Helping Adolescents with Social Phobia: A New Treatment Protocol to Empower them is Social Situations

Abstract

Contrasting with the invalidation social phobia with an early beginning may have, research on cognitive-behavioural conceptualization and treatment in children and adolescents with social phobia is scarce.In our presentation, we will propose a new treatment protocol for adolescents with social phobia, based on the most widely accepted conceptualization model of social phobia in adulthood - Clark & Wells, 1995 - taking into consideration idiosyncrasies in this age group, and also incorporating a positive and acceptant attitude towards themselves and their symptoms, and a curiosity attitude in the changing process. The aim is not only to overcome their social phobia but also to enable the adolescents with a positive view of themselves and of their strengths to empower them to overcome other difficulties and to promote their self-determination, in order to pursue their life-long projects and values.

Cognition-Focused Interventions for Social Anxiety Disorder Among Adolescents

“…(Kendall and Hedtke 2006 ) which have been among the rigorous studied. Programmes developed for SAD specifi cally, including Social Effectiveness Training for Children (SET-C; Beidel et al 2000 ) and Cognitive-Behavioral Group Treatment for Adolescents (CBGT-A; Albano et al 1995 ;Hayward et al 2000 ;Herbert et al 2009 ), the original IAFS (Intervención en Adolescentes con Fobia Social-Treatment for Adolescents with Social Phobia; Garcia-Lopez 2000; SASS (Skills for Academic and Social Success; Masia et al, 2001 ); the protocol entitled "To be myself among the others" (Salvador & Pinto-Gouveia, 2009 ); and CognitiveBehavioral Group Therapy for Social Anxiety (Aydin et al 2010 ), also continue to emerge (see Chaps. 9 and 13 ).…”