Anxiety Insights

Therapists for Social Anxiety and Phobia

This page lists therapists who specialize in social anxiety and phobia, with profile details on approaches, credentials, languages and experience. Browse the listings below to read practitioner profiles and learn which approaches may match your goals.

What social anxiety and phobia are and how they can affect you

Understanding symptoms and everyday impact

Social anxiety and social phobia refer to a strong fear of social or performance situations where you might be judged, embarrassed or scrutinized. You may find that routine interactions - speaking up in a meeting, meeting new people, eating in public or making phone calls - trigger intense worry, avoidance or physical symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating or stomach discomfort. For some people these reactions are occasional and manageable. For others they shape daily routines, limit career or relationship choices and contribute to feelings of isolation and low mood.

Living with social anxiety often changes how you plan your time and how you interpret other people's behavior. You might replay conversations, worry about how you were perceived long after an event, or avoid settings where you anticipate scrutiny. Over time these patterns can create a cycle in which avoidance prevents you from testing out new social skills or gathering evidence that feared outcomes are unlikely. Understanding how the condition shows up for you is an important first step in deciding whether to seek support.

Signs you might benefit from therapy for social anxiety and phobia

When worry interferes with daily life

You might consider therapy if anxiety about social situations is frequent, severe or persistent enough to interfere with work, school, relationships or personal goals. If you find yourself turning down invitations, missing out on professional opportunities, or using substances to cope with social settings, these are signals that the anxiety is having a meaningful impact. Emotional signs can include persistent self-criticism, fear of humiliation or intense anticipatory worry before events. Behavioral signs often include patterns of avoidance, safety behaviors such as speaking very little to limit perceived mistakes, or rigid routines that reduce social contact.

Therapy can also be useful if you experience physical symptoms that are distressing or if anxiety contributes to other concerns like low mood, sleep disruption or strained relationships. You do not have to be in crisis to benefit from talking with a professional. Many people use therapy as a place to explore how anxiety developed, to learn practical strategies for managing symptoms and to practice skills in a supportive setting.

What to expect in therapy sessions focused on social anxiety

Structure, pacing and collaborative goals

In therapy for social anxiety you can expect a collaborative process that begins with assessment and goal setting. Early sessions typically involve discussing your history, identifying the situations that cause the most distress and clarifying what you hope to change. A therapist will ask about patterns of thinking, avoidance, physical symptoms and the ways anxiety shows up in relationships or at work. You and the therapist then shape goals that are specific and manageable, such as reducing avoidance of certain situations or building confidence in public speaking.

Sessions usually mix discussion, skill-building exercises and gradual practice. You may work on learning how to notice and reframe unhelpful thoughts, to develop breathing or grounding skills for acute anxiety, and to design gradual exposures to feared situations. Many therapists encourage in-session role plays or behavioral experiments so you can try new responses in a supported way before applying them in everyday life. Progress tends to be incremental; the pacing is adapted to your comfort and readiness while still providing enough challenge to foster change.

Common therapeutic approaches used for social anxiety and phobia

Techniques you may encounter and how they differ

There are several approaches therapists may list when offering support for social anxiety. Cognitive behavioral approaches focus on identifying and testing unhelpful thoughts and beliefs about social evaluation, and they often include structured exposure work to reduce avoidance. Psychodynamic-informed approaches explore the personal and relational history that can shape anxious patterns, offering insight into long-standing fears and interpersonal dynamics. Acceptance-oriented approaches emphasize learning to notice anxious thoughts without trying to eliminate them and taking values-based actions despite discomfort.

Some therapists list exposure-based techniques among their approaches, which involve gradually facing feared social situations in a planned way to reduce avoidance and increase confidence. Others may list eye movement desensitization and reprocessing among their approaches, which some people pursue to address distress linked to upsetting memories that feed anxiety. You will also find therapists who list group therapy as an approach; group formats provide opportunities to practice social interactions with feedback from peers in a structured setting. When reviewing profiles, pay attention to the types of approaches therapists list and read descriptions to understand how they describe using those methods in practice.

How online therapy works for social anxiety and phobia

Formats, techniques and practical considerations

Online therapy can be a flexible option for people seeking help for social anxiety. Sessions are typically held via video or phone, although some therapists also offer messaging support between sessions. Video sessions allow you to work on social skills and exposures in a way that approximates face-to-face encounters, and they make it easier to access therapists who list specific approaches or speak particular languages even if they are not local. Some therapists use screen-sharing or worksheets during video calls to guide interventions like cognitive restructuring or exposure planning.

When planning online work, consider the environment where you will take sessions. Choose a quiet, comfortable setting where interruptions are minimized and you can speak freely. If you plan to practice exposures between sessions, online therapy can support homework planning and check-ins without requiring travel. Keep in mind that technology issues occasionally interrupt sessions, so having a backup plan for connecting by phone can be helpful. Online formats can make it easier to find therapists who list approaches that match your preferences and to access therapists who share your language or cultural background.

Tips for choosing the right therapist for social anxiety and phobia

Comparing profiles beyond labels

Selecting a therapist is a personal decision that often benefits from looking beyond a single label or modality. Read profiles to learn how a therapist explains working with social anxiety, what kinds of situations they commonly address, and which populations they mention. Consider credentials and professional background as part of the picture, and pay attention to languages spoken and relevant experience that may influence cultural understanding. If a profile describes group formats, exposure practice or acceptance-oriented work, think about whether those elements sound like approaches you would be willing to try.

When weighing options, reflect on practical preferences such as session length, communication style and whether you prefer a therapist who emphasizes skill training or one who focuses more on personal history and relationships. Some people find it helpful to prioritize therapists who explicitly describe collaborative goal setting and practical exercises, while others value a more exploratory approach. Use the therapist profiles to form questions you might ask in an initial conversation, such as how they structure exposure practice or how they integrate skills into day-to-day routines. Thoughtful comparison of approaches, credentials, languages and experience can help you identify a therapist whose profile resonates with your needs and goals.

Find Social Anxiety and Phobia Therapists by State

Alabama

356 therapists

Alaska

38 therapists

Arizona

324 therapists

Arkansas

179 therapists

Australia

619 therapists

California

2459 therapists

Colorado

531 therapists

Connecticut

217 therapists

Delaware

69 therapists

District of Columbia

65 therapists

Florida

2398 therapists

Georgia

872 therapists

Hawaii

90 therapists

Idaho

142 therapists

Illinois

794 therapists

Indiana

411 therapists

Iowa

112 therapists

Kansas

171 therapists

Kentucky

299 therapists

Louisiana

463 therapists

Maine

103 therapists

Maryland

421 therapists

Massachusetts

324 therapists

Michigan

792 therapists

Minnesota

304 therapists

Mississippi

240 therapists

Missouri

569 therapists

Montana

137 therapists

Nebraska

123 therapists

Nevada

134 therapists

New Hampshire

63 therapists

New Jersey

555 therapists

New Mexico

128 therapists

New York

1295 therapists

North Carolina

955 therapists

North Dakota

26 therapists

Ohio

576 therapists

Oklahoma

372 therapists

Oregon

177 therapists

Pennsylvania

807 therapists

Rhode Island

48 therapists

South Carolina

437 therapists

South Dakota

44 therapists

Tennessee

382 therapists

Texas

2519 therapists

United Kingdom

4241 therapists

Utah

224 therapists

Vermont

46 therapists

Virginia

516 therapists

Washington

326 therapists

West Virginia

75 therapists

Wisconsin

382 therapists

Wyoming

69 therapists

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