SAI Home  |  Definition & Examples  |  Therapy Programs | Audio Therapy Series

We have shifted our social anxiety therapy emphasis toward more intensive approaches, whenever possible, because the results we have seen from comprehensive CBT have been stronger than with traditional approaches.  (The traditional approach is a twelve week, two and a half hour meeting.)

Thus, beginning in February 1999, SAI instituted an all-day (Saturday) comprehensive cognitive-behavioral therapy group for social anxiety.  This is the main (local) CCBT group for social anxiety disorder. 

In September 2002, because of the success of using Dr. Richards' audio therapy tape series in the comprehensive three week international groups, we have decided to structure the local group in the same manner.  

The more cognitive methods and strategies you can learn from the audio series, the quicker and more efficient you will be able to be in the group.  The farther along in the cognitive series you are, the faster you will be able to make progress when the group begins. 

Dr. Richards will run both the cognitive and behavioral therapy groups. 

A Great Opportunity to Overcome Social Anxiety

As you probably know, The Social Anxiety Institute has an international outreach and usually four months of the year we have guests from other states and countries who travel to Phoenix for intensive group therapy sessions to overcome social anxiety. 

This year alone, we are happy to report that people from Ireland, England, Spain, France, and Australia joined us for an intensive three-week cognitive-behavioral therapy group.  This is in addition to people from all over the US and Canada. 

These people come join us because there is no adequate comprehensive therapy where they live.  SAI, in fact, is the only institution in the world solely dedicated to continuous, active and structured CBT therapy for social anxiety disorder.

Please understand that everyone who comes to SAI is motivated to overcome social anxiety and the program is structured in this manner. You will find the groups friendly, helpful, encouraging, and supportive… but most important of all, you will be working with a group of people who also want to learn to overcome SAD.

You will see and feel distinct differences – for the good! – as you progress through the program.

What To Do To Join The Group

The audio therapy series includes most of the cognitive (learning) therapy that needs to be done (practiced and used). 

To save you time and money, we have found that when people DO at least part of the cognitive therapy first, before participating in the behavioral group, we can make faster progress and the program is more effective.

Then, during the Saturday group, we can spend more time on behavioral exercises and activities – and less time with the necessary cognitive material, since you have already learned it.

It is when the cognitive material and the behavioral activities are put together that the most progress is made.

Our groups are always focused on overcoming social anxiety disorder. We do not waste time on peripheral activities, and everything we do is centered on how to implement our new thinking and feeling strategies in real world situations (e.g., mingling socially, giving a presentation, going to a job interview, etc.)

FOR THE AUDIO SERIES: You may place your order directly on the site below.  Please read the internet pages that describe specifically what is covered on each audio therapy tape:
http://www.socialanxietyinstitute.org/audioseries.html

TO JOIN THE GROUP:

a) complete a formal application, and
b) schedule appointments with Dr. Richards for a diagnostic assessment.

Please call the office at 602.230.7316.   Leave a message if no one answers, and Steve, our practice manager, will call you back. 

If you have social anxiety disorder, please join us. The Social Anxiety Institute is the only full-time center that specializes in treatment of social anxiety disorder in the world. Come join us and see your life begin to change.

Important Information About the Group

Please remember this is a comprehensive (i.e., active and structured) cognitive-behavioral therapy group for social anxiety disorder only.  We do not "mix" people together into groups who have different anxiety disorders.

Everything is voluntary and you are always the boss.  We move slowly and gently up our hierarchies; we do not want to attempt to move too far too fast (i.e., flooding).  People  entering the group are typically surprised at how easily they adjust and fit in with the other group members. 

At the end of the first group, people are usually amazed at the amount of progress they have made, relative to where they were when they started. 

The group is generally much "easier" than most people expect.  Please remember that everyone here, including Dr. Richards, has or has had social anxiety disorder.  You will not find any strangers or judgmental people here. 

Please do not let the thought of a "group" scare you.  You will be happy to meet and get to know other people with social anxiety in our social anxiety groups.  The added fact that you are learning to overcome social anxiety together with other people is both therapeutic and beneficial.  

Read about Visiting the CCBT Group for Social Anxiety

Our group sizes are limited, and we cannot have more than 8 people for the cognitive therapy.  If you are interested in the Saturday program for social anxiety, please call 602.230.7316.  (For the local people only please; people who are interested in the Saturday program.)

Contracts:

We use a contract for these all-day sessions because your place is being held in the group despite the fact you may not be able to attend a session; thus, if you are absent, charges still apply. Note that your absences have been built into the system, and the charges are low, relative to other all-day programs. 

In addition, your continuation in the group until you feel like you have overcome social anxiety -- is at a very inexpensive price (see below).

Behavioral Saturday Therapy:

Most returning people attend the behavioral (afternoon) session only. Space is limited for this.    

This option is only available to those who have completed comprehensive cognitive-behavioral therapy in some form at SAI. 

We always encourage participation in more than one group for people with social anxiety, as your participation moves you farther along the pathway to overcoming this anxiety disorder altogether.

Thus, if you choose to participate in the next behavioral therapy group, the costs to you are made considerably lower to encourage you to  continue your progress and healing.  

Charges for the behavioral group only (afternoon): 

Second and all further groups:   Rates are very low and a sliding fee scale exists.   We do need a signed contract for the behavioral portion of the group, too.

This Saturday group is for local (within driving distance) people.  

Our out-of-town  groups are held for 3 weeks.   You can also read about the comprehensive international CCBT group therapy for people from around the world.

Also, for more complete and specific information about what we will be doing in cognitive and behavioral therapy, please see the "What is Comprehensive Cognitive Behavioral Therapy" Page.

What is a real-life experiment and how does it help?

There will also be encouragement and support to go out with other group members some time during the week and do "experiments" in the real world, when you feel ready to do this.  The experiments will be fully explained and further information is at the bottom of this page.

For example, if Jack has a hard time going up to a salesperson and stating what we wants to buy, then Jack and Rob can go to a mall and Jack can actually do his "experiment" with Rob there as a support person to remind Jack of the cognitive strategies he should be using, and then as a person to give Jack an accurate portrayal as to what went on after the real-life "experiment" is over.

In turn, Jack can help Rob with one of his social anxiety problems.  Rob may have difficulty in talking to strangers, so many "experiments" can be done.  Rob can pass by strangers to start with and say "Hello, how are you?"  He can start up a conversation with a person close to him in a store or at a restaurant. 

The opportunities for real-life experiments are plentiful and need to be incorporated into the comprehensive CBT treatment.  We always have people interested in doing real-world experiments with other people from the group. 

You are not "forced" to do these experiments.  When you feel ready (but not until then), we will start talking about them.