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.
teens, & families
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.
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.
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.
Physical symptoms
Blushing, sweating, trembling, nausea, or racing heart in social settings.
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.
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.
Dr. Williams truly gets me and he makes me feel like I can take care of myself without having to worry about it.
An Adult client
Jun 5, 2026
Franklin Williams, LCMHC
Navigating a separation from my spouse including children. Victoria does a great job helping us work through and process this.
An Adult client
Jun 5, 2026
Victoria Coffman, LPC-A
Elise is going above and beyond to understand my daughter so she can help her in the best way possible.
Parent of an 11 year old
Jun 5, 2026
Elise McDonald, LPC
Catherine was kind, empathetic, and a great listener. She balanced hearing our thoughts as parents while also ensuring our child was heard and valued.
Parent of a 12 year old
Jun 5, 2026
Catherine Campos, LCSW
So kind and a great listener. She has great patience with him.
Parent of a 10 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Erica Richardson, LCSW
My daughter instantly connected! She’s very excited to work with her
Parent of a 13 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Brianna Doran, LMHC
Dr.Bowes is awesome and a personable provider.
An Adult client
Jun 4, 2026
Dr. Jaclyn Bowes, PsyD
My son feels that this Dr is a great fit. First session and he’s already doing the 10 finger breathing exercise while feeling overwhelmed.
Parent of an 11 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Dr. Jon Skidmore, PsyD
Great experience. It was quick and easy to access.
Parent of an 8 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Deann Harrison, PMHNP-BC
Great therapist! Made our child feel comfortable and able to express themselves.
Parent of a 14 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Aminah Todman, LCSW
No complaints, Amanda listened to what I said, have her own opinion and advice, then let me figure out how to implement it.
Parent of a 16 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Amanda Jackson, RCSWI
She was understanding and communicated very well. She made sure I didn’t have any questions and I felt supported and seen.
An Adult client
Jun 4, 2026
Dal Ibe, PMHNP
Specializes in getting to know Cohen first, he was nervous and unsure what to do... and she helped with fun interactions look forward to more with her
Parent of an 8 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Amanda Jackson, RCSWI
Luv Ms Tyra she really helps my daughter in many ways
Parent of a 13 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Tyra Rios, LMFT
It felt great discussing some issues that were a bit uncomfortable.
Parent of a 10 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Stefanie Luttrell, LPC, NCC, C-DBT
I really like Matt this was only my 2nd session but he has been really supportive and great so far and i really think that I will be sticking with him for awhile so look forward to dealing with me for the long haul lol thank you so much I really couldnt ask for someone better than him 100 percent will recommend him to anyone thank you matt
An Adult client
Jun 4, 2026
Matt Dellon, RCSWI
Ms. Cassandra was exceptional, as always. Caring, knowledgable, kind, right on the ball, always such a pleasure to see her! We feel very lucky to have her as Luka’s therapist!
Parent of a 9 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Cassandra Rikard, LMHC
Megan is the kid est most understanding therapist. She works even through technical difficulties, always with a simile and task for my kid to do while waiting for the next session. We have seen the change in our daughter and are delighted with it.
Parent of a 14 year old
Jun 4, 2026
Megan Lundy, LCSW
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.
