How to help my Teen Overcome Social Anxiety in School

Table of Contents

What is Social Anxiety?

Social anxiety, or social phobia, is a characterised by an intense fear of social situations, fearing embarrassment or judgment from others. Parents should understand that it goes beyond shyness, and it's important to provide support, seek professional help, and create a supportive environment to help their child manage social anxiety and thrive.

Does your Teen have Social Anxiety?

Look for these 9 symptoms.

Social anxiety can express itself with both mental and physical symptoms, and can be anticipatory (prior to a social event), during a social event or after a social event, these include:

  1. Blushing & sweating

  2. Trembling

  3. Nausea

  4. Stomach upset

  5. Bowel problems

  6. Heart racing

  7. Isolation

  8. Lack of eye contact

  9. Panic attacks

Teenagers may as a result, engage in the following behaviours:

●  Excessive use of phone

●  Avoiding school and other activities

●  Nausea or sickness before school

●  Frustration and anger

●  Misbehaving at school and home

●  Substance abuse

Not sure if Your Teen has Social Anxiety?

Why does my Teen experience Social Anxiety?

There could be one or a combination of reasons why your teen might be experiencing social anxiety.

  1. Environmental factors or experiences:

    Children and teenagers who experience trauma or abuse, or grow up in stressful or unstable environments.

  2. Bullying:

    Traumatic experiences of social rejection or bullying.

  3. Genetics:

    Social anxiety disorder has been found to run in families.

  4. Parenting Styles:

    Overprotecting parenting or exposure to excessive criticism within the family context.

  5. Socialisation:

    Children who have had limited social experiences or who have not had opportunities to interact with adults or peers may be more likely to feel anxious in social situations.

5 possible reasons:

A Parents Guide: 3 Do’s & Dont’s when dealing with Teen Social Anxiety

Do's:

  • Encourage your teen to participate in activities they enjoy and are good at. This will facilitate confidence building and enhance self esteem.

  • Provide opportunities for social interaction: Encourage your teen to gradually expose themselves to situations that trigger their anxiety, in a controlled and supportive environment. This can help them build confidence and overcome their fears.

  • Introduce your teen to self-soothing techniques to help them manage their social anxiety such as deep breathing or progressive muscle relaxation. This will help them understand that there is an ability to control the levels of social anxiety.

Dont's:

  • Don't minimise their experiences: Avoid minimising your teenager's experiences or telling them to "just relax" or "get over it." This can make them feel misunderstood and invalidated.

  • Don't assume you know what's best for them: While you may have good intentions, it's important to involve your teenager in the decision-making process for their treatment and support. Respect their opinions and preferences.

  • Don't make their anxiety the center of attention: While it's important to support your teenager with social anxiety, avoid making their anxiety the center of attention in your family. Encourage them to participate in other activities and celebrate their successes outside of social situations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  • The Treatment includes several components, including:

    Psychoeducation: The first few sessions are dedicated to educating the teens about social anxiety and how it affects them. They learn about the physical symptoms of anxiety and how to recognise when they are experiencing anxiety.

    Reframing negative thoughts: This component involves helping teens identify and challenge their negative thoughts and beliefs about social situations. They learn to replace negative self-talk with positive, realistic thoughts.

    Safe exposure: The treatment includes gradual exposure to feared social situations. This helps teens learn that they can cope with anxiety-provoking situations.

    Social skills training: The treatment teaches teens specific social skills, such as assertiveness, conversation skills, and problem-solving skills. These skills help teens feel more confident in social situations and reduce their social anxiety.

    Parent involvement: Parents are involved in the treatment process and learn how to support their teens in overcoming social anxiety.

    Overall, the Social Ease Treatment is an effective treatment for social anxiety in teens. It has been shown to significantly reduce social anxiety symptoms and improve overall functioning in adolescents.

  • Cognitive Behavioural Hypnotherapy combines cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) strategies with hypnosis. So this means that I will work with your teen to identify their limiting thoughts, feelings and behaviours in relation to their social anxiety that are holding them back at school.

    We will then work together to change these limiting thoughts, feelings and behaviours into ones that serve them better. These positive changes will then be rehearsed with hypnosis to embed the changes at a deeper level. 

    The combined approach of CBT and hypnosis has shown to produce more effective and long-lasting results than each treatment used alone.

    The combined approach of CBT and hypnosis has shown to produce more effective and long-lasting results than each treatment used alone. 

  • 1.Relax In Social Settings

    The treatment will teach your teen how to relax in social settings by using relaxation techniques and visualisations. This will give them confidence and control over their fear and anxiety prior to and when in the company of others.

