Support and Therapy Groups

Group therapy is an important part of treatment for most people suffering from social anxiety. There are two main types of groups that are helpful to SAD sufferers: therapy groups and social support groups. Each have their specific advantages for SAD, and finding the right group for your specific needs is important to the success of the sessions.

Therapy Groups
Cognitive behavioral therapy groups are designed to help you practice new methods of dealing with situations that might lead to anxiety. In a safe group environment, you are encouraged to confront your anxiety and change the way you think and feel about certain social circumstances. It is important that all members of a CBT group be diagnosed with SAD specifically.

Group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) has been shown through several decades of research to be very effective in the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder. Often, the group sessions give patients an opportunity to reinforce the behavioral component of CBT and work through their cognitive changes in a safe environment.

When choosing a CBT group, it is important that all members are diagnosed with clinical social anxiety. While group therapies work well for other disorders related to depression and anxiety, the best results have been shown when CBT groups are focused only on social anxiety and do not include patients with other disorders. Of course, it is not always possible to find a CBT group that is only for SAD, but one exists in your area, it is a better solution than one that is not so focused.

In these group sessions, individuals work through their newly-learned cognitive steps by dealing with situations that might normally produce anxiety, in a toned-down form. It is through the repetition of these new behaviors that the cognitive processes used to deal with anxiety-producing situations eventually changes.

Social Support Groups
Social support groups are designed for a more general purpose, rather than specifically to address the goals of CBT. Many people find it helpful to discuss their anxiety more generally with others and may benefit from the advice and ideas generated through discussion. These social support groups may not be limited to just SAD sufferers and can be helpful if you are also suffering from more generalized anxiety.