Social anxiety is more than everyday shyness or feeling nervous in social situations. For some teenagers, worries about being judged, embarrassed or saying the wrong thing can begin to affect friendships, school, confidence and everyday life. Young people may avoid speaking in class, starting conversations, joining activities or socialising with their peers, and can become increasingly self-conscious and anxious as a result.

Our 6-week Social Anxiety CBT Skills Group provides a small, supportive environment where teenagers can learn to better understand their anxiety, discover that others experience similar challenges and develop practical skills to feel more confident in social situations.

Who is the group for?The group is designed for 13–17-year-olds experiencing social anxiety, low social confidence, performance anxiety or school-related social worries. Group sizes are kept small, usually around 8 young people, helping sessions feel comfortable, supportive and engaging.

What will they learn?Based on evidence-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) approaches to social anxiety, the programme helps teenagers understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behaviours and recognise patterns that can unintentionally maintain anxiety.

Across the six sessions, young people will explore social anxiety and its triggers, self-consciousness and attention, avoidance and safety behaviours, anxious predictions, negative thinking and overthinking before and after social situations.

Most importantly, this is not designed to feel like another lesson at school. Sessions are interactive, conversational and practical, with activities, group discussion, paired exercises and opportunities to practise new skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Building confidence together
Being part of a small group offers something individual work cannot always provide: the opportunity to recognise “it isn’t just me.” Young people can meet others experiencing similar worries, practise social skills together and gradually build confidence in an environment where everyone understands how difficult social situations can sometimes feel.

Over the six weeks, we aim to give teenagers a practical toolkit they can continue using beyond the group; helping them manage anxious thoughts, reduce overthinking, approach rather than avoid social situations, build friendships and feel more confident being themselves around others.

Group Dates:
5th October • 13th October • 20th October
Half-Term Break – No Session on 27th October
3rd November • 10th November • 17th November

Timings:
Tuesdays 5.00pm – 6.20pm (70 minutes per week)

Please note: Young people will never be asked or pressured to do anything they are not comfortable with. They will never be required to speak, share personal experiences or participate in an activity unless they choose to do so, and will not be called upon without volunteering. We recognise that joining a group can itself feel daunting for a young person experiencing social anxiety, so sessions are carefully designed to feel safe, supportive and encouraging. Our aim is always to help reduce anxiety and build confidence at a pace that feels manageable for each young person; never to heighten anxiety or create unnecessary pressure.