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Social anxiety can make even everyday interactions feel exhausting — but with the right support, you can build confidence and feel more at ease in social settings.
Social anxiety therapy may help if you experience:
Call us at (650) 461-9026, text us at (650) 461-9026, or book online now – in-person and video appointments are available!
Social anxiety is more than just shyness – it’s an intense fear of social interactions where you might be judged, embarrassed, or rejected. This fear can make it feel almost impossible to engage in everyday situations, from speaking in meetings or ordering food at a restaurant to attending social gatherings or making eye contact.
Social anxiety exists on a spectrum. Some people feel nervous only in specific situations, like public speaking, while others experience discomfort in nearly all social interactions. Regardless of its severity, social anxiety can interfere with relationships, career growth, and overall well-being.
In Children:
In Adults:
Social anxiety can develop from a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Common contributors include:
At Palo Alto Therapy, we specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for social anxiety. CBT is a research-backed approach that helps individuals challenge anxious thoughts, gradually face social fears, and develop practical coping skills.
CBT for social anxiety includes:
With structured CBT therapy, many individuals experience significant improvements in confidence and social comfort over time.
While CBT is the leading treatment for social anxiety, other evidence-based approaches can be beneficial depending on individual needs:
Your therapist will work with you, using the techniques that are best for your specific situation.
With convenient office locations in Palo Alto, Menlo Park, and San Jose, we proudly serve the entire Silicon Valley community – from Stanford University and the Peninsula to the South Bay, offering easy access for tech professionals, students, and families.
Even mild social anxiety can hold you back from personal and professional opportunities. Therapy can help you build confidence, improve communication skills, and feel more comfortable in social situations before anxiety becomes a bigger issue.
Yes! Therapy is designed to meet you where you are. Avoidance strengthens social anxiety, so therapy provides gradual, step-by-step guidance to help you re-engage with the world in a manageable way.
Many people experience situational social anxiety, meaning they feel comfortable in some social settings but extremely anxious in others. Common triggers include public speaking, dating, work meetings, or group interactions. Therapy helps identify specific triggers and provides strategies to reduce fear and increase confidence in those situations.
It’s completely normal to feel anxious about seeking help. Our therapists are experienced in working with social anxiety and will create a safe, nonjudgmental space to help you progress at your own pace. Some individuals find that starting with online therapy feels more comfortable before transitioning to in-person sessions
No. Introversion is a personality trait, while social anxiety is an anxiety disorder. Introverts may enjoy solitude but don’t necessarily fear social interactions. Those with social anxiety experience intense fear of judgment and embarrassment, even if they want to engage socially.
Some children naturally become more confident with age, but for many, untreated social anxiety persists into adulthood. Therapy helps children develop lifelong social skills and confidence, preventing future challenges.
While some people experience a complete reduction in symptoms, others find that therapy helps them manage and significantly reduce their anxiety so it no longer interferes with daily life. With the right support and coping strategies, you can build lasting confidence and feel much more comfortable in social settings.
Social anxiety is specific to social situations, where a person fears judgment, embarrassment, or rejection. It typically involves avoiding social interactions, excessive self-consciousness, and distress in public settings.
Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), on the other hand, involves persistent, excessive worry about various aspects of life, including work, health, relationships, and everyday responsibilities. While people with social anxiety may worry about social interactions, those with GAD experience broad and constant worry that is not limited to social situations.
It is possible to have both social anxiety and generalized anxiety. Therapy can help address both conditions by teaching coping strategies tailored to each type of anxiety.
The length of therapy depends on individual needs. Many people notice improvements within just a few sessions of CBT therapy, while others may benefit from ongoing support as they continue to build confidence and skills.
Specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we provide effective & caring counseling. Our therapists are passionate in delivering high-quality therapy & enhance their skills through the latest trainings.
Our relationship with you is valued & of highest importance. We are compassionate, respectful, & honest. Our professional counseling includes working side by side with you towards YOUR goals.
Our active therapists use tailored homework exercises to help you find relief in a timely manner. By keeping our meetings on track & targeting specific concerns we help you enjoy life again, usually in a matter of months not years.
Appointments after 5pm & Saturdays, friendly administrative staff, & three locations: Palo Alto, Menlo Park, & San Jose. We help children, teens & adults, couples, & families. Video therapy available!
I found the homework exercises to be very helpful to me. I’ve been able to use techniques I have learned from those exercises to slow down my thoughts when problems arise and work through whatever the issue may be, OCD or otherwise.
I liked the emphasis on doing concrete things to get results-writing down negative thoughts, trying to say things to counter those thoughts…Thank you for helping me make my life better.
Palo Alto Therapy does not just provide talk therapy, but focuses on teaching skills to maintain therapy. You have a genuine interest in the client’s well-being and you offered a new way of thinking about or means of addressing my issues.
