With the help of our program, your teen can tame their social anxiety and live more freely.
Does your teen dread public speaking?
Do they cling hard to a few people and avoid meeting new ones?
Is their main socialization through a screen?
Do they obsess over how they’re being perceived?
Social anxiety - excessive worry over being scrutinized in social settings and/or distress over social interactions - is equally occurring in boys and girls. It negatively impacts academic performance, mood and even cause physical pain. Why and how teens develop social anxiety depends on the individual and may include a variety of factors.
Fortunately, it’s also highly treatable with the right support. At The Wren Centre, our therapists specialize in helping teens tame their social anxiety, so they can live more freely, without the constant fear of “What will people think?”
You want your kid to worry less and live more.
Two-thirds of Canadian teens surveyed have a less positive view of their mental health than their parents (Statistics Canada). This is probably consistent with your confusion over your teen’s behaviour - the teenage years are for differentiating from parents! But on this issue, you see how they could be capable, but they reject your perspective or advice. It’s pretty normal for teens to disbelieve their parents’ perspectives - how could their worries ever believe someone who loves them so much?
Therapy can help your kid overcome social anxiety.
Every teen is unique, and so is their journey with us. How your teen’s social anxiety manifests - social avoidance, public speaking fear, etc. - influences the approach so their needs are specifically met. They will learn that their worst fears about themselves or situations are not true; even though their feelings are real. They will learn how to proactively and compassionately respond to their worries.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Parent Consultation: Your free consultation starts the process! We’ll chat about your teen’s challenges, goals, and how we can best support them. This helps us create a customized plan for the therapy journey.
- 6 Sessions with Your Teen: Over six session, your teen works with their therapist on coping strategies, grounding exercises, and exposure techniques, all evidence-based approaches at gradually reducing social anxiety. We’ll keep things engaging with activities like fear ladders, mindfulness moments, and plenty of creative analogies—like training their brain to “level up” like a video game.
Plus, we provide “homework” to keep the momentum going between sessions, like journaling prompts, grounding exercises, and mindfulness practices. Don’t worry—this homework is designed to be empowering, not overwhelming. This is the work that helps your kid be more effective in school and life!
Even though our therapy centre is in west end Ottawa, our “Tame the Anxiety” package is designed to offer a one-on-one therapeutic experience over seven sessions in person OR virtually (or a mix of both!).
What’s included?
Free Parent Consultation: Understand your teen’s needs and create a personalized therapy plan.
6 One-on-One Sessions: Evidence-based techniques like CBT and mindfulness tailored to your teen’s anxiety.
Personalized ‘Homework’: Journaling, grounding exercises, and mindfulness practices to reinforce skills.
Secure Text Check-Ins: Ongoing support between sessions to keep progress on track.
Flexible Commitment: Pay per session with no long-term obligation required.
Real Results: Noticeable improvements in confidence and social comfort within the first few sessions.
What’s the cost?
Fees are paid per session - each session is $180 paid by e-transfer or credit card - on the day of your session. Completing the program totals $1080 spread out over the 6 sessions. Receipts are provided for your insurance or income tax claims.
Just like regular therapy, clients are welcome to discontinue therapy at any point in the process (i.e. there is no contractual commitment to finish the whole program).
Sessions are 50 minutes in length and will be scheduled by your therapist or admin to ensure adequate frequency.
Still have questions? – We’ve Got Some More Answers
As you know now, there isn’t one way that social anxiety manifests and so there isn’t one way to do therapy for it, but there are themes. Below is some additional support for parents trying to support their teenager.
“Is it just a phase or something more?” – Recognizing social anxiety in teens
Here’s the truth: it’s common for teens to be a little awkward or anxious at times. Social anxiety exceeds occasional awkwardness or resistance to social settings. When the fear of being judged, embarrassed, or rejected eclipses their openness to doing things they want or need to do—like raising their hand in class, attending social events, meeting new people, or feeling comfortable when their close friends are away from school—there is reason for concern.
