Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) – Please see our page glossary of psychological therapies

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Behavioural Experiment – A technique used to test and challenge negative beliefs or assumptions through real-world activities. This could be poised as a real-world experiment or exposure e.g. saying hello to a stranger. The outcome is then evaluated, helping the individual see that their fear may not be accurate, in turn hopefully reducing anxiety and a change in thinking.

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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy – Commonly referred to as CBT. Please see our page What is CBT?.

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Cognitive Restructuring – Involves identifying and challenging distorted or negative thought patterns. The goal is to replace these unhelpful thoughts with more balanced and realistic ones often by examining evidence for and against the thought or belief.

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Combined Therapy – Refers to the use of two or more therapeutic approaches to address a particular issue e.g. social anxiety combined therapy might involve medication and psychotherapy or CBT and mindfulness.

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Compassion focused therapy (CFT) – Please see our page glossary of psychological therapies

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Complementary Treatments or Complementary Therapies – Maybe used by some people to supplement psychological social anxiety therapies and include such things as dietary supplements, aromatherapy, hypnotherapy, reiki and yoga. Most complementary / alternative treatments have not been scientifically proven to work in the treatment of SAD. In addition, alternative treatments may not be regulated as strictly as standard forms of treatment.

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Conversation Skills – The abilities and techniques that enable effective and engaging communication with others. They encompass a wide range of verbal and non-verbal behaviours that help you express your thoughts, understand others, and build rapport and connection. See our page conversation skills.

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Counselling – A type of talking therapy where a counsellor listens to what you have to say and then helps you to try and see your feelings and problems in a different way so you can arrive at answers yourself. Please see our page on counselling and social anxiety.

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Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) – Please see our page glossary of psychological therapies.

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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) – Please see our page glossary of psychological therapies

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Exposure Therapy – Exposure therapy involves gradually and systematically confronting feared situations or objects in a safe environment to help individuals overcome their anxieties. Please our page on exposure therapy and hierarchies.

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Flooding – A type of exposure therapy once used to treat phobias and anxiety disorders. It is almost the opposite of graded exposure – face your fear at a maximum level of intensity for an extended amount of time. This is no longer a recommended intervention for treatment of social anxiety. If your therapist speaks about flooding, we would encourage you to ask them about their rational in more detail and reference the NICE guidelines.

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Graded Exposure – Is a technique to support people with engaging with their fear in a structured, incremental manner. By starting with less intimidating situations and progressively moving to more challenging ones, it can help to confront and reduce fears or anxieties gradually. Please our page on exposure therapy and hierarchies.

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Grounding Techniques – Strategies designed to help individuals anchor themselves in the present moment, especially during times of stress, anxiety, or overwhelming emotions. These techniques aim to divert attention away from distressing thoughts and help a person regain a sense of control. Please see our page on grounding techniques to help calm yourself in situ.

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Guided self-help – See section below on ‘Supported self-help’.

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Hierarchies – Sometimes known as fear ladders, these involve creating a structured list of anxiety-provoking situations, ranked in order of increasing anxiety or distress. This is often used in graded exposure. Please our page on exposure therapy and hierarchies.

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IAPT – Improving Access to Psychological Therapies now renamed to NHS Talking Therapies. It’s a large-scale initiative by the National Health Service (NHS) in England to improve access to evidence-based psychological therapies for people with common mental health problems including social anxiety.

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Meditation – Focusing the mind to achieve a state of mental clarity, emotional calm, and heightened awareness. It can take various forms and serves different purposes, such as relaxation, self-reflection, or spiritual growth. Meditation in the context of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) often refers to mindfulness meditation, which integrates mindfulness practices into the therapeutic process.

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Mindfulness – Mindfulness in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) refers to the practice of being fully present and engaged in the moment while acknowledging and accepting one’s thoughts, feelings, and bodily sensations without judgment. Please our page mindfulness and social anxiety.

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NHS Talking therapies (formerly known as IAPT) – If you live in England and are aged 18 or over, you can access NHS talking therapies services for anxiety and depression as long as you are registered with a GP. It is the NHS’ primary care mental health service. See our page What the NHS offers.

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NLP – Not recommended for SA but relies on language processing to help people change their thought and behaviours.

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Panic Attack – A panic attack is a sudden and intense episode of fear or discomfort that triggers severe physical reactions (e.g., a racing heart, shortness of breath, sweating) and cognitive symptoms (e.g., thoughts of ‘I’m going to die’ or fear of losing control). For further information please see our page please see our page panic-attacks.

