Social anxiety therapy in Vaughan
Show up as yourself.
If everyday moments like speaking up, meeting people or just being seen fill you with dread, you’re not simply shy, and you’re not stuck this way. Social anxiety is common and very workable. In Vaughan and online across Ontario.
Worried about your child or teen? Social fears often begin in childhood or the early teen years. Our child and youth therapy team works with ages 3 to 17, with approaches matched to their age.
Takes 2 minutes. No credit card. No referral needed.
- 24+ Registered PsychotherapistsLook any of us up on the CRPO register
- Direct billing availableSun Life, Beneva, Green Shield
- Evenings and weekendsIn person or online
A fear of judgment, not a flaw.
Social anxiety is when your mind over-predicts judgment and danger in social situations. Your heart races, you blush or go blank, and you become painfully aware of yourself, certain everyone is noticing. So you avoid, and avoiding feels safer, but it quietly makes your world smaller.
It’s one of the most common anxiety concerns, and it’s very workable. The goal isn’t to become a different person, but to quiet the false alarm so you can show up as yourself. Many people are surprised how much lighter ordinary moments can become.
Social anxiety therapy is evidence-based talk therapy, usually CBT with gradual exposure, that helps you test the fear of judgment, face avoided situations step by step, and feel more at ease being seen.
- Face fears gradually, at a pace you control
- Practical skills you keep for life
- Online sessions can feel less intimidating to start
Where does social anxiety show up for you?
Tap anything that sounds familiar. None of these means something is wrong with you. They’re common, and very workable.
Start with what you’re noticing.
Tap what sounds familiar lately, and we’ll suggest a sensible next step.
You’ve noticed 1 thing.
That’s common, and very workable. A free 20-minute consult is a calm way to talk it through, and you can do it online if that feels easier.
You’ve noticed 3 things.
That’s a lot to carry. You don’t need to wait until it’s unbearable, and starting online can feel like a gentler first step.
Saying no keeps you safe in the moment, but it can quietly shrink your world. Small, planned steps help you get those moments back.
Book a free 20-minute consultThis isn’t a diagnosis.
The spotlight feels much brighter from the inside.
Social anxiety runs on the feeling that everyone is watching and judging. Step through three common thoughts, and what therapy does with them.
- 1The anxious thought
“Everyone saw me stumble over my words. They think I’m an idiot.”
- 2Name the patternMind-reading and the spotlight effect.It feels like all eyes are on you, but people are far more focused on themselves than on you. The spotlight is mostly in your own head. Would you even remember a friend’s stumble an hour later?
- 3A more balanced thought
“Most people barely noticed, and those who did have already forgotten. One clumsy moment isn’t who I am.”
- 1The anxious thought
“They’re all judging me. I don’t belong here.”
- 2Name the patternFortune-telling and mind-reading.Anxiety predicts judgment as if it were fact, and then you react to the prediction instead of what’s actually happening. What evidence do you have, compared with what your anxiety assumes?
- 3A more balanced thought
“I can’t read minds. Most people are friendly or neutral. I can stay a few minutes and see what’s really true.”
- 1The anxious thought
“I’ll embarrass myself, so I just won’t go.”
- 2Name the patternAvoidance that shrinks your world.Avoiding feels safer in the moment, but it teaches your brain the situation was dangerous, so the fear grows and your world gets smaller. What’s one small step toward it, instead of away?
- 3A more balanced thought
“I can go for a short while, or talk to one person. Facing it in small doses is how the fear loosens its grip.”
- 1The anxious thought
“What does therapy actually do with all this?”
- 2Name the patternWe help you test the predictions, gently.You practise catching anxious predictions in sessions, then try them out in real life in small, planned steps you choose. This is CBT with gradual exposure, the approach with the strongest research behind it for social anxiety.
- 3A more balanced thought
“I don’t have to feel fearless to show up. I can feel nervous and go anyway.”
An illustration of a common pattern, not a real client’s words. Noticing the pattern is where change starts, and it’s very workable.
Try it with a therapist, free for 20 minutesMeet therapists who work with social anxiety
Every therapist below is a Registered Psychotherapist who helps people feel more at ease socially. Watch a short intro, read their profile, or let us match you in your free consultation.
