Social Anxiety Therapy in Calgary | NU Psychology
When Every Interaction Feels Like a Test You’re Being Graded On
Social anxiety isn’t just shyness — it’s the exhausting mental rehearsal before a conversation, the over analysis afterward, and the constant worry about how you’re being perceived. Even simple interactions can feel high-stakes: ordering food, joining a meeting, sending a message, or speaking up at work or school.
At NU Psychology, our Calgary psychologists help adults and teens understand the fear beneath social anxiety, build confidence, and reconnect with others without the internal pressure.
You don’t need to change who you are — just the story your anxiety tells in social situations.
What Social Anxiety Feels Like
Social anxiety often shows up as:
Replaying conversations and looking for mistakes
Worrying you sounded awkward, rude, or “too much”
Avoiding plans because the anticipation feels overwhelming
Feeling judged even when people reassure you
Freezing, going blank, or stumbling over words
Physical symptoms — racing heart, sweating, shaking
Fear of embarrassing yourself
Comparing yourself to others constantly
Hiding parts of your personality to “fit in”
It’s not about lacking social skills. It’s about being caught in a cycle of fear and self-monitoring.
Why Social Anxiety Happens
Social anxiety is shaped by both your experiences and your nervous system. Contributing factors might include:
Perfectionism or fear of letting people down
Past experiences with criticism, rejection, or exclusion
Growing up in environments where mistakes weren’t safe
ADHD or neurodivergence affecting communication confidence
Cultural or family expectations
Trauma or relational wounds
High empathy paired with high sensitivity
Understanding the roots of social anxiety removes blame — and makes change possible.
How NU Psychology Supports Social Anxiety
Our approach is warm, non-judgmental, and tailored to your personality and goals. We integrate:
CBT for thought patterns and core beliefs
Exposure work at a pace that feels manageable
DBT-informed skills for managing fear and emotional spikes
Narrative therapy to soften old stories about being “awkward” or “not enough”
ACT for reducing avoidance and building social courage
IFS/Parts Work for the inner critic or protective parts
This is not “push you into scary situations” therapy. It’s collaborative, steady, and grounded in what feels supportive for you.
Is It the Right Time to Get Support?
You might be ready if social anxiety is:
Limiting your choices or opportunities
Causing loneliness or isolation
Affecting confidence at work or school
Draining your energy with constant mental replay
Making you avoid conversations, meetings, or invitations with friends and family
Keeping you from showing your personality
You deserve connection without fear — and confidence that doesn’t crumble after every conversation.
How Therapy Helps With Social Anxiety
Social anxiety improves when you combine emotional insight with practical tools. In therapy, you’ll learn how to:
Reduce the fear of judgment
Shift harsh self-evaluation
Build confidence in conversations and relationships
Calm your nervous system before and during social moments
Challenge “what if they think…” thought spirals
Respond to discomfort instead of avoiding it
Understand the emotional story beneath your fear
Reconnect with your authentic personality
Create flexible boundaries that protect your well-being
For many clients, social anxiety is closely connected to perfectionism, boundaries, identity work, and emotion regulation — so we integrate those pieces when helpful.
Is It the Right Time to Get Support?
You might be ready if social anxiety is:
Limiting your choices or opportunities
Causing loneliness or isolation
Affecting confidence at work or school
Draining your energy with constant mental replay
Making you avoid conversations, meetings, or invitations
Keeping you from showing your personality
You deserve connection without fear — and confidence that doesn’t crumble after every conversation.
Support for Teens & Adults
Teens & Young Adults
Social anxiety often intensifies during adolescence, when identity, friendships, and social expectations feel more complex. Many teens describe feeling constantly evaluated—at school, online, or even within their friend groups. In therapy, we help teens build confidence, understand their emotions, and navigate social situations with more ease. Sessions focus on strengthening self-trust, reducing comparison, and helping them communicate in a way that feels natural and empowering. Parents are involved only when it truly supports the teen’s progress.
Adults
For adults, social anxiety can quietly influence every corner of life—work meetings, dating, friendships, parenting, and even simple everyday interactions like asking questions or making phone calls. In therapy, adults explore the patterns that shape their reactions while building new emotional and cognitive tools that create steadier, more authentic interactions. Over time, adults learn to express themselves more freely, handle feedback or conflict without shutting down, and reconnect with the parts of themselves that feel confident, capable, and connected.
Frequently Asked Questions
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That’s extremely common. We move at a pace that feels safe, with no pressure to perform.
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Only if helpful — and always collaboratively planned, never forced.
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No. Social anxiety is a persistent pattern that affects confidence, relationships, and daily functioning.
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Yes — with tools, insight, and support, most people experience major improvement.
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Absolutely. Many clients prefer starting online before practising skills in real-life interactions.
Start Social Anxiety Therapy in Calgary
If you’re ready to feel more confident, calm, and connected — support is here. We’ll help you build social courage without losing the parts of you that make you real and human..
NU Psychology is located in Killarney, Calgary, easy to reach from:
Aspen Woods · West Springs · Cougar Ridge · Discovery Ridge · Springbank · Signal Hill · Strathcona · Mount Royal · Altadore · Bankview · Glendale · Westgate · Wildwood · Hillhurst · Sunalta · Lakeview.
📍 2005 – 37 St SW, Unit #4, Calgary
📞 403-217-4686
