The American Psychiatric Association’s standard diagnostic manual defines Social Anxiety Disorder as “a marked and persistent fear of one or more social or performance situations in which the person is exposed to unfamiliar people or to possible scrutiny by others.  The individual fears that he or she will act in a way that will be humiliating or embarrassing.”

The definition of Social Anxiety Disorder also specifies that exposure to the feared social situations almost always provokes anxiety, and that the feared situations are avoided or else endured with intense distress.  Importantly, the definition specifies that the symptoms of Social Anxiety Disorder interfere significantly with the individual’s normal life activities and relationships, including getting an education and making a living.

A Bigger Problem Than We Thought

Only in recent years have researchers and mental health professionals come to realize how serious this disorder can be, and how many people are impacted.  It is sometimes called “the hidden anxiety disorder,” because it hides behind other conditions, such as Depression, Panic Disorder, Alcohol Dependence, and Substance Abuse.  When Social Anxiety Disorder is not discovered and treated, the treatment for these other conditions frequently fails to work, because for many people, the Social Anxiety Disorder has led to the other conditions.

The key points to remember about Social Anxiety Disorder are these:

·       It is under-recognized and therefore under-treated

·       It is highly prevalent in the general population (7-12%)

·       It is chronic unless treated

·       For the more serious forms, severe disability can result

Effective Treatment is Available

The tragedy of Social Anxiety Disorder is that despite the serious distress and suffering it can cause, many people do not know that effective treatment is now available, and therefore go untreated.

What I Offer

I have a special passion for working with people suffering from Social Anxiety Disorder.  While working at Kaiser-Permanente Medical Center, I developed the first treatment program specifically for Social Anxiety Disorder at the Santa Rosa Medical Center, and one of the first in Kaiser’s Northern California Region.  I was a key player on Kaiser’s Regional “Best Practices Committee” for developing treatment guidelines for the disorder (Northern California).

Currently, I offer individual and group treatment for Social Anxiety Disorder in the Portland Oregon area.  I am also available for consultation to clinicians and community service presentations, and have presented to physicians, mental health professionals, and professional associations, in order to increase awareness and facilitate access to treatment.

How Can a Presentation Help Me?

My presentation on Social Anxiety Disorder has helped groups of mental health professionals increase their early identification of the disorder, become informed about appropriate treatments, and improve their clinical outcomes, especially where Social Anxiety Disorder is contributing to secondary depression, substance dependence, and other conditions that appear to resist treatment.  Most importantly, the information in these presentations can help you reduce suffering in an under-served clinical population, whose members are among your clients, whether you realize it or not.

Contact Me

Please use the “Contact Me” menu option to get more information, discuss treatment options, or arrange a presentation.