Watch introYulia Evans
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #14326Woodbridge · Online
Compassionate and skilled with anxiety and panic.
Watch introHanna Anderson
Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying)CRPO #17979Woodbridge · Maple · Online
A collaborative, empathy-led space for stress, anxiety and emotional struggles, drawing on DBT and EFT.
Watch introPhil Azer
Registered PsychotherapistCRPO #10018Maple (Vaughan) · Online
Practical and calm, Phil helps clients face fears step by step.
Not sure who fits?
Let us match you in your free consultation. If the fit isn’t right, we’ll help you switch to another therapist on the team.
What your first session actually looks like
Booking a session about social anxiety can feel like the most social thing of all. Your first appointment is a 70-minute initial assessment, and here’s how that time tends to go, so nothing is a mystery.
- 1Minutes 0 to 15
Settling in
No pressure to perform. Your therapist welcomes you, explains confidentiality in plain language, and lets you set the pace. You share only what you want to.
- 2Minutes 15 to 60
Mapping your social anxiety
Together you look at which situations are hardest, the thoughts and physical feelings that show up, and what you’ve been avoiding.
- 3Throughout
Your first reframe
Using a real example from your week, you try a gentle reframe together and sketch a ladder of situations to build toward.
- 4The last 10 minutes
Leaving with a plan
You agree on what you’re working toward and one small, doable step to try before next week, never more than you feel ready for.
When the fear is fed by a harsh inner critic
Social anxiety often travels with low self-esteem. If a critical inner voice makes every interaction feel like a test, we can work on that too.
Self-esteem therapyEvidence-based, and gentler than you fear.
Your therapist tailors evidence-based approaches to you and your pace. Sessions are structured and predictable: you build skills first, then practise them in small, planned steps you control.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Catch and test the predictions of judgment that fuel the fear.
More on CBTGradual exposure
Approach avoided situations in small steps, so they slowly lose their power.
Self-compassion
Soften the harsh inner critic that makes every interaction feel like a test.
Mindfulness and ACT
Shift attention off yourself and onto the moment, instead of self-monitoring.
More on ACTInnerSight was founded by Svetlana Antonyshyn, RP, on the belief that healing should treat the person, not a label. More about our approach.
What the research says
We’ll always be honest about evidence. Social anxiety is well studied and CBT has the strongest research behind it, though no ethical therapist can promise how things will go for any one person.
In 2022, 7.1% of Canadians aged 15 and older met the criteria for social anxiety disorder in the past year, more than double the 3.0% found in 2002.
Among women aged 15 to 24, 24.7% met the criteria for social anxiety disorder in the past year in 2022, four times the rate found in 2002.
A review of 101 trials with more than 13,000 adults found individual CBT had large effects, and the authors called it the best first treatment for social anxiety.
The Canadian Psychological Association calls CBT the gold-standard psychological treatment for social anxiety, with a typical program of about 12 to 20 one-hour sessions.
Our Registered Psychotherapists do not diagnose or prescribe. If medication is part of your care, we’re glad to work alongside your family doctor.
Clinically reviewed by Svetlana Antonyshyn, Registered Psychotherapist (CRPO #001652). Last reviewed October 2026.
What social anxiety therapy costs
No hidden fees and no pressure. Most private insurance plans cover a portion of psychotherapy fees. We can bill Sun Life, Beneva (formerly SSQ) and Green Shield directly when your plan is with one of them, and we provide receipts for claims with other insurers.
- $0
- Free consultation · 20 minMeet a therapist, ask anything, and see if it feels right. No credit card and no obligation.
- $245
- First appointment · 70 minA longer first conversation to understand what’s going on and set goals together.
- $180
- Ongoing sessions · 55 minEvery session after your first, in person or online.
- $125
- Reduced-fee sessionWith select supervised therapists in training. Reduced-fee couples and family sessions are $175.
Appointments cancelled with less than 48 hours’ notice may be charged a cancellation fee. Sessions aren’t covered by OHIP, but psychotherapy from a Registered Psychotherapist may qualify as a medical expense at tax time. Worried about cost? See our reduced-fee program, or call us. We’re happy to walk you through it.
