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You’re not broken or alone. You’re in the right place.

You don’t need to hide anymore

Join thousands who've reclaimed their confidence and rejoined life, this is where it starts.

What’s Social Anxiety?
Treatment Group

It’s common and treatable

In partnership with recognised national mental health organisations

Logos of The Wheel, Charities Regulator, and Trinity College Dublin – official partners supporting Social Anxiety Ireland.

What is Social Anxiety?

It’s common and treatable.

Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is an intense fear of being judged or embarrassed in everyday situations. It’s more than shyness, it can quietly shape your choices, limit your life, and drain your confidence. But here’s the good news: with the right support, it can get better.

Around 10-13% of people in Ireland will experience Social Anxiety at some point in their lives.

Social Anxiety Experience

How Our Proven Path Group Treatment Works

Structured group CBT. Safe environment. Real-life results.

Illustration of a woman using a laptop and holding an envelope marked ‘Accepted,’ symbolising successful programme application and approval.

Initial Screening

Takes 10 minutes, then a 1-hour screening to confirm diagnosis.

Illustration of several hands stacked together, symbolising teamwork, trust, and shared recovery in group therapy.

Group CBT Sessions

14 weeks. Small group. Real tools that change how you think and feel.

Illustration of a supportive group of people joining hands in a circle, symbolising community, connection, and shared recovery.

Ongoing Support

After the programme, you’re welcome to stay connected with the support group.

The Treatment Group

Real People, Real Relief

These re-occuring quotes are drawn from the real experiences of past participants over the last 10 years, respectfully anonymised and paraphrased for privacy.

The SA Experience

Real Participants Share Their Transformation: It Changed Everything.

Illustration of two people exchanging questions and answers, representing frequently asked questions and clear guidance.

General FAQs

These are real, raw questions we hear every day and the answers that start to bring relief.

Social Anxiety Disorder affects roughly 1 in 8 people at some point in their lives. Many more experience milder symptoms without a formal diagnosis. You’re far from alone it’s one of the most common anxiety disorders worldwide, yet often hidden because people mask their discomfort.

No. Shyness is a personality trait social anxiety is a recognised mental health condition that can significantly disrupt daily life. It’s not about being introverted; it’s about experiencing intense fear or avoidance in social or performance situations, often accompanied by physical symptoms like blushing, shaking, or a racing heart.

Our primary treatment is through the Group Treatment Programme. We don’t currently offer ongoing one-to-one therapy, but we can suggest resources and therapists who specialise in social anxiety if group work isn’t suitable for you.

Yes. If you have social anxiety and are ready to engage with the process, our evidence-based approach can make a real difference. The programme draws on CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), CFT (Compassion-Focused Therapy), and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) all proven to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.

Our facilitators are experienced clinical psychologists and trained group leaders who specialise in treating social anxiety. They understand the condition not just academically, but through years of working directly with people who experience it.

Many people with social anxiety feel exactly the same way before starting. The group is small (maximum 10 people), supportive, and designed so you never feel “thrown in at the deep end.” Most participants find that being with others who understand is one of the most powerful parts of the programme.

Freezing, panic, or going blank are common symptoms — and the group is a safe space where this is understood. There’s no judgement, and you’ll be supported if it happens. We work at a pace that feels manageable, not overwhelming.

Not unless you want to. The focus is on understanding your anxiety in the present and learning tools to manage it. You’ll never be pressured to share personal history beyond what you’re comfortable with.

If social anxiety is stopping you from living the life you want in work, relationships, or everyday situations you deserve help. You don’t need to “hit rock bottom” to benefit from treatment.

We will encourage gradual, supported steps that help you face fears, but you will always have choice and control. Nothing is forced, and everything is paced so you can succeed, not panic.

That’s why we start with a screening process using the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS) and a follow-up interview. This ensures the programme is right for you, and if it’s not, we’ll point you toward other suitable supports.

The 14-week group programme costs €500. We’re a registered noneprofit charity and can reduce or part-fund fees in cases of financial difficulty via our donations. The screening interview is free and we're happy to discuss payment options upon acceptance to the Group Treatment Programme.

Complete the online screening on our website. If your results suggest you might benefit from the programme, we’ll invite you to an interview to confirm suitability. From there, you can join the waiting list (due to the high demand for placement) for the next available group.

It’s very common to wonder about this. Autism and social anxiety can look similar on the surface, but they are fundamentally different experiences.

Both autistic people and people with social anxiety may:

  • Feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed in social situations

  • Find social interaction draining or challenging

  • Need time to warm up socially

  • Avoid certain social situations

The key difference is the reason behind these experiences.

Autism is a neurodevelopmental difference (a form of neurodivergence). It reflects natural variation in how the brain processes information, communicates, experiences sensory input, and relates to others. Autism is present from childhood, even if it isn’t recognised until later in life.

Social anxiety, by contrast, is a mental health condition. It centres on an intense fear of being judged, embarrassed, humiliated, or rejected in social situations. Social anxiety often develops later in life, commonly following negative or subjectively traumatic social experiences.

People with social anxiety usually:

  • Understand social rules and cues but fear getting them wrong

  • Experience strong self-criticism and fear of negative evaluation

  • Notice physical anxiety symptoms (e.g. blushing, shaking, sweating)

It’s also possible to be both autistic and socially anxious. Anxiety can be a natural response to navigating a world that isn’t designed for neurodivergent brains, particularly where there are sensory, communication, or social-expectation differences. 

If you’d like more clarity, a good first step is to talk with:

  • Your GP

  • A counsellor

  • A psychologist

They can help you explore your experiences in more depth and guide you towards appropriate next steps.

There are also reputable self-education resources that many people find helpful:

  • For autism: embrace-autism.com — the world’s most visited autism resource, designed by the autistic community and widely trusted by healthcare professionals.

  • For social anxiety: You can begin the screening process here on our website.

Understanding what’s really going on can be relieving and empowering. Whichever fits best, support is available—and you don’t need to figure it out alone.

 
 

Social Anxiety is common and more treatable than you think.

You’re not broken, and you’re not alone. Social Anxiety is real, common, and deeply felt but it’s also highly treatable. You’re not weak or imagining it. With the right support, things can change and often faster than you’d expect.

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Dr.odhran McCarthy // Founder

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