Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Social phobia is best treated with cognitive behavioral therapy.

Medicare rebateable individual and/or group treatment from a clinical psychologist is available now in Hawthorn, Victoria so call us on 0429 883671 so you can start living the life you want to lead, free from excessive anxiety.

We understand that when you fear being negatively judged and experience physical symptoms of anxiety, starting treatment can be stressful . This may be the first time you have confided in anyone about the difficulties you are experiencing. Don’t be afraid to take the next step. All sessions are confidential and it may be the life changing social anxiety treatment you need.

Telehealth services are now bulk billed for

everyone who has a Commonwealth concession card

You can do your session online or via the telephone whatever you prefer, so there is no need to leave your home.

Face to face Sessions are still available and are Medicare rebateable.

Low income health care card holders are bulked billed provided they have a mental health care plan and a separate referral letter stating the number of sessions authorised.

You do not have to have a referral from your doctor to get treatment but if you wish to get the Medicare rebate you need to get a mental health care plan and a separate referral letter stating 6 sessions.

How Long Does it Take to Overcome Social Anxiety?

Most people can make significant reductions in their degree of social anxiety in a few months, provided they do the assigned homework tasks. The average length of time needed for treatment to be effective ranges from 12 to 20 weeks.

What is the Most Effective Treatment for Social Anxiety?

Cognitive behavioural therapy is the most effective treatment for social anxiety and can be provided in an individual or group format.

Long term, cognitive therapy on its own has a a much better effect than just medication or a combination of cognitive therapy and medication.

Medication for Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment

People with mild to moderate social phobia are advised to try a course of cognitive behavioral therapy before trying medication, given that drugs may have side effects and one is more likely to relapse after medication is withdrawn. Research studies have shown the effects of CBT are more likely to persist after treatment ends.

Many people may have such severe fear and apprehension that they would not be able to tolerate the social interaction associated with therapy without the stress-relieving and mood-elevating benefits of antidepressant medication. Some sufferers who need an immediate band-aid quick fix, because they are about to have an important job interview or have a vital speech, may be advised to use medication.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder Treatment

Some CBT treatment programs recommend 16 individual sessions of therapy.

In Australia, people may receive 10 Medicare subsidised individual AND 10 group sessions per calendar year if they do a mental health care plan with their doctor and I generally find most sufferers can make significant progress within these 10 individual and/or group sessions.

Social anxiety disorder treatment using CBT may entail:

Completing questionnaires to assess the severity of social phobia and depression
Reading a CBT self-help book
Doing attention training
Doing role plays of feared social scenarios with one’s psychologist and/or a group

Sessions can be provided individually or in a group format.

Group CBT has a number of advantages:

Sufferers get to meet other people who have similar feelings and thoughts about social interaction
Group members can support and encourage each other, even become friends and learn from watching each other’s attempts to overcome their fears.
A group format makes it easier in some instances to do exposure as more people are available to be audience members or role players.
Group members can give feedback on the person’s performance during a role play.
Social anxiety disorder treatment in individual sessions allows for
more flexibility in how quickly concepts are covered
more one on one attention

New Classes to Overcome Social Anxiety

Learn how to overcome social anxiety with a group of like-minded people. We offer an 8-week course consisting of 8 two-and-a-half-hour sessions, attend once a week for 8 weeks. No classes are held on public holidays

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, it is unclear when the social anxiety and public speaking anxiety groups will resume.

More courses are to be announced.

Intensive Course Schedule

2 times a week for 4 weeks. Contact us for options available for intensive courses over a shorter time period.

Location & Times

3/497 Burke Road Hawthorn East

7.00 pm to 9.30 pm

Cost

$720 for 8 sessions, but you get back approx $250 of the fee from Medicare.

Medicare rebates apply if you do a mental health care plan and GET A SEPARATE REFERRAL LETTER STATING 1 INDIVIDUAL AND 5 GROUP SESSIONS

Concession prices are available for those on a low-income healthcare concession card.

The concession price is $500 and once you get the rebate the course costs only approx $250

Catherine Madigan is a clinical psychologist who is based in Hawthorn, Victoria. She offers individual and group sessions as proven forms of social anxiety treatment. Call now on 0429 88 3671

4 Good Reason You Should Call Us!

Quick appointments no matter where you live in Australia. Online shyness, public speaking and anxiety treatment available.

Minimal out of pocket expense (Medicare & Health fund Rebates)

Clinical Psychologist with approx. 25 years of experience. Also offering virtual reality exposure therapy.

Business hours, After hours and Saturdays appointments

Frequently Asked Questions

Anxiety Treatment Australia

Anxiety Australia is an anxiety clinic in Hawthorn, Melbourne that is run by Catherine Madigan, who is a clinical psychologist. She primarily focuses on treating anxiety disorders and stress management techniques to individuals and businesses through one on one consultations and stress management workshops.

She offers professional, discreet and confidential treatment options that work.

Catherine’s effective anxiety treatments offered in Melbourne can help you overcome disorders such as:

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (excessive worrying)
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (e.g. this condition may develop after: a motor vehicle accident, an assault, or some other event where the individual was exposed to a life threatening or severely injurious situation which involved themselves or others).
Panic Disorder (anxiety attacks)
Specific Phobias (e.g. heights, dogs, spiders, blood etc.)
Social Anxiety (fear of being negatively judged or evaluated by others)
Body Dysmorphic Disorder (excessive preoccupation with one’s appearance, worrying about an imagined defect or blowing out of proportion a slight flaw in one’s appearance).
Hoarding

Call now for an appointment on 0429 883 671

The www.anxietyaustralia.com.au/ website provides information about anxiety disorders and the treatment options available. You will also find contact details for other psychologists around Australia who have substantial experience in and/or work primarily with anxiety disorders.

Catherine Madigan is a Melbourne based Clinical Psychologist. She is passionate about empowering clients with confidence. The reason her focus is primarily on the treatment of anxiety disorders is that she gains great satisfaction by witnessing the freedom and life changing results her therapies can deliver.

The Incidence of Anxiety Disorders in Australia

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders in Australia, with 1/7 people (14% of the population) reporting having had an anxiety disorder in the last 12 months. Women are more likely to have an anxiety disorder than men, 18% vs 11%. ABS National Survey of Mental Health & Wellbeing, Summary of Results 2007.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety or fear is a normal response to a present or imagined threat. Mild fear can be helpful as it enables us to respond quickly when faced with a dangerous situation and to be alert in difficult situations (e.g. exams). However, excessive fear may lead to people being paralysed e.g. soldiers under attack may be so afraid they can’t move to take cover, public speakers may find they go blank, forget their lines and are rendered speechless.

Anxiety is a normal emotion as it affects most people and is widespread. You would be abnormal if you didn’t experience fear sometimes. However, if your anxiety is out of proportion to the situation you are experiencing and/or persists in the absence of threat, e.g you worry about events months ahead or are experiencing anxiety long after the danger has passed, you may need professional help.

Why am I experiencing anxiety symptoms?

Some people are more prone to experiencing anxiety than others and it is not caused by just one thing but by a combination of factors including: genetics, family environment and traumatic life experiences. Sufferers may have unhelpful thinking patterns such as perfectionist standards. Nevertheless, you can learn to manage your anxiety more effectively.

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