Social anxiety therapy for kids, teens, & young adults
Evidence-based therapy that helps kids connect with confidence.
Support for social phobia, fear of judgment, and social avoidance in children, teens, and young adults.
Insurance accepted. Appointments often available within days.
Social anxiety, at a glance
Social anxiety, at a glance
5-10%
of children and teens meet criteria for social anxiety disorder
Ages 8-15
is the typical age of onset for social anxiety
75%
of youth with social anxiety respond well to CBT
Understanding social anxiety
When shyness becomes something more.
Social anxiety disorder goes beyond ordinary shyness. It is a persistent fear of social situations where a child feels they will be judged, embarrassed, or humiliated. It can significantly limit friendships, school participation, and daily functioning.
A licensed clinician distinguishes between normal developmental shyness and clinical social anxiety by evaluating the severity, duration, and impact on your child's daily life.
Fear of judgment
Intense worry about being embarrassed, rejected, or negatively evaluated in social situations.
Social avoidance
Avoiding parties, group activities, or speaking in class to escape anxiety.
Physical symptoms
Blushing, sweating, trembling, nausea, or racing heart in social settings.
Common signs of social anxiety by age
Symptoms look different at every stage of development.
Young Children (4-7)
Refusing to speak to adults
Hiding behind parents
Crying before social events
Difficulty with unfamiliar children
School-Age (8–12)
Avoiding answering questions in class
Eating alone at lunch
Dreading group projects
Few or no close friendships
Teens (13-17)
Skipping school for social reasons
Refusing to attend parties
Intense fear of embarrassment
Physical symptoms: blushing, trembling
Young Adults (18-25)
Avoiding job interviews
Difficulty in college classes
Social isolation despite wanting connection
Using avoidance as primary coping strategy
Could it be social anxiety?
Take a quick, clinically validated screening to better understand your child's symptoms.
GAD-7 Anxiety Screening
The GAD-7 is a brief, clinically validated tool used by healthcare providers to screen for generalized anxiety disorder. It takes about 2 minutes and can help you understand whether your child's symptoms may benefit from professional support.
This screening is not a diagnosis. A licensed clinician reviews the results and recommends next steps.
How social anxiety therapy helps
Evidence-based strategies for building social confidence and reducing avoidance.
- Challenges negative thoughts about social situations
- Builds confidence through gradual social exposure
- Develops assertiveness and conversation skills
- Manages physical anxiety symptoms
- Supports healthy friendship development
Why families choose Emora
Specialized pediatric anxiety care vs. general providers.
Other providers
Licensed pediatric and young adult clinicians
Generalist providers
Evidence-based CBT and exposure therapy
One-size-fits-all approaches
Parent-inclusive therapy model
Limited parent involvement
Virtual sessions reduce initial social anxiety barriers
In-person visits that intensify social fear
Insurance accepted
Insurance not always accepted
Built-in screening and progress tracking
Limited progress visibility
Get started in minutes
Three simple steps to connect with the right clinician.
- 1
Share what's going on
Answer a few questions about symptoms and goals.
- 2
Verify coverage
See insurance estimates and available times.
- 3
Start sessions
Meet your clinician and begin building skills.
Frequently asked questions
What parents and young adults ask most about social anxiety therapy.
Real stories of growth
Every session is rated by parents. Our therapists maintain a 4.9+ average, because results matter.
Courtney made my child feel comfortable and she looks forward to meeting with her again.
Parent of an 11 year old
6 hours ago
Courtney Trejo, LPC-Associate
Very easy to talk to, great listener and did not feel rushed at all
Parent of a 13 year old
8 hours ago
Runako Richardson, PMHNP
Chely was very down to earth and friendly, she gathered a lot of information from both myself and my son to map out a plan. There was no judgement at all. I'm really looking forward to seeing Greyson work through things and develop emotional regulation and resilience.
Parent of a 10 year old
10 hours ago
Chely Craig, LCSW-A
Friendly and easy to work with
Parent of a 12 year old
10 hours ago
Amanda Rodriguez, LPC-A
Runako made my daughter feel comfortable sharing.
Parent of a 9 year old
12 hours ago
Runako Richardson, PMHNP
Happy with the session. Provides a foundation to build on. Other than a technical hiccup, good session.
Parent of a 12 year old
13 hours ago
Tlexia Victor, LPC-A
She asked questions and kept my son interested.
Parent of a 16 year old
13 hours ago
Leah Medina, PMHNP, FNP
Leah is very attentive and informative!!
Parent of an 8 year old
13 hours ago
Leah Medina, PMHNP, FNP
She’s the best! So impactful thoughtful and kind.
An Adult client
15 hours ago
Caroline Schwenke, LPC-Associate
After going back and forth between different options and not knowing if our child would open up to a specialist, I'm so glad we found Emora! Excited to see what the future holds for our daughter.
Parent of a 13 year old
16 hours ago
Shemise Michael, LPC
Great to hear our child decided to open up about her feelings and get the help she needs. First session was a success and looking forward to seeing the progress she makes.
Parent of a 13 year old
16 hours ago
Shemise Michael, LPC
My son loves talking to her, the best time of the week. Awesome and caring doctor!
Parent of an 11 year old
18 hours ago
Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD
Just the best! We love her! Very patient and caring.
Parent of an 11 year old
18 hours ago
Dr. Nacona Bunker, PsyD
Great communication and constructive coping skills for all involved were helpful.
Parent of an 11 year old
19 hours ago
Maliya Smith, LPC
Lisa is really sweet and her capability of understanding is amazing.
Parent of a 16 year old
1 day ago
Lisa Raigeluw, LCSW
Morgan was very easy to talk to. She was very knowledgeable in my situation and offered valuable advice.
An Adult client
1 day ago
Morgan Williams, LPC
We shared our art and that was nice
Parent of a 13 year old
1 day ago
Joy Steiner, LCSW
Sarah is very easy to talk with.
Parent of an 11 year old
1 day ago
Sarah Newton, LMSW
Social anxiety does not define your child
Structured, developmentally informed therapy can help build skills that last.
Not sure where to start? Book a clinical matching session.