Social Anxiety Institute

What the Social Anxiety Institute Is

The Social Anxiety Institute is a specialized mental health organization dedicated exclusively to treating social anxiety disorder. It is the first psychological institution in the world to focus on social anxiety alone. The organization is founded and led by Dr. Thomas A. Richards, a licensed psychologist who holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. from Arizona State University and has dedicated more than 25 years to helping people overcome social anxiety through rational cognitive-behavioral therapy. He is assisted by Matthew Whitley, a behavioral therapist with an M.B.A. The organization's mission is grounded in direct clinical experience: Dr. Richards himself lived with social anxiety for 40 years before developing his treatment methods and founding the Institute in September 1994.

The Institute has grown substantially since its founding. The site contains over 100 articles on social anxiety. The organization has run continuous social anxiety groups for 26 years (as of the time the current website was written). The institute has been involved in treating many thousands of patients over its history. About 25 percent of the people the Institute has seen come from outside the United States, reflecting its international reach. The organization has welcomed people with social anxiety from over 26 countries for its international programs.

What You Actually Get

The Social Anxiety Institute offers three distinct pathways for treatment, each based on cognitive-behavioral therapy: online self-paced learning, group therapy in Phoenix, and an intensive three-week international program.

Online Therapy Series. The foundation is the "Overcoming Social Anxiety: Step by Step" series, created by Dr. Richards. Subscribers to the online series get access to 25 sessions of audio and video content, plus community support. Each session includes audio therapy and handouts, video explanations, supplemental handouts, therapy-themed songs, motivational quotes, and discussion materials. This is self-paced, meaning you work through the material at your own schedule. You can also sign up to receive an 8-part series of emails providing "moments of therapy" from the first 8 sessions of the series. The site emphasizes that this comprehensive series has helped thousands of people overcome their social anxiety. The site does not publish the cost of the online series.

Local Phoenix Group Therapy. The Institute runs all-day Saturday therapy groups for people in the Phoenix area. Sessions follow a structured cognitive-behavioral approach. Historically, the Institute has evolved its group format over time. When it began in September 1994, groups met in the early evening for two and a half hours, split evenly between cognitive work and behavioral practice. In 1999, recognizing the need for faster progress, Dr. Richards shifted to an all-day Saturday format. Participants are expected to complete the weekly cognitive material from the audio series before attending group. Morning sessions focus on discussing cognitive therapy, applying it to real life, and answering individual questions. Group members are expected to meet during weekday evenings (rather than isolating themselves) to practice and reinforce the group therapy work. In later weeks of the program, members go out together and do things at night: bowling, hiking, laugh clubs, art walks, and similar activities. This behavioral practice in real situations is essential to the approach. Dr. Richards stresses that people are "not forced or coerced into doing anything" and that "there will be no surprises with any of this." The site does not provide current meeting schedules, pricing for the local groups, or how to enroll.

The behavioral therapy activities used in groups are extensive and graded in difficulty. Activities done inside the group include group conversations about everyday topics, mingling and small talk, formal and informal introductions, being called on by surprise in conversations, passing a conversation between group members, presenting topics, walking into and out of conversations, conversing across a room, projecting your voice, using a microphone (stationary and while moving), using a telephone in front of others, using a loudspeaker system, impromptu and planned skits, singing and dancing (self-consciousness exercises), and game show-style questions. Group members are also asked to endure criticism and being cut down by the group for their ideas or opinions. Individual activities include reading aloud (both serious and funny material), slowing down when talking or answering questions, presenting work or school projects, giving impromptu talks, giving formal and informal speeches, being in charge of a group or meeting, answering impromptu questions, maintaining eye contact, and other real-world social situations.

International Group Program. For people outside Phoenix, the Institute runs a 3-week Intensive CBT Program. Once or twice a year, Dr. Richards welcomes groups of 6 to 8 motivated individuals from around the world. Participants must have completed most or all of the "Overcoming Social Anxiety: Step by Step" audio series before attending, as the group focuses heavily on behavioral practice. The structured, all-day program involves work on behavioral components of reducing anxiety in practical, real-life situations. Like the Phoenix groups, the approach is graded and gentle. The site states that participants "slowly and gently work your way up to reducing anxiety in practical situations" and that "you are not forced or coerced into doing anything." The program is run by Dr. Richards and assisted by experienced group therapists. The site does not publish current dates, locations, pricing, or how to apply for the international program, though it indicates applications are accepted and there is information about living arrangements in Phoenix.

All treatment programs use cognitive-behavioral therapy because, as the site states, this approach "has been shown by countless research studies to be the therapy of choice" for social anxiety disorder. The Institute emphasizes "active, structured cognitive-behavioral therapy with an emphasis on acceptance, peace, and calmness" and notes that "overcoming social anxiety involves using paradoxical techniques, so the therapy is counterintuitive in nature. This explains why people do not get over social anxiety disorder on their own. Anxiety goes away as we learn to respond to it with our positive emotions, such as calmness, peace, humor, relaxation, and acceptance."

What the Site Proves

Social anxiety is defined on the site as "the fear of social situations and interaction with other people that can automatically bring on feelings of self-consciousness, judgment, evaluation, and inferiority. It is the third largest mental health care problem." The site also provides an extensive breakdown of related and overlapping conditions and experiences: people with health anxiety can have strong social anxiety components; social anxiety differs from panic disorder; blushing is a symptom that affects many but not all people with social anxiety; social anxiety differs from Asperger's Syndrome; social anxiety often co-occurs with dysmorphic beliefs; and the condition is frequently misdiagnosed.