    2. Restore Your Teen's Confidence using Hypnosis

    Our hypnosis-based therapy is all natural and resembles daydreaming. Through hypnosis your teen will use their imagination to bring about positive thoughts and emotions and rehearse behaviour change. I'll help your teen start trusting themselves to be around other people without feeling anxious, fear, or weirdness.

    3. The Confidence Your Teen Desires

    Your teen will be in full control of their emotions and reactions - no more stress or worry about being judged by their peers. With guidance and support, they'll regain the confidence to live the life free from anxiety that they deserve.

    4. Easy & Quick Solution

    No need to spend hours stuck in a session - our specialised treatments are designed with efficiency in mind, so your teen can start feeling better within weeks! All they need is just a willingness for change - no need to believe that it will work for it to be effective.

  • Hypnosis is a natural state that most people experience every day, such as when we daydream or become engrossed in a book or movie. This means that hypnosis is a familiar and comfortable experience for most teenagers, making it easier for them to enter into a hypnotic state.

    Hypnosis allows for direct communication with the subconscious mind, which is the part of the mind that governs emotions, beliefs, and habits. This is particularly important when working with teens, as their subconscious minds are still developing and can be more receptive to suggestions for positive change.

    Hypnosis can help teens access and process difficult emotions and experiences in a safe and supportive environment. This can be especially beneficial for teens who may be resistant to traditional talk therapy or who struggle to express their emotions verbally.

  • Natural Form of Treatment

    Hypnosis is natural, somewhat like day-dreaming. It’s something we all do several times a day without realising it! Your teen doesn't need to believe that the therapy will work, they only need to want to change.

    Relieve Stress With Hypnosis

    We use hypnotherapy to help your Teen's mind ease and relax; this natural, safe state of relaxation works wonders in relieving mental stress caused due to social anxiety.

    Realise Fewer Fears In Everyday Life

    When your teen is free from their social anxiety, they’ll have the confidence to go wherever they want without fear or hesitation. Enjoy life together without worry!

  • 4-6 sessions are recommended, however this could be more or less depending on the individual’s situation.

  • No matter where you are located in the world, your teen can get started today.

    To get your teen started, all they’ll need is:

    • A device (such as a tablet, smartphone or PC) with Zoom, Skype, or Microsoft Teams installed

    • A credit or debit card to make the online payment (which you’ll receive a payment link for)

    • Most importantly, your teens willingness and desire to overcome their social anxiety at school.

  • The sessions are between 50 minutes to 1 hour, once a week.

    Initial Consultation:

    During the first session we will focus on understanding your teen’s social anxiety at school to ensure I have a comprehensive understanding of their situation. Based on this information, I will provide your teen with knowledge about how social anxiety may have developed for them. I will assess your teen’s current mental health and create a personalised treatment plan that is tailored to their unique goals and needs.

    The Journey Ahead:

    After the initial consultation we will have sessions weekly embarking on your teens journey of self-improvement. Typically treatment can be between 4-6 sessions however this may be longer or shorter depending on several factors: the nature and severity of social anxiety, readiness and motivation to change and work towards goals and any external elements impacting your teen’s life.

    Throughout the sessions we will work together to develop positive behaviours and coping mechanisms to help manage your teen’s social anxiety in different situations. Through hypnosis, we simulate scenarios that involve interacting with people, which helps establish new automatic responses in your teens mind.

    Your teen will experience firsthand how this simple yet effective process can help them overcome their social anxiety and leave them feeling more confident and in control in social situations.

    I will work closely with your teen to help identify and overcome any triggers that they may have encountered and review their progress weekly.

    Knowing When to End Therapy for Teen Social Anxiety:

    You may be wondering, how will my teen know when to end therapy?

    We will review your teens progress weekly, when its time to end the sessions this may be decided if your teen feels more confident in social situations, has developed effective coping strategies, and feels equipped to manage future challenges that may arise.

Checklist: Is this right for my Teen?

  • Consider whether your teen is exhibiting symptoms of social anxiety, such as excessive worry, fear of social situations, avoidance of social situations, and physical symptoms like sweating or trembling.

  • The Social Ease treatment requires active participation from the teen, including attendance at weekly one to one sessions and exposure to feared social situations (under supervision and guidance). Consider whether your teen is willing to commit to the treatment and participate fully in the treatment process.

  • Review the treatment’s components, which include hypnosis, exposure therapy, and social skills training, and consider whether they align with your teen's needs.

Not sure if the “Social Ease” Treatment is right for your Teen’s Social Anxiety?

3 Inspiring Stories: How these Teens overcame Social Anxiety

  • As a parent, it's natural to want the best for your child, especially when it comes to their mental health and wellbeing. But what do you do when your teenager is struggling with social anxiety at school?

    It’s a challenging situation that can leave both you and your child feeling overwhelmed and helpless. I would like to share with you the story of Sarah, a 15 year old student who was experiencing severe social anxiety. She had been struggling with it for several years and had become increasingly withdrawn, avoiding social situations and feeling constantly worried about negative judgement from others.

