Social anxiety can make everyday interactions feel overwhelming – whether it’s meeting new people, speaking in groups, or even just being around others. If social situations trigger intense fear or avoidance, therapy can help you develop confidence and reconnect with social connection.
What is Social Anxiety?
Social anxiety is the fear of being judged, embarrassed, or negatively evaluated by others in social situations. It goes beyond normal nervousness about public speaking or meeting new people. For people with social anxiety, the fear feels intense and overwhelming, often leading to avoidance of social situations altogether. Social anxiety can show up in various ways. You might fear judgment while speaking in front of a group. You might feel intense self-consciousness in everyday situations like eating in public or using public bathrooms. You might dread social gatherings or one-on-one conversations. Some people experience physical symptoms – blushing, trembling, sweating, or difficulty speaking – which intensifies their anxiety about being noticed and judged.
How It Might Affect You
Social anxiety often leads to avoidance – missing work events, declining social invitations, avoiding making phone calls or asking for things you need. Over time, this isolation can intensify loneliness and self-doubt. Relationships may suffer because you’re withdrawing or avoiding situations where you might meet new people. Career opportunities might be limited by your anxiety about presentations or networking. The anxiety itself can become exhausting. You might spend time before social situations in dread, replaying conversations afterward, or ruminating about how others perceived you. This cycle of anxiety and avoidance can narrow your world significantly. The positive news is that with evidence-based support, many people develop confidence and resilience in social situations – and reconnect with the relationships and opportunities that matter to them.
Our Approach to Social Anxiety
Working with a psychologist at Growth Psychology, you’ll find a warm, non-judgmental space where your anxiety is taken seriously and addressed thoughtfully. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is particularly effective for social anxiety, helping you identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns while gradually facing social situations in a supported way. Exposure therapy – gradually stepping into social situations – helps you build confidence and discover that the feared outcome often doesn’t happen. Mindfulness and acceptance approaches can help you manage the physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety. Your psychologist will work collaboratively with you, respecting your pace and building confidence step by step. We focus on your strengths and what you want to reconnect with – relationships, opportunities, activities – to keep you motivated. Learn more about our therapeutic approaches.
When to Seek Help
If social anxiety is limiting your life, relationships, or opportunities – or if you’d like to develop more confidence in social situations – it’s worth reaching out. Therapy can help you move from avoidance toward connection and opportunity.
Ask about our Social Anxiety services.
If you’d like to explore how therapy might help, we’re here to talk through your needs.
Our practicitioners with a focus on Social Anxiety
Lara Patty - Psychologist
Lara is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, collaborative, and emotionally grounded approach to therapy. She supports adolescents (16+) and adults across experiences such as anxiety, depression, stress, identity concerns, relationship and attachment patterns, the impacts of difficult childhood experiences, and life transitions. Lara integrates evidence‑informed approaches—including Schema Therapy, CBT, and ACT—to help clients explore their inner world and develop compassionate, authentic ways of relating to themselves and others.
Louise is a registered Psychologist who offers a warm, collaborative approach to supporting adolescents and adults. She works across areas such as anxiety, OCD, hoarding‑related challenges, eating‑disorder concerns, stress, and life transitions. Louise draws on CBT, ACT, and DBT, and has completed specialised training in CBT‑E and SSCM through QuEDS. She is an ANZAED Credentialed Eating Disorder Clinician and is listed on the Butterfly Foundation’s National Referral Database. With a background in education, Louise also facilitates mental health literacy programs.
