Our therapists Offer Social Anxiety Therapy in Henrico, VA

What are the Symptoms of Social Anxiety?

Individuals who suffer from anxiety may experience symptoms that will appear as:

• Increased heart rate and/or sweating
• Bodily shaking
• Shortness of breath
• Feeling faint
• Persistent negative thoughts such as: “I don’t fit in”, or “No one here likes me”
• Apologizing often and/or seeking constant reassurance from others
• Spending an excessive amount of time preparing for social encounters
• Leaving a social situation abruptly or avoiding it altogether

Researchers have found that social anxiety originates due to one or more factors, including a person’s genetic makeup, localized abnormal brain activity, and/or negative life experiences that may be linked back to the patient’s childhood. If you or a loved one suffers from social anxiety, the good news is that it’s treatable using several therapy methods including individualized outpatient counseling.

How Outpatient Counseling Benefits Social Anxiety Patients

Most of the proven treatment approaches for social anxiety involve professional counseling, or coaching, sessions. Individual therapy sessions typically focus on these effective methods:

• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) which identifies strategies to overcome anxiety while developing healthy coping mechanisms
• Social skills training to build stronger interpersonal communication tools
• Exposing the patient to situations they tend to avoid, and uncomfortable sensations resulting from their anxiety, to overcome their fears
• Encouraging the patient to perform random acts of kindness towards others, which can promote positive feedback and a renewed sense of well-being

If needed, your anxiety therapist may pair you with a licensed psychiatric NP who may prescribe anxiety or antidepressant medications in addition to counseling sessions.

Thriveworks Henrico, VA Counselors Understand Social Anxiety

At Thriveworks Short Pump, our compassionate and helpful social anxiety counselors understand social anxiety and will assist you in developing coping skills to overcome its tight grip as you progress down the road to a healthier, happier, and more confident you. For more information on our social anxiety counseling services, call us or schedule your first session online today.