Overcoming Shame-Based Social Anxiety and Shyness: A CBT Workbook to Move Past Feelings of Self-Consciousness or Defectiveness and Live with Confidenc

Stop the self-sabotaging beliefs that keep you anxious and afraid--and start building real, meaningful connections with others.

Do you struggle with shyness or social anxiety? Does the fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected interfere with your day-to-day life, or keep you from social gatherings, seeking out friendships, and pursuing romantic relationships? Shame is a major driving force behind shyness and social anxiety, and it stems from the core belief that you are fundamentally flawed or unlikable. Over time, this belief can have a devastating impact on life, work, and relationships. So, how can you boost your confidence, courage, and self-esteem?

Written by the cofounder of the National Social Anxiety Center and drawn from evidence-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), this comprehensive guide empowers you with the tools you need to break the cycle of shame, shyness, and social anxiety, and finally overcome the self-sabotaging beliefs that are holding you back. You’ll learn proven-effective skills for challenging self-critical thoughts, as well as strategies for addressing the shame at the root of your social fears. Finally, you’ll discover how transforming negative beliefs about yourself is the key to minimizing anxiety, improving your mood, jump-starting your self-confidence, and protecting yourself against old, self-defeating thinking habits.

Overcoming extreme social anxiety and shyness can sometimes seem like an insurmountable task, but with self-awareness, self-compassion, and small steps using the proven-effective strategies outlined in this guide, you can replace fear and shame with a more confident and capable you.

Larry Cohen, LICSW, A-CBT, is cofounder and cochair of the National Social Anxiety Center (NSAC), an association of many regional clinics around the US dedicated to fostering evidence-based services to people struggling with social anxiety. He has directed the Social Anxiety Help clinic (NSAC District of Columbia) in Washington, DC, since 1990 where he has provided cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for more than 1,000 persons with social anxiety, and has conducted one hundred twenty-week social anxiety CBT groups. Cohen is certified as a diplomate in CBT by the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, which has also conferred on him the status of fellow for having ＂made sustained outstanding contributions to the field of cognitive therapy.