Social anxiety disorder (social phobia)
Treating social anxiety disorder in children
The psychological therapies offered to adults outlined above should also be considered for children aged 15 and older.
Both group-based and individual CBT should take into account how well the child or young person canprocess thoughts and emotions.
For individual CBT, the recommended number ofsessions is eight to 12, each one lasting 45 minutes. Sessions will include gradually exposing the childtofeared or avoided social situations and training them in social skills, rehearsing their use in social situations. There will also be training for parents.
Group-based CBT may be offered for children and young people agedseven and older. As with individual CBT, group sessions aim to gradually expose affected childrento feared or avoided social situations,and train them in social skills. There may be eight to 12 sessions, each lasting 90 minutes.
Parent-driven CBT is more appropriate for younger children. Parents are trained to use CBT-based materialswith their children, such as books designedto treat their child's anxiety problem.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018
Introduction
Social anxiety disorder (social phobia) is a persistent and overwhelming fear of social situations. It's one of the most common anxiety disorders.
Signs of social anxiety disorder
A child with social anxiety disorder may cry more than usual, freeze, or have tantrums. They may fear going to school and taking part in classroom activitiesand school performances.Teens and adults wi
Gettinghelp
If you think you may have social anxiety disorder, you should try to see your GP for help.Your GP shouldmake it as easy as possible for you to have a consultation with them. For example, they may offe
Treating social anxiety disorder in adults
If you've been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder, there are a number of different treatment options available.Cognitive behavioural therapyCognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)is one of the most ef
Treating social anxiety disorder in children
The psychological therapies offered to adults outlined above should also be considered for children aged 15 and older.Both group-based and individual CBT should take into account how well the child or
Further information
You can read the NICE guidance aboutsocial anxiety disorder: recognition, assessment and treatment for more information about social anxiety disorder.
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