Many individuals struggling with social anxiety don’t realize that their fear of social situations is often rooted in unresolved trauma, including feeling unaccepted within their own family. Growing up in an environment where you felt criticized, ignored, or different can instill a deep fear of judgment and rejection. Early experiences of exclusion or being dismissed when expressing emotions can reinforce the belief that you are not good enough, making social interactions feel unsafe. Over time, this leads to self-doubt, avoidance, and a constant fear of scrutiny.
EMDR therapy offers a powerful way to break free from this cycle by addressing the hidden wounds that fuel social anxiety. By reprocessing painful memories and challenging the negative beliefs shaped by family dynamics, peer rejection, or past humiliation, EMDR helps shift how you respond to social situations. This process enables you to build confidence, trust yourself, and engage with others without overwhelming fear. Many individuals find that after EMDR, they experience a newfound sense of self-acceptance and freedom to connect authentically.
We are Clinical Psychologists specializing in EMDR, using deep trauma work and validated techniques to help you break free from the grip of social phobia and fear of rejection. We recognize that unprocessed childhood experiences—whether from critical family dynamics, peer rejection, or past humiliation—can create lasting self-doubt and a deep-seated fear of judgment. These experiences often lead to avoidance, anxiety, and an overwhelming need to prove your worth, making social interactions feel unsafe and exhausting.
With advanced training in Clinical Psychology, we use EMDR to reprocess painful memories and challenge the negative beliefs that fuel social anxiety and fear of rejection. Techniques like CBT, mindfulness, and relational therapy further empower you to trust yourself, reduce avoidance, and build authentic connections without the constant fear of disapproval.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Hoffenberg is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in social anxiety, fear of rejection, and embarrassment. She understands that these struggles often stem from early experiences of criticism, exclusion, or feeling unseen, leaving individuals trapped in patterns of self-doubt and avoidance. Many of her clients describe feeling paralyzed in social situations, consumed by fear of judgment or saying the wrong thing. Through her work, she helps individuals recognize how past experiences have shaped their fears and guides them toward breaking free from the cycle of shame and isolation.
Her approach is rooted in advanced relational EMDR and somatic therapy, a combination that addresses both the emotional and physical impact of social anxiety. By integrating these modalities, Dr. Hoffenberg helps clients reprocess painful memories, release stored tension in the body, and build resilience against the fear of rejection. This holistic method empowers individuals to navigate social interactions with greater confidence, self-acceptance, and ease, ultimately transforming their ability to connect with others and feel secure in their own skin.
Read more about Dr. Hoffenberg
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Yunusova is a Clinical Psychologist specializing in social anxiety and obsessive thinking. She recognizes that for many, social anxiety is not just about discomfort in conversations—it can become an all-consuming cycle of overanalyzing interactions, replaying conversations, and anticipating rejection before it even happens. This persistent mental loop can make social situations feel overwhelming, leading to avoidance, stress, and a diminished sense of self-worth.
Utilizing EMDR, DBT, and exposure therapy, Dr. Yunusova takes an action-oriented approach to help clients break free from these patterns. By reprocessing past experiences of rejection, teaching mindfulness-based distress tolerance, and gradually exposing clients to feared social situations in a supportive way, she helps individuals reduce avoidance and regain control over their thoughts. Her work enables clients to approach social interactions with a calmer, more balanced perspective, ultimately fostering deeper connections and a greater sense of confidence in their ability to navigate the social world.
Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Andrew Curreri specializes in treating social anxiety, fear, and obsessive thinking—patterns that often leave individuals feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to “get it right” in every social interaction. Many of his clients cope by obsessively analyzing conversations, replaying what they said, or rehearsing what they’ll say next, in an attempt to feel safe, prepared, and in control. While this mental overdrive is meant to prevent embarrassment or rejection, it often reinforces anxiety and deepens the fear of being judged. These patterns are frequently rooted in earlier experiences of emotional unpredictability, criticism, or rejection, where staying hyper-aware of others' responses felt essential for survival.
Dr. Curreri uses a trauma-informed approach that integrates EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Exposure Therapy to help clients process the origins of these fears and break free from obsessive mental loops. He supports clients in developing the confidence to tolerate social uncertainty, challenge self-critical beliefs, and experience connection without over-preparing or second-guessing. Through this work, individuals shift from compulsively managing how they’re perceived to engaging with others from a place of grounded authenticity and self-trust.
Social anxiety can feel like an invisible barrier between you and the world—turning everyday interactions into overwhelming challenges. For many, this fear is not just about shyness but a deeply ingrained belief that they are being judged, scrutinized, or rejected. These fears often stem from past experiences of humiliation, exclusion, bullying, or feeling unaccepted within one’s family. Over time, these unprocessed wounds create patterns of avoidance, self-doubt, and overanalyzing social interactions, making it difficult to feel at ease around others.
EMDR therapy offers a transformative way to break free from these cycles by targeting and reprocessing the painful memories that fuel social anxiety. By challenging the negative beliefs formed from past rejection or embarrassment, EMDR helps you develop a healthier, more confident self-view. Many individuals find that after EMDR, they experience less fear in social settings, engage in conversations with greater ease, and no longer feel trapped by the fear of judgment.
You don’t have to live in fear of judgment or rejection. EMDR can help you break free from the past, rediscover your confidence, and build fulfilling connections with others. Let us support you on your journey to a life of greater ease and self-acceptance.
