Young people who struggle with social anxiety experience intense discomfort in social settings. To ease their anxiety they often begin avoiding social situations, which unfortunately makes their anxiety worse. While individual treatment teaches children and adolescents strategies for how to tolerate social situations without avoiding them, there is growing evidence that practicing and refining these skills is more effective when done in group formats.

Virtual and In-Person Social Anxiety Groups at the Child Mind Institute teach children, adolescents, and young adults coping skills to help them manage their anxiety as they practice facing their social fears in a group setting. Groups are designed to help participants develop skills and confidence in a supportive environment through exposures.

Our Social Anxiety Groups are appropriate for those who:

• Feel scared or uncomfortable in social situations
• Are afraid of embarrassing themselves in social situations
• Avoid doing activities that involve socializing
• Have difficulty recognizing social cues
• Targeted Areas of Exposure: Participating in a virtual setting or in class, asking for help, asserting opinions, working or playing in a group, starting or joining in a conversation, videochatting with family or friends, attending a virtual or in-person party, ordering at a restaurant, giving a presentation or debating an issue, etc.

We meet individually with each participant prior to the start of the group to determine if he or she is the right fit and to identify specific areas of concern. In addition to group-focused activities, we are able to provide individualized interventions tailored to the specific needs of each child.

• In-Person Eight Week Social Anxiety Group
  • Thursdays, September 30 – November 18
  • 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm EST
  • Location: Child Mind Institute, NYC
  • Cost: $2,000

Additional details: participants are allocated to age-appropriate sub-groups (ages 9-23 accepted); includes live parent Q&A held virtually at the halfway point of the group for parents of participants aged 9-18.  

At this point in time, our team is hopeful and optimistic that we will be able to run an in-person program. We will be following state and CDC guidelines and recommendations closely. In the case that we are unable to run an in-person program, we will offer a virtual option.

Young Adults (YA) attend groups with peers who experience similar concerns. Separate parent consultation is available for young adults who would like support from their parents in the treatment process. Weekly YA groups are held on an ongoing basis.

• Ages 18-25
• Weekly for 90 minutes

For more information about joining a YA group, please contact Andi Silverman by email at andi.silverman@childmind.org

Eligibility: Children, adolescents and young adults who need help overcoming social anxiety. To ensure an appropriate fit, we will conduct a one-hour assessment billed at the clinician’s hourly rate. The assessment fee is waived if the child has participated in a previous group.

If a child cannot attend and we are notified at least 30 days prior to the start date of the program we will issue a refund, excluding a $300 non-refundable deposit for administrative fees. At the time of registration full payment is required to reserve a space. If less than 30 days notification is given, no refund will be provided.

Please call us at 212.308.3118 or request an appointment online and specify that you are interested in our Social Anxiety Groups.