Dr. Thomas A. Richards holds a Ph.D. and an M.A. from Arizona State University and taught psychology for several years in Arizona, Texas, and Arkansas. He won awards for teaching and instructional excellence and was chosen by students as outstanding professor of the year in 1994. That same year he returned to Phoenix and set up an anxiety clinic, which became the Social Anxiety Institute. He has specialized in cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety disorder since the early 1990s. The site notes that he "has seen people from all over the world" and "had the opportunity to work with them directly, individually and through social anxiety CBT groups." He has spoken at conferences across the United States about social anxiety. He has been asked by many groups to help, speak, and answer questions about the "Overcoming Social Anxiety: Step by Step" program and has spent time with therapy groups throughout the country helping group leaders become more effective. He lived with social anxiety himself for 40 years.

The site also mentions Matthew Whitley, M.B.A., Behavioral Therapist, as part of the team. Contributors to the site and programs include Paul Knight, Tim, Henry, Steve Osuch, Brad Magill, Dr. Jason Buck, Troy Gugler, Ron Hattie, Brandon Barrett, Julie Kasting, Jon Dahlquist, Benoit Maurel, and Shaheen Ghiassy.

The organization has treated many thousands of patients. About 25 percent of patients have come from outside the United States. The institute has international groups that have welcomed people from over 26 countries.

Two recent successful cognitive-behavioral group therapy programs operated via Zoom using the "Overcoming Social Anxiety: Step by Step" series. New Zoom therapy groups are announced on the site as they are scheduled. In-person groups in Phoenix have been historically operated and are described as resuming, though the site does not specify a timeline.

Regarding insurance and mental health coverage, the site includes educational information about the Affordable Care Act (ACA), noting that ACA policies must cover mental health at the same level as medical benefits, that insurance cannot limit therapy sessions, must pay at the same rate as medical visits, and must treat mental health conditions like physical diseases. However, the site does not state that the Social Anxiety Institute itself accepts insurance or bills insurance.

What the Site Does Not Say

The site does not publish pricing for any service: not the online series subscription, not the local Phoenix groups, and not the international intensive program. Someone considering the Institute cannot determine upfront what any option costs or what payment methods are accepted.

The site does not state which US states the local groups or online series are available in, or whether they are available to people outside the US. The organization is clearly international, but geographic service limitations (if any) are not specified.

The site does not specify whether the Social Anxiety Institute accepts insurance or whether services are billable to insurance plans. While the site educates visitors about ACA mental health parity, it does not state that the Institute is an in-network or out-of-network provider for any plan.

The site does not provide current group schedules or application deadlines. For the international program in particular, the page says information is available but gives no dates, next session start date, or how to inquire.

The site does not specify age limits or whether it serves teenagers or children with social anxiety, or only adults.

The site does not explain what type of psychiatric credential or license Dr. Richards holds beyond stating he is a "licensed psychologist." The specific jurisdiction and scope of his license are not stated. Matthew Whitley's credentials beyond "M.B.A., Behavioral Therapist" are not explained.

The site does not describe what "community support" in the online series actually includes. It is not clear whether this is moderated discussion forums, live video sessions, email support, or peer-to-peer connections.

The site does not publish formal research results, outcome data, or effect sizes. While the site states that cognitive-behavioral therapy "has been shown by countless research studies to be the therapy of choice," it does not cite specific studies or the Institute's own outcome metrics.

The site does not explain the specific role of medication (if any) in the Institute's treatment approach. The site mentions prescription medication only in educational context about insurance coverage.

The site does not detail what happens in a first session or group meeting. While the behavioral activities used in groups are extensively listed, the structure of an actual meeting, typical session length, or pacing is not explained.

Who It Fits and Who It Doesn't

The Social Anxiety Institute is right for someone who wants specialized, evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy for social anxiety led by a psychologist with decades of direct experience with the condition. If you need genuine expertise focused solely on social anxiety (not a general mental health practice), this is a specialized option.

It is right if you prefer self-guided learning with community support and can work at your own pace. The online series model allows you to move through 25 sessions without scheduling constraints.

It is right if you thrive in group settings and want to practice social skills with others who share the same challenge. The group format includes both cognitive work and graded behavioral practice in real situations.

It is right if you are willing to travel to Phoenix for treatment or willing to participate in an international intensive program for a concentrated period. For people in Phoenix, local all-day Saturday groups may fit your schedule.

It is right if you need an experienced therapist who personally understands social anxiety from lived experience. Dr. Richards' own 40-year history with the condition informs his treatment approach.

The Institute may not fit if you need medication or want psychiatric evaluation. The site does not describe psychiatric services or medication management.

The Institute may not fit if you need clear upfront pricing or want to verify insurance coverage before committing. The absence of published prices or insurance information makes comparison shopping impossible.

The Institute may not fit if you need one-on-one individual therapy. The emphasis is on group work and self-directed learning, not individual sessions with a clinician.

The Institute may not fit if you prefer telehealth video appointments without group requirements. While Zoom groups are offered, they appear to be supplementary to the main offerings.

The Institute may not fit if you are outside the United States and want in-person treatment. The local groups are in Phoenix. The international program is intensive and runs once or twice per year, so it is not a continuous option.

The Institute may not fit if you need evidence of specific treatment outcomes before deciding. Formal research results and outcome data are not published on the site.