Social Anxiety Group Therapy
Individual therapy works well for children and teens. Therapy can help them work through their issues and reduce stress which can dramatically improve their lives. So, why does individual therapy not work as well for children and young people who have social anxiety? The answer in a nutshell is that in group therapy the social anxiety emerges very quickly, so can be supported and helped very quickly too. In individual therapy, the therapist may never see the actual anxiety that occurs in the classroom. with friends or in social settings.
The Journal of Clinical Child Psychology looked at lots of studies spanning over 20 last years. They found that group therapy for children and teens with social anxiety helped children and young people recover 73% more than if they had individual therapy alone.
In a group setting the therapist can use the experience of the group to help the child and young person feel more comfortable in social settings. The social anxieties and worries are also respected within the group as children and teens learn that others can share the same worries or have the same negative thoughts. Young people quickly gain insight into what social anxiety is and how to manage reducing day-to-day stress. From there, we work on changing the thoughts and feelings that cause social anxiety in order to gain confidence and resilience.
Group therapy is particularly helpful for children and young people who suffer with:
- Social isolation
- Difficulty speaking in groups and acute shyness
- Bullying issues
- Difficulty with friendships
- Social identity issues
The benefits of reducing social anxiety and social stress include being able to speak up and contribute in school classrooms, being more relaxed with peers and extended family members.
About the group
- This group is for children in years 9 to 11.
- Each group has a maximum of 6 attendees.
- Sessions are 50 minutes long and held on Monday evenings between 5.30pm and 6.20pm.
- For more information and to find out if this group is right for your child, please email
or call 01747 359054
