Treatment Experience

I was doubtful before buying this audio series--when you're already spending a lot of money on therapists and meds, another $350 can seem very extravagant. But once I got into the exercises, I was really glad I had splurged.

BeforeI started with Dr. Richard's program, I had tried  working with a few different therapists. I didn't seem to connect with any of them; they didn't seem to understand that while I would love to do the exercises they were assigning, there was some sort of blockage preventing me from doing so.  Dr. Richards was different. When he demanded something challenging, he made sure to explain that every small step was major and cautioned that I not discount these successes.

Dr. Richards doesn't just demand that you go out and strike up conversations; with his personal history of SA,  he understands that is an impossibility for most of us. He spends a lot of time tackling the negative thoughts at the root of SA, and teaches a variety of techniques to make your thoughts more rational. He very slowly adds challenges, starting with small ones such as quickly saying hi to your colleagues, while explaining different ways to teach yourself to relax and think positively.

Once I discovered, through this audio series, that good therapy can truly be useful, I refused to continue wasting time and money on therapists. I made up my initial investment many times over, because I did  that. However, if you are able to find a good therapist that can adapt the therapy to your specific needs and give you encouragement when you're having difficulty, that is obviously  the best way to go. I am looking for another therapist right now--many people advertise that they treat social anxiety, but I have discovered that there is a big difference between knowing how and actually doing so.

Throughout his tape series, Dr. Richards stresses the importance of joining a therapy support group. He has his own group in Phoenix, and some former patients of his have opened their own groups in other cities. Unfortunately, there are maybe 10 cities worldwide follow his specific methods; many cities don't have any groups at all. Dr. Richards does host an international 3-week group each summer, where he teaches his basic behavioral therapy techniques. The group is intended for people who have already mastered the cognitive techniques on his tapes. I'd be excited to hear from anyone who has actually attended, whether they really gained from this or not.

Dr. Richards also states on his audio series that he plans to  create a video series with his behavioral techniques; however, I do not think he ever did so.

Treatment Experience
There are a lot of "overcome social anxiety" programs out on the internet. This is not just another person trying to make a buck.

Dr. Richards has been working with people with social anxiety in cognitive-behavioral therapy groups since 1994. This is the same therapy he uses in those groups, but available to you in a very thick book and on 20 CDs or tapes.

Personally, I came upon this program right after a real low point in terms of my social anxiety. I moved to San Francisco and started doing this therapy on my own. I found out through the Dr. Richard's Social Anxiety Institute mailing list that a group based on his therapy was starting up in San Francisco. As anxious as I was about it, I decided nothing was going to change unless I pursued treatment, so I signed up for the group and go in touch with Valdeck the group leader.

Working through this therapy, I came to understand how pervasive social anxiety is, how it really can affect every aspect of your life. This was pretty profound, considering that just earlier that year I didn't know to label what I had as social anxiety disorder.

But as Dr. Richards talks about in therapy, just knowing what you have and talking about why you have it, is not enough to help. Taking action, in the right way, is what brings about change.

In terms of the therapy itself, it covers EVERY facet of social anxiety.

Through working with this therapy and participating in the group I came to do things I never thought I would do (dance at clubs, take improv lessons, join toastmasters, go on dates, lose my virginity, go shirtless at a beach, develop healthy friendships and relationships, etc.) and my anxiety mostly dissolved for what had made me very anxious in the past (making phone calls, answering phone calls, going shopping for clothing, just leaving my apartment, etc.)

He even addresses the very real aspect of relapse, with specific therapy that focuses on "setbacks", something I found to come regularly throughout my treatment.

This therapy really sets the right attitude and gives you techniques to feel capable to get out in the world and expose yourself, little by little, to that which you fear. Again, I want to emphasize that the steps you make are very small and it takes time, but the change that comes is real.

The ultimate goal that can be achieved through this therapy is being able to live and enjoy the life you value.

Medication can certainly be an beneficial option for some people with social anxiety, but I think the CBT found in Dr. Richards' program will benefit anyone with social anxiety who is willing to put in the effort to work on the therapy and little by little expose themselves to what makes them anxious.

Treatment Experience

I'm on tape 11 of 20, and I have had some major changes in how I see different aspects of my life.  Before this series, I was a prisoner of how other people treated me, and what they may be saying about me/thinking about me.  I was also a prisoner of my own thoughts, things I wasn't even aware I was thinking were poisoning my mind, and emotional state.  I was pretty depressed. 

 Now, I'm starting to realize that it's only how I see myself that really matters, and my mind and emotional state are a lot more clear/light.  It's a palpable feeling.  I can concentrate more on other things, and I'm not so preoccupied with my own thoughts.

Overall, I would recommend this series, it's pretty expensive, about 400 dollars, but really worth the money.  It's easy to use and understand, I listen to it every day in my car.