So, how do you tell if it’s just regular teen jitters or something more? Some signs that your teen might be dealing with social anxiety include:
- Avoiding school or social gatherings
- Complaining of stomachaches or headaches when asked to engage socially
- Excessive worry about how they’re perceived by others
- Excessive worry about something they said or did
- Fear of public speaking, even in informal settings
- Fear their friends are mad at them or will end the friendship
- Excessive worry over communication with other friends (“Why aren’t they messaging back??”
- Difficulty making eye contact or speaking in front of groups
If your teen is experiencing any of these, early intervention can make a world of difference. And that’s where we come in.
A big important reminder: this is not a diagnosis! Just like we all experience a little anxiety, but it can also be a LOT of anxiety, and it can even be impairing enough that it could be Generalized Anxiety Disorder (once/if diagnosed), “social anxiety” is something we all experience a little of, sometimes a LOT of, and some people are diagnosed with Social Anxiety. This is not a diagnostic program; we work with clients regardless of the degree of their social anxiety.
“Why can’t they just push through?” – Understanding why social anxiety needs more than willpower
As parents, we often hope that with a little encouragement, our teens will simply “grow out of it.” Unfortunately, social anxiety isn’t just a matter of trying harder, and when was the last time just telling your kid to “do it differently” was effective? The thoughts and reactions of social anxiety are ingrained and habitual patterns that affect how the brain responds to social situations.
At The Wren Centre, we integrate elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness, somatic (body) awareness, and rehearse/prepare techniques to help teens rewire these unhelpful patterns of thinking. Through this process, your teen can learn that their thoughts aren’t facts and that they have the power to respond to anxiety in new ways.
It's like closing down your browser—sometimes all your teen's mind needs is a refresh to see beyond the anxious loops they keep open and just keep running, running...
They have the ability;
they just don’t have the skills
You’ll both worry less when you’ve got expert guidance and evidence-based programming to help create change. We start with your free Parent Consultation and then work through a 6-session program to support your kid.
Questions? Or your teen wants to meet the the therapist on the consult? No problem! Click the button to get started.
“Therapy is a team effort”—Why parent involvement matters
You might wonder how you can help. The short answer? By being present, supportive, and patient. We’ll keep you in the loop and offer strategies you can use at home to encourage your teen. This could be practicing grounding techniques together, celebrating small wins, or even gently challenging avoidance behaviors.
You’ll be motivated by the difference it makes when you’re walking the path alongside your teen, offering encouragement rather than pushing them to “just get over it.” They need you to loan them your confidence and encouragement while they’re still developing theirs 🙂
“How long will this take?” – A realistic timeline for progress
One of the most common questions we hear is: how long will therapy take? The answer is different for every teen, but what we do know is that even in the first few weeks, you’ll likely see improvements. These might be subtle at first—like your teen feeling more comfortable raising their hand in class, or being willing to attend a social event they would’ve skipped before. With continued support, these small wins snowball into greater confidence and resilience.
Signs of Progress to Look For:
- Appearing more relaxed in social settings
- Less glued to phone/distractions in social settings
- Openness to trying new activities
- Fewer physical complaints related to anxiety (like stomachaches)
- Positive self-talk and a willingness to discuss worries with less defensiveness/avoidance
“Will therapy change who my teen is?” – Wanting and fearing change is normal
One of the big concerns parents have is that therapy will somehow change who their teen is. It’s so strange, isn’t it? You want changes in your teen’s thoughts, mood and behaviours, but you don’t want to change them. Both desiring and fearing change is really normal in the realm of therapy, regardless of the client’s age or struggles. Rest assured, the goal of therapy isn’t a personality-lobotomy - we’re not trying to turn your kid into someone they’re not; we’re helping them experience the best, most authentic version of themselves. (It’s really hard to be the best version of yourself when you’re burdened with worry.)
Our therapists work to help your teen build social skills, resilience, and self-awareness. These are life-long tools that will help them navigate not just social situations but any challenge they encounter in the future.
“How do I get started?” – Next steps
If your teen would like to feel better - to free themselves of the constant nagging of social anxiety, we’d love to chat. Book a free consultation with our therapists to discuss your teen’s needs and how we can best support them.
Next Steps
You can book a Free Consultation with any of our therapists. If you’re not sure who to pick, you can book a free Therapist Matching Consultation, give us a call at 343-307-6677,
or send us an email.