Understanding Social Anxiety

An accessible and informative guide to understanding social anxiety, written specifically for clients.

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Guide (PDF)

A psychoeducational guide. Typically containing elements of skills development.

Overview

Our ‘Understanding…’ series is a collection of psychoeducation guides for common mental health conditions. Friendly and explanatory, they are comprehensive sources of information for your clients. Concepts are explained in an easily digestible way, with plenty of case examples and accessible diagrams. Understanding Social Anxiety is designed to help clients with social anxiety to understand more about their condition.

Why Use This Resource?

This guide aims to help clients learn more about social anxiety disorder (SAD). It explains what SAD is, what the common symptoms are, and effective ways to address it, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).

  • Identify symptoms of social anxiety and the factors that contribute to it.
  • Understand what keeps social anxiety going.
  • Explore effective treatments for social anxiety.
  • Gain insights into how people experience social anxiety and how they overcome it.

Key Benefits

Comprehensive

Explores what social anxiety is is and what maintains it.

Relatable

Contains detailed examples and relatable case studies.

Supportive

Written in a friendly and accessible manner.

Hopeful

Outlines effective treatment options.

Who is this for?

Social Anxiety

Designed to help clients understand and learn more about social anxiety.

Integrating it into your practice

01

Assess

Identify clients who may be experiencing social anxiety disorder (SAD).

02

Share

Provide the guide to clients who could benefit from it.

03

Educate

Use the content to inform clients about social anxiety and help normalize their experiences.

04

Reflect

Discuss the client's personal experience with social anxiety.

05

Intervene

Plan treatment with the client or direct them to other sources of help and support.

Theoretical Background & Therapist Guidance

Experiencing some degree of anxiety in social situations is common. However, when social anxiety becomes more intense than typical shyness and begins to interfere with an individual’s ability to function and participate in everyday life, it may indicate the presence of social anxiety disorder - one of the most prevalent anxiety disorders.

Epidemiological data suggest that between 2-7% of the population experience social anxiety disorder each year. Encouragingly, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is recognised as an effective psychological treatment for social anxiety disorder, offering substantial relief for many clients.

The Understanding Social Anxiety guide has been developed to support clients in developing a clearer understanding of their experiences. In addition to providing a description of common symptoms and outlining evidence-based treatment options, the guide explores key maintenance processes thought to sustain social anxiety, helping clients to better understand the factors that keep their difficulties going.

What's inside

  • Introduction to social anxiety disorder (SAD).
  • Guidance for introducing and using the resource with clients.
  • Key references for learning more about SAD.
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FAQs

Social anxiety disorder is a persistent and intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, or humiliated in social or performance situations, leading to significant distress and avoidance behaviors.
Important maintenance factors often include negative self-impressions and self-images, self-focused attention, avoidance, and the use of safety behaviors.
CBT is an effective therapy that focuses on addressing maladaptive thoughts and behaviors that maintain social anxiety.

How This Resource Improves Clinical Outcomes

By using this resource in their clinical practice, therapists can:

  • Identify individuals who may be experiencing social anxiety.
  • Help clients better understand their difficulties and what maintains them.
  • Explore treatment options.
  • Encourage hope and optimism about change.

Clinicians Who Use This Resource Also Use

References And Further Reading

  • Stein, D. J., Lim, C. C., Roest, A. M., De Jonge, P., et al. (2017). The cross-national epidemiology of social anxiety disorder.
  • Kessler, R. C., Chiu, W. T., Demler, O., & Walters, E. E. (2005). Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders.
  • Fox, N. A., Henderson, H. A., Marshall, P. J., et al. (2005). Behavioral inhibition: Linking biology and behavior within a developmental framework.
  • Bjornsson, A. S., Hardarson, J. P., et al. (2020). Social trauma and its association with post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder.
  • Clarke, A., Thompson, A. R., et al. (2013). CBT for appearance anxiety: Psychosocial interventions for anxiety due to visible difference.
  • Warnock-Parkes, E., et al. (2020). Treating social anxiety disorder remotely with cognitive therapy.
  • Clark, D. M., & Wells, A. (1995). A cognitive model of social phobia.
  • Mayo-Wilson, E., et al. (2014). Psychological and pharmacological interventions for social anxiety disorder in adults.
  • National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE: 2013). Social anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment, and treatment. Retrieved from: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg159/resources/social-anxiety-disorder-recognition-assessment-and-treatment-pdf-35109639699397

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