Between Sessions is a space for anyone interested in the psychology of social fear, performance anxiety, imposter syndrome, and belonging - whether personally, professionally, or both.
It’s written for:
therapists and clinicians
people who live with these patterns themselves
and anyone curious about how confidence, visibility, and social safety actually work beneath the surface
The writing sits at the intersection of clinical psychology, social psychology, and real-world experience.
This isn’t therapy, coaching, or supervision.
It’s a place for education, reflection, and thoughtful exploration - the kind of thinking that often happens between sessions.
Why This Exists
Much of what shapes anxiety, confidence, and belonging doesn’t live neatly inside diagnostic boxes.
People can function well, succeed, and appear confident - yet still feel on edge, self-conscious, or unsafe when attention is on them.
Others know the clinical language, but feel something important is missing from how these experiences are usually explained.
Between Sessions exists to explore those gaps.
It brings together:
research and theory
clinical insight
social and cultural context
and lived experience
All in one place - without oversimplification or performance.
Who I Am
Hello, I’m Sophia.
I’m a practising therapist and coach, and a clinical advisor for Social Anxiety Alliance UK, with a background in politics and social psychology.
Before training as a therapist, I studied politics and social psychology, interned at the Texas State Capitol, and later worked in the British Government. Alongside that, I was always drawn to mental health and psychological theory.
That background deeply shaped how I understand anxiety and confidence — not just as internal states, but as experiences shaped by:
power
belonging
identity
social hierarchies
and the environments we move through
I eventually retrained in psychotherapy, spent five years working in the NHS, and now work privately. My approach sits at the intersection of clinical psychology and social psychology.
In simple terms: how you feel about being seen doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
How I Think About These Themes
My work is informed by both top-down and bottom-up approaches, including:
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)
EMDR
Somatic and nervous system–based approaches
Parts-based work (including IFS-informed thinking)
But the thread running through all of it is this:
Social fear is rarely about confidence alone.
It’s about safety, belonging, and what the nervous system has learned over time.
That’s the lens you’ll see throughout this Substack.
What You’ll Find Here
essays and reflections on social and performance anxiety
research translated into plain, usable language
updates from conferences
clinical perspectives that don’t require clinical training to read
occasional workshops, resources, and guest contributions
Between Sessions reached over 72,000 readers last year (2025), and continues to grow as a space for depth, nuance, and honest conversation.
Who This Is (and Isn’t) For
This space may resonate if you:
work clinically with anxiety, imposter syndrome, or visibility fears
experience these patterns yourself
feel that “confidence tips” miss something important
are curious about the overlap between psychology, society, and identity
It isn’t a replacement for therapy or professional support - and it isn’t a place for quick fixes.
It’s a place to think more clearly about experiences that are often misunderstood.
Writing, Collaboration & Contact
Between Sessions occasionally features quotes, reflections, and contributions from the wider community. Contributors are always credited and linked if they wish.
For collaborations, writing, or sponsorship enquiries:
📩 hello@betweensessions.org
You can also find me at sociallyfearless.com or on Instagram.
