Mastering Social Anxiety Disorder & Social Phobia
Published 12/2025
MP4 | Video: h264, 1280x720 | Audio: AAC, 44.1 KHz, 2 Ch
Language: English | Duration: 1h 18m | Size: 524 MB

DSM-5-TR Diagnostic Guide, Clinical Features & Evidence-Based Treatment Approaches (CBT, ACT, Psychotherapy)
What you'll learn
Identify the essential diagnostic features of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) and examples of anxiety-provoking social situations.
Differentiate proportionate versus disproportionate fear responses and distinguish clinically significant impairment
Describe associated physical, behavioral, and emotional manifestations, including hallmark signs such as blushing and paruresis.
Recognize exclusion criteria and determine when symptoms are better explained by another disorder or medical condition.
Apply the "performance-only" specifier by identifying cases where fear is restricted to public speaking or performing.
Distinguish between overt and subtle avoidance behaviors and assess anticipatory anxiety patterns across the lifespan.
Summarize prevalence patterns in the U.S. and globally and compare demographic differences across gender and developmental stages.
Explain the developmental trajectory of SAD, with emphasis on childhood precursor traits, age of onset, and persistence.
Evaluate temperamental, genetic, and environmental risk factors contributing to onset and maintenance of the disorder.
Identify functional consequences of SAD and recognize populations at increased risk for suicidality.
Compare SAD with conditions frequently confused with it, such as selective mutism, ASD, BDD, and separation anxiety disorder.
Distinguish SAD from Avoidant Personality Disorder by analyzing severity, breadth of avoidance, and self-concept features.
Requirements
There are no formal requirements for taking this course. It is designed to be accessible for students, clinicians, and those with a general interest in psychology, counseling and psychotherapy.
This course is suitable for both beginners and advanced learners who value clarity, evidence, and practical application.
Description
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is one of the most common, misunderstood, and chronically impairing anxiety disorders-yet it is also one of the most treatable when clinicians have the right diagnostic and conceptual tools. This comprehensive course provides a complete, evidence-based understanding of Social Anxiety Disorder using the DSM-5-TR criteria, current research, and gold-standard treatment approaches.Designed for counselors, therapists, social workers, psychologists, and students preparing for licensure examinations, this course breaks down the disorder with clarity, depth, and immediate clinical application.What You Will LearnBy the end of this course, you will be able to:1. Make Accurate, Confident DiagnosesIdentify and apply all DSM-5-TR diagnostic criteria for Social Anxiety Disorder.Distinguish fear of negative evaluation, avoidance patterns, physiological responses, and functional impairment with precision.Accurately determine when symptoms meet threshold, versus when they are better explained by shyness, autism spectrum disorder, body dysmorphic disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, or avoidant personality disorder.I created this course to increase clinical accuracy and understanding, not only among mental health professionals but also within the general population. Today's digital landscape has made self-diagnosis more common than ever, often fueled by misleading or oversimplified content. For example, despite ADHD affecting a relatively small but significant portion of the population, online discourse has exploded: one study found that as of May 2022, the hashtag #ADHD had over 11.4 billion views on TikTok (Abdelnour, 2024), with research showing that 52% of ADHD-related TikTok videos are misleading and only 21% are actually useful (Yeung et al., 2022). This surge has led to rising rates of self-diagnosis, much of it inaccurate, yet many individuals still experience genuine distress and perceive themselves as struggling (Karasavva et al., 2025). As a clinical mental health counselor graduate, I believe it's essential to meet these self-perceptions with evidence-based knowledge and clinically grounded interventions. This course was designed to bring clarity, accuracy, and research-backed insight to clinicians and learners so they can better navigate a world where misinformation spreads fast, and client presentations are increasingly shaped by what they see online.2. Understand Real-World Presentation Across Cultures & LifespansRecognize common behavioral, cognitive, and physical features such as blushing, paruresis, anticipatory anxiety, and rigid social behavior.Interpret symptoms within a cultural context, including syndromes like taijin kyofusho.Understand developmental course, risk factors, heritability, and the disorder's chronicity.3. Integrate Cutting-Edge Treatment ResearchThis course goes beyond diagnosis-and into what actually works.You will learn:• Gold-Standard & First-Line CareCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with exposure as the gold-standard treatment.Evidence-based medication options (such as SSRIs) and why many clients still experience relapse or nonresponse.• Psychotherapy EffectivenessPsychotherapy for SAD shows a large pooled effect size (g = 0.88).No single psychotherapy modality (CBT, exposure therapy, ACT, or other approaches) significantly outperforms the others.• Third-Wave & Integrated Treatment ApproachesAcceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as a promising, effective treatment.Integrated treatment models for comorbid SAD + Alcohol Use Disorder.New research showing CBT for SAD may benefit clients even more when depressive symptoms are present.4. Target the Mechanisms That MatterLearn the maintaining factors that drive the disorder-and how to target them:Avoidance and safety behaviorsRumination (pre- and post-event)ShameOverestimation of social costHow behavioral change can drive cognitive changeYou will see how modifying these mechanisms improves clinical outcomes.5. Apply Modern Innovations in Therapy DeliveryAs the field evolves, so must clinicians. This course includes:Digital therapy and virtual treatment modelsVideoconferencing-based ACT with virtual audiencesVR exposure for performance-only social anxietyEngagement-enhancing strategies (personalized feedback, live text-based coaching, single-session online interventions)When-and for whom-unguided self-help formats are appropriateWho This Course Is ForCounselors, LMHCs, LCSWs, LMFTs, psychologists, and therapistsGraduate students in counseling and psychology Providers preparing for licensure exams (NCE, NCMHCE, CPCE, etc.)Coaches and educators who want accurate diagnostic knowledgeAnyone interested in understanding the science of social anxietyWhether you're new to diagnostic work or a seasoned clinician seeking updated, research-informed treatment strategies, this course gives you a deep and practical mastery of Social Anxiety Disorder.Why Take This Course?This course is uniquely valuable because it:Connects DSM-5-TR criteria with real-world presentationIntegrates the latest research on psychotherapy, mechanisms, and outcomesSummarizes cutting-edge digital and VR treatment modelsProvides a full differential diagnosis frameworkHelps clinicians avoid common diagnostic errorsEnhances your confidence and competence in both assessment and treatmentEnroll TodayAdvance your clinical expertise.Improve client outcomes.Stay at the cutting edge of evidence-based practice.ReferencesAbdelnour, E. (2024). ADHD Diagnostic Trends: Increased Recognition or Overdiagnosis? Karasavva, V., Miller, C., Groves, N., Montiel, A., Canu, W., & Mikami, A. (2025). A double-edged hashtag: Evaluation of #ADHD-related TikTok content and its associations with perceptions of ADHD. PLOS ONE, 20(3), e0319335. Yeung, A., Ng, E., & Abi-Jaoude, E. (2022). TikTok and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: A Cross-Sectional Study of Social Media Content Quality. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 67(12), 070674372210828.
Who this course is for
Beginners, including those with no background in psychology or mental health
Students in counseling, psychology, psychiatry, social work, or related fields
Clinicians who want a concise, evidence-based refresher on Social Anxiety Disorder
Individuals interested in understanding social anxiety more accurately and reducing the impact of online misinformation
Individuals preparing for licensing exams such as the NCE, NCMHCE, and other mental health board exams where diagnostic accuracy is essential
Educators, coaches, and helping professionals who want clearer understanding of social anxiety presentations
Members of the general public who want to understand social anxiety beyond social media myths and misinformation
Content creators or wellness professionals who want to increase the accuracy of the mental health information they share