online Therapy for Anxiety Can Help You Overcome Social Anxiety

Social anxiety (or social phobia) is the persistent fear and stress of social situations and environments due to concerns about others’ perceptions of you, worries of being judged, or feelings of inadequacy / inferiority.

Social anxiety can stem from trauma, stressful experiences, abuse, and there is also a biological component as well.

Social anxiety most commonly begins in child or teenage years. For some people it is possible for it to lessen or disappear altogether on its own, like some of the other forms of anxiety, but for others it persists and worsens if left untreated.

One of the most effective treatments is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). When therapists use CBT to treat anxiety, what they are really doing is teaching a person to recognize their own thinking patterns, be able to see the difference between helpful thoughts vs unhelpful thoughts, and noticing the connection between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. In this way, a person would be able to learn how to reframe a thought in order to begin to feel better, and then choose a different path for a new outcome. CBT also promotes autonomy and independence of the client, encouraging them to have control and feel good about their treatment. This is an important aspect of treatment for anxiety because, typically individuals who struggle with anxiety feel immense stress from lack of control and emotion management.

Studies show that CBT as a therapeutic intervention works well for both virtual therapy and in-person therapy, and that they are equally effective.

However, you may be wondering, if a person is struggling with social anxiety, wouldn’t it be better for them to have therapy in-person?

Someone struggling with social anxiety may feel too far outside of their comfort zone discussing their personal feelings and thoughts with someone who is essentially a stranger at first, regardless of them being their therapist. 

The reason that CBT is so effective is because it incorporates practicing, role playing, and the client doing their own work outside of the sessions while also encouraging them to really think about their thinking. It educates the client about their distorted way of thinking while also helping them come up with their own solutions, and encourages them to try mindfulness techniques as coping skills. Basically, the real work of CBT does not exactly require a client to be there physically, and it could be even more effective if they are able to attend sessions from the comfort of their own home.

A person who struggles with social anxiety who is more introverted, slow to warm up, and has a hard time feeling comfortable may be more open to the idea of attending sessions online and may feel better about having discussions in an environment that is safe and secure to them. They also may be more likely to attend more sessions when they are at their own convenience, particularly if they are avoidant of things that are anxiety inducing. Because of all this, there is definitely something to be said for online therapy for individuals who struggle with social anxiety.

If your child or teen is struggling with social anxiety and you would like to have them meet with a child or adolescent therapist who specializes in anxiety disorders, give us a call for a free, 15-minute phone consultation today!