The desire for social acceptance is a common cause of stress or concern for many teenagers. But for some teens the fear of social and performance situations becomes so pronounced and prolonged that it impairs daily life. These teens may be suffering from social anxiety disorder, the most common anxiety disorder in teenagers (affecting up to 9% of adolescents).
Most often, teenagers with social anxiety disorder have an intense fear of social situations, such as initiating conversations, performing in front of others, speaking up in class, and inviting others to get together. Avoidance of these situations significantly interferes with the quality of their lives, often impairing school performance and attendance, as well as their ability to socialize with peers. The onset of social anxiety disorder peaks in adolescence when establishing and managing friendships is a crucial part of healthy development. If not treated, social anxiety can persist into adulthood and poses a risk for later depression and alcohol abuse. Unfortunately, in many teenagers, social anxiety goes undetected and untreated.
Given the seriousness of social anxiety, specialists at the NYU Child Study Center have developed the Shy or Socially-Anxious Teens Group Treatment Program. The program uses an intervention developed by Carrie Masia Warner, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Associate Director of the Institute for Anxiety and Mood Disorders, called Skills for Social and Academic Success, which has been shown to be effective in treating teenagers with social anxiety disorder in two controlled school-based studies.
Led by two clinical psychologists, the 16-week program at the NYU Child Study Center combines education about social anxiety with evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy. Teenagers are taught cognitive and social skills to help them reduce worries and improve their social interactions. They engage in role-playing activities designed to develop and practice essential social skills, such as initiating and maintaining conversations. “We know that our thoughts impact how we feel and behave, and these teens learn how much they tend to catastrophize and overestimate the possibility of something negative occurring in social interactions,” notes Dr. Masia Warner. Most importantly, the teenagers are encouraged to face their fears by entering into the social situations that they previously avoided. They are then instructed to practice these lessons in real-life situations at home and at school.
The total cost of the program is $1600, although lower fees are available for families with limited means. For more information and to find out the next start date, contact Dr. Ali DeGeorge at (212) 263-2755.
The Shy or Socially-Anxious Teens Group Treatment Program can be complemented by individual counseling and pharmacological therapies in adolescents with more significant anxiety and/or other disorders. For more information on the comprehensive services of the NYU Child Study Center, visit www.aboutourkids.org.
Masia, C., Beidel, D.C., Fisher, P.H., Albano, A.M., Rapee, R.M., Turner, S.M., et al. (1999). Skills for Academic and Social Success.
Masia Warner, C., Klein, R.G., Dent, H.C., Fisher, P.H., Alvir, J., Albano, A.M., et al. (2005). School-based intervention for adolescents with social anxiety disorder: Results of a controlled study. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 33, 707–722.
Masia Warner, C., Fisher, P. H., Shrout, P. E., Rathor, S., Klein, R. G. (2007). Treating adolescents with social anxiety disorder in school: an attention control trial. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 48, 676-686.
Posted: 4/3/08