Social Anxiety: Effective Treatments and Emerging Approaches

This webinar led by Martin M. Antony, PhD was originally broadcast live on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.

This is a 6-hour On-Demand Webinar. Access information, handouts/resources, and CE credits information will be available immediately after successful registration. All registrants receive unlimited access to the recording for 365 days.

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is one of the most common anxiety disorders. The core feature of SAD is anxiety and fear related to situations where a person might be judged by others. These situations include public speaking, being the centre of attention, eating, drinking, or writing in front of others. Interpersonal situations, including conversations, dating, meeting new people, parties, and interviews, are also shown to cause social anxiety disorder.

As clinicians, how can we treat social anxiety disorder?

This webinar will give you an overview of cognitive and behavioural strategies for treating SAD. You’ll learn about theoretical foundations, empirical evidence, and practical application of well-established therapeutic approaches. These approaches include behavioural approaches such as exposure therapy and social skills training, and cognitive approaches, including experiments and cognitive restructuring. We’ll also discuss emerging thinking on SAD, including inhibitory learning approaches to exposure therapy and how your clients can benefit from it. 

Other social anxiety disorder approaches, including imagery-based strategies, acceptance, and mindfulness-based strategies to enhance client motivation and engagement, will also be explored. And we’ll delve into the evidence concerning key treatment decisions and modalities. This includes group vs. individual treatment; combining CBT with medication; clinician-supported self-help; internet-based treatments; etc. After this session, you’ll be armed with a detailed list of resources for the treatment of social anxiety disorders.

  • describe evidence-based behavioural strategies for treating social anxiety, such as exposure and social skills training
  • describe cognitive strategies for treating social anxiety, such as cognitive restructuring and experiments
  • describe emerging strategies for treating social anxiety, such as mindfulness and acceptance-based approaches and imagery-based approaches.

martin antonyDr. Martin M. Antony is Professor and Chair in the Department of Psychology at Toronto Metropolitan University and provincial clinical and training lead for the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy Program. Previously, he was founding director of both the Anxiety Treatment and Research Clinic and the Psychology Residency Program at St. Joseph’s Healthcare Hamilton.

Dr. Antony is a fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and a past president of both the Canadian Psychological Association and the Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Therapies. He has published 33 books and over 300 scientific articles and chapters in areas related to cognitive behaviour therapy and anxiety-related disorders. He has also given more than 425 presentations to audiences across four continents and has been interviewed, featured, or quoted more than 450 times in various print, radio, television, and online media outlets. This includes BBC News, CBC, Chatelaine Magazine, CNN, CTV, the Globe and Mail, National Post, New York Times, O (Oprah) Magazine, Prevention Magazine, Reader’s Digest, Scientific American Mind, Toronto Star, USA Today, Washington Post, and many others.

SPEAKER DISCLOSURE

Financial: Martin M. Antony is an employee of Ryerson University. He receives additional payments through a contract with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Over the past year he has received (or in the next year he will receive) a speaking honorarium from Institute for Brain Potential, J&K Seminars, Leading Edge Seminars, Medipsy, Oakville Centre for Cognitive Therapy, PsychWire, Sunnybrook Health Sciences, Unified CBT, University of Calgary). He receives royalties for books and videos from the American Psychological Association, Echo Point Books, Guilford Publications, Hogrefe, Institute for Brain Potential, J&K Seminars, Leading Edge Seminars, Medipsy, New Harbinger Publications, Oxford University Press, Pearson Education Canada, Porte-Voix, Springer.

Visit his website

TimeTopic Covered
1st hour
  • Overview of social anxiety disorder; introduction to psychological treatments; cognitive strategies (part 1)
2nd hour
  • Cognitive strategies (continued); exposure-based strategies; imagery-based strategies
15 Minute Break
3rd hour
  • Acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches; strategies for enhancing motivation and engagement; key treatment decisions

This training offers 3 hours of direct contact (not counting breaks or lunch). It is the participant’s responsibility to check with their individual state boards/regulatory body to verify CE requirements for their license to practice.

For Attendees of the On-Demand Recorded Version

You will need to complete a Post-Webinar Quiz with a pass of at least 80% in order to verify your attendance.


For US Participants

Instructions on how to obtain your Certificate of Attendance will be distributed after you pass the Post-Webinar Quiz following the On-Demand recorded version of the webinar.

Get details about CE credits for US participants


For Canadian and Non-US International Participants

Upon fulfillment of the above requirements, Canadian and non-US international participants will be issued a Certificate of Participation that includes:

  • Name of participant
  • Title of training
  • Name of presenter plus their credentials
  • Number of hours of training
  • Date of training
  • Confirmation that you have passed a quiz with at least an 80% grade to verify your attendance

Please check carefully with your regulatory body/organization that this certificate is sufficient proof for you to claim CE credits.

Get details about CE credits for Canadian and non-US international participants

Who Should Attend

  • Marriage and Family Therapists
  • Clinical and Counselling Psychologists
  • Psychiatric Social Workers
  • Pastoral Counsellors
  • Psychotherapists
  • Psychiatrists
  • Physicians
  • Nurse Practitioners
  • Occupational Therapists
  • Counsellors
  • Graduate Students in accredited programs in the above fields
  • Case Managers
  • Licensed Professional Counsellors
  • All other professionals who would like to develop, update or expand their skills and knowledge in mental health practices