Social anxiety is more than shyness. It is a persistent fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in social situations — and it can shape what you do, where you go, and how much of yourself you allow others to see.
What social anxiety can look like
- Intense fear of saying the wrong thing or being embarrassed
- Avoiding social situations, events, or conversations
- Replaying interactions long after they happened
- Physical symptoms — racing heart, sweating, trembling — in social settings
- Difficulty making or keeping friendships, or speaking up at work
- Loneliness despite wanting connection
How therapy helps
Therapy for social anxiety focuses on the thoughts and beliefs that drive the fear — not on pushing you into situations before you are ready. We work to understand the inner critic that tells you you are being judged, develop more accurate and compassionate interpretations of social situations, and gradually reduce the avoidance that keeps anxiety in place.
Approaches may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), compassion-focused work, and mindfulness-based strategies. Therapy is collaborative and paced to your comfort.
Social anxiety and shame
Social anxiety is often rooted in shame — a deep sense that something is wrong with you, and that others will see it if they look closely enough. Shame-informed therapy can be particularly helpful for people whose social anxiety is connected to earlier experiences of rejection, criticism, or not feeling like they belonged.