CBT is the main NICE recommended treatment for social anxiety and counselling is not evidence based to provide the specialised help most people with social anxiety need, however counselling is also a type of therapy in its own right.

Counselling can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes. During counselling, you’ll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a counsellor who will listen and support you without judging or criticising. It is different to CBT (the evidence bas for treatment of CBT) as CBT brings about change through active cognitive or behavioural interventions. 

There is sometimes a long wait for CBT in NHS Talking Therapy services. If you have other complicating issues in your life you may want to consider talking these through with a counsellor before undertaking NHS CBT Therapy.

Your GP may have counsellors working with the GP practice or know of local counselling services. Sometimes, NHS Talking Therapies can also offer counselling.

To search for a UK accredited counsellor:
British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) – Find a counsellor

Counselling-directory.org.uk – Find a counsellor

Reference 1 : https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/NHS-talking-therapies-manual-v7-1.pdf (section3, paragraph 1)