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Psychiatrist – A doctor who works in psychiatry is called a psychiatrist. Psychiatry is a medical field concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental health conditions. Unlike other mental health professionals such as psychologists or counsellors, as medical doctors, psychiatrists can prescribe medication as well as recommend other forms of treatment.

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Psychoanalyst – A mental health professional trained in psychoanalysis who aims to help individuals gain insight into their unconscious thoughts, feelings, and motivations, and how these influence their behaviour and relationships. This approach arises out of the pioneering work of Sigmund Freud.

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Psychologist – Psychologists apply the scientific study of the mind and how it affects behaviour to help people deal with real life issues. There are many different types of psychologists (e.g., clinical, health, sports). A psychologist who works in mental health has often studied human behaviour and mental processes. They use their knowledge to help people understand and cope with various challenges, such as mental health conditions, emotional difficulties, relationship problems, and life transitions.
Like the term ‘therapist’, ‘psychologist’ is not a protected title, but Clinical Psychologist or Registered Psychologist are. It is important to check whether psychologists are registered and accredited with the HCPC. We explain more about this on our pages What the NHS offers and finding a private therapist.

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Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) – Not recommended for SA but is a type of therapy that helps you identify irrational beliefs and negative thought patterns that may lead to emotional or behavioural issues.

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Relaxation Techniques – Strategies or practices that help reduce physical tension, anxiety and stress, promote calmness, and improve overall well-being. Please see our pages on exercise, relaxation and general wellbeing (link being developed) and our page on grounding techniques to help calm yourself in situ.

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SAD – An acronym for Social Anxiety Disorder – not to be confused with the unrelated term Seasonal Affective Disorder that shares the same acronym.

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Safety Behaviours – Actions or strategies that people use to try to prevent or minimize anxiety or fear in situations they perceive as threatening. They often provide short-term relief but can maintain anxiety in the long run. Please see our page avoidance and safety behaviours.

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Self-Esteem – Refers to an individual’s overall subjective sense of their own self-worth and personal value. It encompasses beliefs about oneself, as well as one’s different emotional states. The CBT approach suggests that self-esteem is shaped by thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours. Please see our page Self-Esteem.

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Self Help – Refers to a broad range of resources, practices, and techniques aimed at empowering individuals to take control of their own personal growth, development, and well-being. This can be in the form of books, worksheets, videos, courses and more. See our page on self-help.

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Short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy – If you choose not to have NHS CBT, CBT-based supported self-help or medication, you may be offered a psychological therapy called short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy designed for social anxiety disorder. The therapy is called ‘dynamic’ because it focuses on the different forces (or dynamics) in a person’s life that may be causing them difficulties. The aim is to examine, understand and work through the dynamics and difficulties, which may have begun in childhood. It should include information and discussion about social anxiety, a focus on any relationships that might be linked to the person’s social anxiety and exploring any feelings of shame. The therapist should encourage the person to confront any social situations they are anxious about and help them improve their social skills. The NHS NICE guidance states that this therapy is usually not as helpful for social anxiety disorder as CBT, CBT-based supported self-help or antidepressants. If you decide to have short-term psychodynamic psychotherapy you should have 25–30 meetings with your therapist over 6 to 8 months, with each meeting lasting 50 minutes.

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Social Skills Training – Training that helps individuals improve their communication and interaction skills in social settings. It’s designed to teach specific skills and strategies for navigating various social situations, building relationships, and expressing oneself effectively.
Please note: people with social anxiety generally possess adequate social skills, despite often believing otherwise. However anxiety may sometimes mask their true social skills, and they may try and improve themselves to appear more acceptable, entertaining or likeable. Trying to “perfect” socialising techniques rarely leads to a resolution of difficulties. More typically people seem to benefit from discovering that it is ok to be imperfect, look anxious, or sometimes make mistakes. Learning about social skills, such as how to be assertive, asking open questions and listening skills may make people with social anxiety feel more confident, but is not generally necessary.

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Supported self-help (also known as guided self-help) – Self-directed learning of therapeutic tools or techniques alongside professional guidance from a mental health professional (such as a psychological wellbeing practitioner). The professional would check in regularly, either through sessions or feedback via phone or email, to discuss progress, address challenges, and adjust strategies as needed.

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Talking therapies – See the section above on ‘NHS Talking Therapies’.

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Therapist – A trained mental health professional who provides support, guidance, and treatment to those with mental health difficulties or challenges. The term is not protected by UK law. What this means is that anyone can label themselves a ‘therapist’, ‘psychologist’ or ‘counsellor’. We explain more about this on our pages What the NHS offers and finding a private therapist.