How far could your benefits go?
Pick your plan’s yearly maximum for a Registered Psychotherapist.
An estimate, not a quote or a promise of coverage. Plans differ on the percentage reimbursed, per-visit limits, deductibles and which providers they recognize, so check your benefits booklet or ask your insurer about “Registered Psychotherapist” and “Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying).”
Book a free 20-minute consultDon’t take our word for it. Check.
Anyone can say they’re good at this. Here’s what you can verify about us in about two minutes, without speaking to anyone.
Regulated, not self-declared
“Psychotherapist” is a protected title in Ontario. Our team are Registered Psychotherapists, accountable to a College with a public complaints process.
See every therapist’s registrationSupervised every month
Our therapists meet for clinical supervision every month, so the work stays accountable to someone other than the person doing it.
How we workWe show our sources
Where we describe what therapy can help with, we name the source and link it, from Statistics Canada and CAMH to peer-reviewed trials.
What we help withNothing locks you in
No referral needed. No contract, no package to buy. Fees are published up front, $180 for a 55-minute session. If the fit isn’t right, tell us and we’ll help you switch to another therapist on the team.
Fees and coverageSocial anxiety therapy: your questions, answered
Still wondering about something? Ask us in a free consult, or call (905) 553-9507. Phones are answered weekdays 9 am to 5 pm, Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.
Do I need a referral for social anxiety therapy in Vaughan?
No referral is needed. You can book a free 20-minute consultation online at psychotherapyclinic.janeapp.com or call (905) 553-9507. Most people have their first full session within a week.
Is social anxiety just shyness?
No. Shyness is a personality trait, while social anxiety is an intense, persistent fear of being judged that can shrink your world and stop you doing things you want to do. It is very common and it responds well to therapy.
Do I have to do scary exposures right away?
No. Exposure is gradual and always paced with you. You start with the easiest steps and build up only as you feel ready. Nothing is forced, and your therapist supports you the whole way.
How long does social anxiety therapy take?
Many people notice meaningful change over a course of CBT and gradual exposure, though it varies from person to person. You and your therapist review progress together and adjust the pace as you go.
Do I need medication for social anxiety?
Not necessarily. For many people, CBT with gradual exposure is enough on its own. Our therapists are Registered Psychotherapists and do not prescribe medication, but we are glad to work alongside your physician if medication is part of your care.
Can I do social anxiety therapy online?
Yes. We offer secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario, plus in-person sessions in Woodbridge, Vaughan and Barrie. Many people find starting online feels less intimidating, and you can move to in-person later if you wish. Evenings and weekends are available.
What if my social anxiety comes with general anxiety or depression?
That is very common, and we work with the whole picture. Social anxiety often travels with general anxiety or low mood, and your therapist tailors the approach so these are addressed together rather than in isolation.
Is therapy confidential?
Yes. Our therapists are Registered Psychotherapists regulated by the CRPO, and everything you share stays confidential within the standard legal limits, which your therapist explains clearly in your first session.
How is social anxiety therapy different from just pushing myself to socialize more?
Pushing through without a plan can backfire and reinforce the fear if it goes badly. Therapy builds a gradual, structured path: you practice social situations in a planned order, starting with what feels manageable, while learning to catch the anxious predictions that fuel avoidance. It is exposure with support and skill-building, not just white-knuckling it alone.
Is it social anxiety or am I just an introvert?
Introversion is a personality trait: you recharge alone and prefer smaller gatherings, but social situations do not typically cause dread or physical distress. Social anxiety involves a strong fear of judgment or embarrassment that can lead to avoiding things you actually want to do. A Registered Psychotherapist cannot formally diagnose social anxiety disorder, but we can help you understand the difference and find the right support.
Social anxiety therapy near you
In-person sessions in Woodbridge, Maple and Barrie, plus secure video sessions anywhere in Ontario. Evenings and weekends available.
Online across Ontario
Secure video sessions from anywhere in the province, often an easier place to start.
Book an online consultAppointment hoursMonday to Friday, 9:30 am to 8:00 pmSaturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
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Social anxiety responds to the right support, and the first step is a free, no-pressure conversation. You can take it today, online if that feels easier.
Phones answered Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.
