The SAI Treatment Group.

The programme has been offered since November 1998. We are currently in the process of progressing our service into an independent charitable institute.

The programme, which largely adopts a cognitive behavioural model, is conducted over fourteen weeks. While this may seem a long time most of our participants argue that passes almost too quickly! Any interested person might be well advised to do an Internet search of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in order to get a better understanding of the principles that form the bedrock of our programme.

Moreover, included in this website is a forum. Ex-participants mainly use this forum as a means of keeping in touch, but also as a source of support and encouragement. Potential applicants can access this forum and address any of their concerns or question about our programme to users of this forum that have actually been through our programme.

Another source of information for potential participants is the book ‘Overcoming Social Anxiety & Shyness’ by Gillian Butler (Robinson Publishers). This book is employed as a basic reader for all participants and tends to supplement the work we do.

SA Group Background.

The programme itself requires a minimum number of five participants to operate effectively and ideally between six and nine. We tend to pitch for around eight people. Recently, we have been experimenting with ten per group given the significant demands for our treatment programme. We also try to achieve a balance within our groups in terms of gender and severity of difficulties.

If you wish to apply for a place on our Social Anxiety Programme please read and follow the instructions in the section ‘Process of applying for a place in our Social Anxiety Programme.’

If any psychology department within one of our HSE Area’s has an interest in setting up a Social Anxiety group Treatment programme please do not hesitate to contact me as I would be more than happy to facilitate you in this in any way I can.

Please note that this programme is designed specifically for the psychological treatment of social anxiety. Therefore it is NOT suitable for individuals struggling with other forms of anxiety – i.e., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessional Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia. Nor is it suitable for individuals experiencing general stress in their lives.