Managing Social Anxiety ─ A Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Approach

First dates, job interviews, and oral presentations give almost everyone the jitters. It is normal to feel some level of nervousness in certain situations. However, if everyday interactions cause you extreme fear and self-consciousness, you may be suffering from social anxiety disorder. Fortunately, there is a safe and scientifically sound treatment available.

This newly revised and updated workbook is designed for your use as you work with a qualified mental health professional to manage your social anxiety. It presents a step-by-step approach for combating anxiety based on the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) CBT has proven to be a most effective treatment for social anxiety disorder and can be successfully used whether you are taking medication or not.

Over the course of I6 sessions, you will learn to understand your anxiety and work through it by identifying and challenging your anxious thoughts You will practice facing your feats in a safe, structured way through supervised exposure activities. Homework assignments and other skill building exercises allow you to be an informed and active participant in your therapy.

Complete with user-friendly forms and worksheets, as well as chapter summaries and review questions, this workbook will keep you motivated and engaged during treatment. If you are willing to put in the work, you will find that this program offers many benefits and will help improve your quality of life.

Debra A. Hope, PhD, is Professor of Psychology at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Director of the UNL Anxiety Disorders Clinic in UNL's Psychological Consultation Center.
Richard G. Heimberg, PhD, is Professor and David Kipnis Distinguished Faculty Fellow at Temple University, where he also direct the Adult Anxiety Clinic.
Cynthia L. Turk, PhD, is Associate Professor of Psychology at Washburn University and Director of the Anxiety Clinic in Washburn University's Psychological Services Clinic.