    Her parents were understandably concerned and had tried various treatments with little success. But they were willing to give cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy a chance, and it made all the difference. With the therapist's guidance, Sarah learned how to identify and challenge the negative thoughts and behaviours that were contributing to her social anxiety. She gained coping strategies and skills to manage her anxiety in the moment, as well as techniques to help her relax and feel more confident in the company of others.

    Over time, Sarah’s social anxiety began to diminish, and she started to feel more comfortable and confident around others. Her grades improved, and she even started to participate in extracurricular activities that she had previously avoided.

    But the benefits weren’t just for Sarah - her parents also noticed a significant improvement in their own lives. They no longer felt the constant worry and stress that had been weighing them down, and they were able to enjoy a more positive and fulfilling relationship with their daughter.

    If you’re a parent of a teenager who is struggling with social anxiety at school, cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist is a highly effective treatment that can bring about lasting change and help your child lead a happier, fulfilling life. And as a therapist who has seen firsthand the positive impact it can have, I’m here to support you every step of the way.

  • Being bullied is one of the toughest things that anyone can go through, Laura shares this from her own experience.

    When she was a teenager, Laura was targeted at school, and it made her feel like she was completely alone in the world. Laura felt like she couldn't talk to anyone about what was happening to her, so she started skipping school pretending she was sick, she would walk longer routes to and from school to avoid seeing the bullies and eat her lunch outside near the staff room to feel safe.

    The constant harassment and name-calling made her feel powerless and helpless. Laura’s parents eventually found out what was really going on and decided it was in her best interests to move schools to where her sisters were.

    Laura never sought any therapy following this experience, she tried to brush it off and deal with it alone but it affected her in many ways through fear of being around other people and being judged negatively. She avoided many activities, job proposals where she would feel this fear.

    It wasn't until Laura’s 20s that she thought enough is enough. Through her own research she discovered the power of cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy. Through a combination of therapy and hypnosis, Laura was able to identify and challenge the negative beliefs and thought patterns that were holding her back. Laura learned how to respond to others, particularly anyone she felt threatened by in a way that protected her emotional wellbeing, and she gained the confidence and self-assurance to stand up for herself.

    Cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy helped Laura turn her life around, and this could do the same for your teen too. If your teen is being bullied, know that they don’t have to suffer in silence, provide a safe space where they can feel encouraged to open up. With the right support and guidance, they can overcome the negative effects of bullying (in the moment, rather than later on in life) and build a brighter future for themselves.

    If your teen is ready to take control of their situation and start living the life they deserve, reach out to me today.

  • As a teenager, Hannah knows firsthand how difficult it can be to experience panic attacks. The rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, and intense fear of social situations can be incredibly overwhelming and scary. For Hannah, it felt like she was losing control and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

    Panic attacks began to disrupt her daily life, making it hard to focus in class or even leave the house. She felt like she was missing out on so much because of her anxiety. Her parents tried to be supportive, but they didnt really understand what she was going through.

    It wasn’t until Hannah started working with a cognitive behavioural hypnotherapist, that things started to change. The therapist helped Hannah understand the root causes of her panic attacks and taught her techniques to manage them when they occurred. Hannah learned how to slow down her breathing and calm her racing thoughts.

    With the therapists support, Hannah began to feel more confident and in control. She was able to attend social events without the fear of having a panic attack and could focus more in school.

    Hannah’s parents also noticed a positive change in her behaviour and overall wellbeing. Seeing Hannah overcome her panic attacks and learn to manage her anxiety brought a sense of relief and gratitude. Hannah felt like she had her life back, she can enjoy the things she loves and face challenges without feeling overwhelmed by anxiety.

    Don't let social anxiety hold your teenager back any longer. Take the first step towards a happier, more fulfilling life by scheduling a consultation with me today. Together, we’ll explore how cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy can help your teenager overcome social anxiety and achieve their goals.

Meet Jo - Your Social Anxiety Therapist for Teens

I am a Social Anxiety Therapist with a passion for helping teenagers overcome their social anxiety and live happier, more fulfilling lives.

I have extensive experience as a Specialist Occupational Therapist within community mental health services and physical rehabilitation services, and have also worked as a teaching and learning support assistant for children with autism.

As the founder of Virtual Therapy Studio, I am dedicated to providing support to teenagers struggling with social anxiety, having personally experienced the impact of this issue on my own life. With the help of cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy, I was able to overcome my own social anxiety and transform the way I interact with the world and myself.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, traveling, dancing, and learning Spanish (albeit slowly!).

Useful Resources for Parents

Contact Jo

jo@virtualtherapystudio.com