Social Anxiety: more than shyness, and more workable than it feels
Social anxiety is more than shyness - it’s a strong fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected in social situations. Understanding how it works can help you respond with more confidence and less avoidance.
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What does the Social Anxiety Mini Course cover?
What social anxiety is and how it differs from everyday nerves, the worry before, during and after social situations, common symptoms in body, thoughts and behaviour, what causes it, and how CBT and graded exposure help.
Who is this Social Anxiety Mini Course for?
Helpful if you:
😳 Fear being judged, criticised or embarrassed
🚪 Avoid social situations or replay them afterwards
🧠 Want to understand what is happening and what helps
For therapists:
Assign this course as psychoeducation at the start of CBT for social anxiety, alongside the LSAS-SR social anxiety test. The client's chosen situation and small step give a starting point for an exposure hierarchy. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Dr Harriet Mellotte
Clinical Psychologist & CBT Therapist, BABCP
“Offload is a fantastic resource for both clients and therapists. The world of CBT has been lacking an app which enables the sharing of CBT worksheets and homework tasks between clients and therapists, but Offload completely does this, making the service we offer more professional and the benefits to clients greater.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between shyness and social anxiety?
Shyness is a common trait that passes as you warm up to people. Social anxiety is a persistent, intense fear of being judged, embarrassed or rejected that leads to avoidance, worry before and after events, and real distress. It is common and very treatable, and this course explains how it works.
What causes social anxiety?
There is rarely a single cause. It often starts in childhood or teenage years after experiences of embarrassment, teasing or bullying, or in environments where mistakes felt unsafe. Some people are naturally more sensitive to social cues. Whatever the origin, it is kept going by avoidance and self-critical thinking, which is what treatment targets.
How is social anxiety treated?
CBT is the most effective treatment and is recommended by NICE. It helps you challenge negative beliefs about yourself, drop safety behaviours, and gradually face feared situations so your brain learns they are manageable. The course introduces these ideas, and Offload's exposure tools let you put them into practice.
Can my therapist assign this course?
Yes. Therapists on Offload can assign this course as psychoeducation at the start of CBT for social anxiety, alongside the Social Anxiety Test. The situation and small step you choose give a starting point for an exposure plan. Fully HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Are you a therapist?
Assign this therapy tool and 200+ other interactive tools directly to your clients. Build personalised care plans, customise tools, and review client responses before sessions. HIPAA and GDPR compliant.
Explore Offload for therapistsReferences
Clark, D. M., & Wells, A. (1995). A cognitive model of social phobia. In R. Heimberg et al. (Eds.), Social Phobia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment. Guilford Press. - Influential cognitive model explaining how negative predictions and self-focused attention maintain social anxiety. Heimberg, R. G. (2002). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder: Current status and future directions. Biological Psychiatry, 51(1), 101–108. - Reviews strong evidence supporting CBT as a first-line treatment for social anxiety disorder. Mayo-Wilson, E., et al. (2014). Psychological and pharmacological interventions for social anxiety disorder in adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(5), 368–376. - Large meta-analysis confirming CBT as one of the most effective treatments for social anxiety.
