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Counseling | Psychotherapy | NYC | Cohesive Therapy NYC

Counseling | Psychotherapy | NYC | Cohesive Therapy NYC

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You are here: Home / Therapy for Social Anxiety

Therapy for Social Anxiety

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Brainspotting | Healing Through Bilateral Sounds | Cohesive Therapy NYC

Have you ever found yourself suddenly feeling the urge to hurry out of a party or gathering, freezing up during conversations or worrying excessively about pleasing others, rather than on thinking about what you might need or want for yourself?

Living with social anxiety manifests differently for everyone, but one thing is for certain, and that is that the distressful feelings that come with social situations are often hard to escape.

For some people, social anxiety comes in the form of discomfort or awkwardness in social, intimate, workplace, or family situations.

Other people who are struggling with social anxiety who worry excessively about pleasing their peers or about what others think, even to the tune of your own detriment and needs.

These are not just social concerns, it is a misfunctioning of the brain’s alarm system and the signals that it is sending your body in the face of “danger”, even when there is none.

There’s one very important first thing to understand about unhealthy anxiety. It LOVES to seep into other parts of your life and make you avoidant.

For example, say you have anxiety about social situations. Eventually, the anxiety gets you to “rationalize” that going out is a really bad idea. This can easily turn into isolating yourself from friends and family.

If you have a chronic illness that changes the way in which you see yourself, you may begin to avoid reaching out to the people who might be able to provide you with the support that you need because you worry that others will see you as weak.

Social Anxiety and The Cycle of Avoidance

Over time, this pattern of avoiding and worrying creates the Cycle of Avoidance, illustrated here:

The Cycle of Avoidance | Anxiety Management | Cohesive Therapy NYC

As time goes on, the cycle becomes more and more ingrained in your mind and habits. Eventually, it becomes a “go-to” way of coping with distressful situations.  You might be asking why it is easier to use avoidance to cope with anxiety-triggering circumstances. The reason is that “avoidance” provides a momentary (temporary) relief that is brought on by avoiding the fearful situation. “Phew, I avoided it, I’m safe now!”.

Let’s be clear – keeping your distance is not the only strategy that we use to cope with anxiety and depression. Avoidance wears many hats and understandably, people tend to use the hat that provides the quickest relief. 

Many people avoid by telling themselves that something is not happening. This is called denial. People experiencing denial may then find themselves focusing on trying to control things that are actually beyond their control.

How Therapy for Social Anxiety Can Help

Psychotherapy, and particularly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), can help you reframe social situations. It can help you learn some of the social skills you may have lost or missed out on. Seeking therapy for social anxiety can help you learn the skills you need to feel more connected, fulfilled, and valued. You deserve to live a full life, without avoidance, isolation, or lack of deep meaningful relationships. We want to help you get there.

Have questions about weekly session rates and what to expect in therapy?

Contact us today to set up a free 20-minute video consultation.


Happily serving clients in New York and New Jersey.


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info@cohesivetherapynyc.com

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Specialties

  • Anxiety and Depression
  • Trauma and PTSD
  • Self-Growth and Improvement
  • Managing Chronic Illness
  • COVID-19 Information and Resources

Therapists

  • Karen Conlon, LCSW CCATP
  • Danielle DiCamillo, LCSW
  • Rachel Kaplan, LCSW
  • Frank Grazioli, LCSW

Services

  • Gut-Directed Hypnotherapy
  • Exposure Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
  • Remote/Online Therapy Sessions
  • Frontline Worker Acute Care Program
  • Brainspotting
  • Clinical Consultation with Karen
The information included on this website is solely for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for health care or medical treatment by a physician or other health care professional. Do not rely on any of the information for diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any questions, you should contact your health care provider. If you think you may have a medical or psychiatric emergency, call 911 immediately.

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