Social Anxiety Support

tuna · 08-19-2006, 05:17 PM

Yesterday I was googling online for therapists in my area that could treat my SA. I came upon this one site that let me search for therapists near me that dealt with anxiety issues. The search turned up over a 100 results with each therapist providing their emails. I decided to email over twenty of them with four simple basic questions about social anxiety to see if they truly had the knowledge to help me and would take the time to answer my questions. I emailed them on a Friday night so I wasn't expecting any replies so soon but I got a couple today.

None of the seven who wrote me back really understood SA but tried to act like they did of course. All of them kept pressuring me to come in for a consultation without really answering my questions because they said they could better answer my questions in person. Some said the answers to my questions were too long to write in an email (it would have taken them less than five minutes to answer my questions and most answers only required a few words) One psychiatrist kept pushing the medication issue haha. Gee, I wonder why. Another one, when asked what are the major symptoms of SA responded by saying we could look it up in his office or I could go to Barnes and Nobles and find my information there. Another one didn't even try to attempt my questions but instead told me to look at her website since it would answer my questions. I did and of course there were no answers there so I replied back and told her exactly that. Another one told me that we would talk about my history and underlying issues to fix SA. Sorry but I've done that and it didn't do anything to fix my SA. The things people will say and do for that almighty dollar is hilarious. I kept laughing at every email I read.

So the moral of this story is do your research before you fork over any money because unfortunately most therapists have no clue about SA or have the skills to treat it.

Becky · 08-19-2006, 05:19 PM

What a good idea tuna! Thank you for sharing this

Prodigal Son · 08-19-2006, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuna

So the moral of this story is do your research before you fork over any money because unfortunately most therapists have no clue about SA or have the skills to treat it.

Sad, but true. I think people like venting their frustrations and having somebody be semi-understanding even if they are just faking it throughout the session for the almighty $. Though I am sure there are some therapists who have an understanding and can treat SA...they are rare.

SpeakUp · 08-19-2006, 06:32 PM

that figures.

D.B. Cooper · 08-19-2006, 06:53 PM

Not to sound like an "internet expert" but i havent talked to a therapist yet that knew more about SA than i do. My psychiatrist on the other hand can talk circles around me which is why i suppose i was referred to him by my GP.

tuna · 08-19-2006, 08:33 PM

Pinion-that's the site I looked at for my therapists haha.

The questions I asked were:
How much of your practice is geared toward people with social anxiety (social phobia)?

I have been told that my problem is social anxiety, but I am not sure. Can you explain to me what the major symptoms of social anxiety are?

What does changing cognitions mean and how do you do this?

What is the most effective way to overcome social anxiety?

I got these questions from Dr. Richard's website. This man knows about SA and definitely knows how to cure it. This is the site-http://www.socialanxietyinstitute. ... tions.html

D.B. Cooper · 08-19-2006, 08:49 PM

The last one would be hard to explain without meeting the person directly and having some sort of understanding with them

But the rest you should be able to get an upfront answer about.

tuna · 08-19-2006, 09:20 PM

Actually the last question can be answered easily since most research shows that CBT is the most effective way to cure SA. Or the therapist could have named some techniques that would reduce my SA to show me that they know the subject. These were just general questions about SA though. I wasn't asking about how to cure me specifically, just SA people in general. I can't wait to hear the other therapists' replies haha.

Hey Pinion, keep continuing with the tapes. They're really helpful. It would be even better if you could find group therapy near you using those tapes and workbook.

08-19-2006, 05:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
tuna Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Here Posts: 230	Do your research Yesterday I was googling online for therapists in my area that could treat my SA. I came upon this one site that let me search for therapists near me that dealt with anxiety issues. The search turned up over a 100 results with each therapist providing their emails. I decided to email over twenty of them with four simple basic questions about social anxiety to see if they truly had the knowledge to help me and would take the time to answer my questions. I emailed them on a Friday night so I wasn't expecting any replies so soon but I got a couple today. None of the seven who wrote me back really understood SA but tried to act like they did of course. All of them kept pressuring me to come in for a consultation without really answering my questions because they said they could better answer my questions in person. Some said the answers to my questions were too long to write in an email (it would have taken them less than five minutes to answer my questions and most answers only required a few words) One psychiatrist kept pushing the medication issue haha. Gee, I wonder why. Another one, when asked what are the major symptoms of SA responded by saying we could look it up in his office or I could go to Barnes and Nobles and find my information there. Another one didn't even try to attempt my questions but instead told me to look at her website since it would answer my questions. I did and of course there were no answers there so I replied back and told her exactly that. Another one told me that we would talk about my history and underlying issues to fix SA. Sorry but I've done that and it didn't do anything to fix my SA. The things people will say and do for that almighty dollar is hilarious. I kept laughing at every email I read. So the moral of this story is do your research before you fork over any money because unfortunately most therapists have no clue about SA or have the skills to treat it.

08-19-2006, 05:19 PM	#2 (permalink)
Becky Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 35,556	What a good idea tuna! Thank you for sharing this __________________

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08-19-2006, 06:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
SpeakUp Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 263	that figures.

08-19-2006, 06:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
D.B. Cooper Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 924	Not to sound like an "internet expert" but i havent talked to a therapist yet that knew more about SA than i do. My psychiatrist on the other hand can talk circles around me which is why i suppose i was referred to him by my GP.

08-19-2006, 08:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
tuna Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Here Posts: 230	Pinion-that's the site I looked at for my therapists haha. The questions I asked were: How much of your practice is geared toward people with social anxiety (social phobia)? I have been told that my problem is social anxiety, but I am not sure. Can you explain to me what the major symptoms of social anxiety are? What does changing cognitions mean and how do you do this? What is the most effective way to overcome social anxiety? I got these questions from Dr. Richard's website. This man knows about SA and definitely knows how to cure it. This is the site-http://www.socialanxietyinstitute. ... tions.html

08-19-2006, 08:49 PM	#7 (permalink)
D.B. Cooper Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 924	The last one would be hard to explain without meeting the person directly and having some sort of understanding with them But the rest you should be able to get an upfront answer about.

08-19-2006, 09:20 PM	#8 (permalink)
tuna Status: SAS Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Here Posts: 230	Actually the last question can be answered easily since most research shows that CBT is the most effective way to cure SA. Or the therapist could have named some techniques that would reduce my SA to show me that they know the subject. These were just general questions about SA though. I wasn't asking about how to cure me specifically, just SA people in general. I can't wait to hear the other therapists' replies haha. Hey Pinion, keep continuing with the tapes. They're really helpful. It would be even better if you could find group therapy near you using those tapes and workbook.