Social Anxiety CBT Toolkit: From Free Worksheets to Behavioural Experiment Ideas
Free evidence-based resources created by CBT therapists, for clinical practice.
If you're working with social anxiety, you know the value of having ready-to-use, evidence-based resources, that speak specifically to the issue. We've collaborated with CBT therapists to create a comprehensive collection of tools - including psycho-education guides and formulations. These resources are designed to save you time while maintaining clinical effectiveness.
Free Resources
What Keeps Social Anxiety Going PDF
Internal vs. External Focus Guide PDF
What are safety behaviours in social anxiety — with psychoed and graph DPF
Low Self Esteem (Fennell) and Social Anxiety Formulation
Evolution of the socially anxious brain PDF
Complete Social Anxiety Behavioural Experiments Library
Our comprehensive guide includes 40+ suggested behavioural experiments for social anxiety, organised by core fears:
Fear of being perceived as stupid
Fear of blushing
Fear of judgment
Fear of being "weird"
Fear of physical symptoms
These are suggestions to help your practice and should not be considered clinical guidance or advice. Always consult supervision before engaging in behavioural experiments.
Fear of Being Perceived as Stupid Experiments
Easiest:
Ask for clarification
Express not knowing something and monitor responses
Show lack of knowledge about a popular TV show/movie
Join discussion without preparing
Moderate:
Ask "obvious" question in meeting and monitor responses
Make deliberate small mistake and monitor responses
Mispronounce a word deliberately in conversation
Ask for directions to somewhere obvious
Most Challenging:
Go to a coffee shop and ask 'stupid' question e.g. does coffee have caffeine or does tea have coffee in it?
Call a gym together and ask if their 7pm class is at 7pm or ask another 'stupid' question
Get the client to do a crossword or other brief problem solving activity with a stooge and not know answers - get stooge feedback on whether thought they were stupid
Fear of Blushing
Easiest:
Surveys on what people think about those who blush
Model blushing for client and see how others react
Watch therapist model physical symptoms and feedback if cared about
Moderate:
Have conversation after exercise and get feedback on interpretation
Purposefully bring on blushing and test out social feedback through surveys
Most Challenging:
Conversation when blushing and feedback if stooges thought client was as red as they felt
Film client when blushing and compare on redness chart how they felt vs what video shows
Fear of Judgment
Easiest:
Order something different from a group and monitor response
Share mildly-unpopular opinion e.g. dislike of chocolate in a conversation
Post achievement on social media and see response
Wear mismatched socks visibly
Moderate:
Wear bold outfit and monitor reactions or attention
Give presentation without over-preparing
Act against the social norm - can be modelled by therapist
Most Challenging:
Give presentation with purposeful small mistakes and monitor response
Dance in public place briefly
Get client to do problem solving activity with a stooge e.g. crossword, maths questions, and get client to act in a way that they feel they will be 'judged' e.g. coming across a know-it-all, and get feedback from stooge
Fear of Being "Weird"
Easiest:
Identify what is 'weird' social behaviour and therapists model
Therapist models by wearing something 'weird'
Express unique preference and monitor response
Moderate:
Eat alone and monitor attention and responses
Share niche interest/hobby to a stooge group and monitor response
Wear clothes backwards/inside out
Most Challenging:
Client models small experiments with 'weird' behaviour
Go to a busy place and watch for 'weird' behaviour and monitor if anyone notices or cares
Fear of Physical Symptoms
Easiest:
Watch videos of successful people speaking and identify physical symptoms to normalise and explore whether cared about
Surveys of how many people experience physical symptoms
Therapist models presentation with physical symptoms and feedback if cared about
Moderate:
Hold papers while presenting and get feedback if noticed or cared about
Allow voice to shake and get feedback if noticed or cared about
Most Challenging:
Show trembling hands and get feedback if noticed or cared about
Point out own physical symptoms casually and see how people respond e.g. oh my voice is trembling because I'm nervous… and then carry on and monitor responses