Social Anxiety Therapy New York
Find Social anxiety support NYC and beyond
Social Anxiety Therapy NYC can be the turning point between a life ruled by self-consciousness and a life where you speak, laugh, and connect with ease. I’m Eliana Bonaguro, LMHC—an anxiety-specialized therapist trained in CBT & ERP at the Beck Institute—and I help adults across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, and Westchester (both in-office and through secure telehealth) replace paralysis with participation.
Why Does Coffee With a Friend Feel Like a Board-Room Presentation?
If you’re reading this, you probably Googled phrases like “therapy for shyness NYC,” “social phobia therapy NYC,”or even “social anxiety therapist near me.” You might rehearse every word before speaking, fear blushing in meetings, or decline invitations because the pressure feels unbearable. You’re not weak, broken, or “too sensitive.” You’re experiencing Social Anxiety Disorder—and it is highly treatable.
What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social Anxiety Disorder (also called social phobia) affects millions of people, yet it often goes undiagnosed. It’s more than nervousness — it’s a constant, overwhelming worry that people are watching, judging, or criticizing you. You might replay conversations in your head for hours, avoid eye contact, or decline invitations just to avoid discomfort.
But social anxiety is treatable — and change is possible.
You Deserve to Feel Free
Imagine waking up and not feeling that pit in your stomach before every social event. Imagine making a phone call, walking into a restaurant, or introducing yourself at a networking event — without panic. That’s what we work toward in therapy. My approach is designed not just to manage your symptoms, but to help you build a more confident, connected life.
| Everyday Shyness | Social Anxiety / Social Phobia | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | Temporary | 6+ months, persistent |
| Impact | Mild discomfort | Cancels plans; career & dating stalled |
| Thoughts | “I hope they like me.” | “I’ll humiliate myself; everyone will notice.” |
| Behaviors | Still attends events | Avoids or endures with terror |
Perfectionism often turbo-charges social anxiety: “Unless I’m flawless, people will reject me.” Part of our work is loosening those unrealistic rules so you can be human—messy, real, and still loved.
Social Anxiety Treatment: CBT + Exposure Therapy for social anxiety
I specialize in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and exposure-based techniques, the most evidence-based and effective treatments for social anxiety. I received advanced training in anxiety disorders from the Beck Institute of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, one of the leading institutions in the world for CBT (https://beckinstitute.org/)
Here’s how our work together may look:
Psychoeducation & Mapping the Cycle
We identify the loop: scary thought → anxious body → avoidant behavior → short-term relief → long-term misery. Seeing the cycle on paper instantly lowers shame.Cognitive Restructuring (CBT for Social Anxiety )
You’ll learn to test scary predictions (“They’ll see me shake and think I’m incompetent”) against real-world evidence. Expect collaborative experiments—not lectures.Exposure Therapy (a form of CBT)
Together we create a graded hierarchy. For example:Level 1: Saying “Hello” to a barista in Astoria, Queens
Level 3: Sharing an idea in your Brooklyn team meeting
Level 5: Giving a toast at a friend’s wedding in Manhattan
Repeated practice rewires your brain from threat to tolerable to totally manageable.
Self-Compassion & Nervous-System Tools
Grounding breathwork, imagery, and mindful self-talk quiet the “fight-or-flight” surge so exposures stick.Relapse-Prevention Plan
Before graduation we build a maintenance roadmap—because confidence is a muscle that thrives on use.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
We’ll explore how your thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors are feeding the anxiety cycle. Many clients don’t even realize how automatic and harsh their self-judgments are. I’ll help you learn to identify distorted thinking, challenge it, and replace it with more balanced, supportive beliefs.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Avoidance strengthens anxiety. Together, we’ll gradually face feared situations in a way that feels safe and manageable. Over time, your brain will rewire itself to view those moments as less threatening.
What social anxiety treatment NYC Feels Like
Warm & Collaborative: Clients say my style feels “coffee-with-a-coach” rather than clinical coldness.
Structure With Flexibility: We start with wins, set a micro-goal, do skills or exposures, and close with a doable home practice.
Humor Allowed: Laughter disarms anxiety; we’ll celebrate awkward moments as data, not disasters.
Whole-Person Lens: We’ll weave in sleep, gut health (hello, SIBO friends!), and movement habits if they feed your worry cycle.
“I came in panicking about group projects. Six months later I presented at a national conference—without shaking.” –Former client, Westchester
Life After Social Anxiety Therapy NYC: A Vivid Preview
Imagine waking up on a sunny Saturday, texting friends in Brooklyn Heights to grab brunch, and actually showing up instead of bailing last minute. Your heart may flutter, but it quickly steadies because you’ve trained it to. You laugh loudly, propose a road trip to Montauk, and feel the world expand—job interviews, improv classes, maybe that TED-style talk you once dismissed as impossible. Here’s a glimpse at what transformation can look like:
Before Treatment
After Treatment
Overthinking every interaction
Speaking freely and being present
Avoiding events, calls, or attention
Participating without dread
Feeling defective or “too much”
Feeling capable, worthy, and grounded
Constant self-doubt
Clear, confident inner voice
Panic before meetings or dates
Calm, connected, in control
This isn’t wishful thinking — it’s the outcome of intentional, therapeutic work.
Online Social Anxiety Therapy: From Midtown Offices to Your Sofa in Long Island
Even though I offer only online social anxiety therapy, you’ll still feel like you’re getting that Midtown NYC experience—just without the subway ride or office wait. Therapy from home means:
Practicing real-time exposures in the comfort of your Staten Island kitchen or Bronx backyard.
Getting expert social anxiety therapy in NYC while staying in Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, or Westchester.
Booking sessions that fit your life—whether it’s a lunch break in Manhattan or an evening session in Brooklyn.
This isn’t just virtual therapy—it’s personalized, flexible care from a Beck Institute-trained specialist, wherever you are in New York City.
Why Choose Me Over Another “Anxiety Specialist”?
| What I Offer | Why It Matters to You |
|---|
| Advanced Training at the Beck Institute in CBT & ERP | You’re getting gold-standard methods, not guesswork. |
| Niche Focus: OCD, panic, & social anxiety treatment New York | Deep, up-to-date expertise instead of generic talk therapy. |
| Data-Driven: Monthly symptom-tracking + progress graphs | You’ll see numbers confirming what you feel: real improvement. |
| Empathic Personality: Warm, nerdy, slightly goofy | Therapeutic work feels safe, human, and even fun. |
| Flexible Access: Midtown office + telehealth across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Long Island, Westchester |
Results Clients Notice
Voice no longer trembles during staff meetings on Fifth Avenue.
Dating in Williamsburg feels exciting, not catastrophic.
Confidently asks for extra wasabi at a Queens sushi bar—without rehearsing.
Speaks up in college classes at Fordham or NYU instead of remaining invisible.
Hosts game night in Manhattan.
Check out my book:
Yesterday It Rained: A Visual Guide to Living with Anxiety
Available now on Amazon.
If you’re holding this book, chances are you—or someone you love—is struggling with persistent anxiety. You’re not alone.
As a licensed mental health counselor specializing in anxiety disorders, I’ve walked alongside countless individuals learning to manage the daily weight of worry, panic, and intrusive thoughts. This illustrated guide is more than just information—it’s a compassionate, practical companion designed to make evidence-based tools feel relatable and accessible.
Ready to Get Started?
If you’re searching for “social anxiety therapy near me”, the support you need is already here. Whether you’re in Naples, New York, Miami, or beyond, I’d be honored to help you quiet your fears and find freedom.
Call to action button: Schedule your frere consultation today!
Let’s talk about where you are — and where you want to be.