The Shyness Clinic

The Shyness Clinic is dedicated to the belief that shyness and social phobia do not have to interfere with achieving professional and interpersonal goals. The pain of shyness can be relieved by challenging negative thoughts and beliefs, and learning new behaviors. Participants at the Clinic have opportunities to learn and to try new behaviors in a safe and supportive environment

The Shyness Clinic follows a "mental wellness" or "social fitness model" of treatment with a focus on encouraging participants to expand their current capabilities.

Offerings:

Program
History
Services

The Program

Treatment at The Shyness Clinic addresses the following issues:

Cognition (how do I think?):

We work to identify and to change automatic thinking patterns that interfere with social interaction and social success.

Behavior (how do I act?):

We teach participants how to change behavior patterns that prevent them from reaching their life goals of friendship, marriage, and/or a rewarding work life.

Physical arousal (how do I stay calm?):

We help participants learn to regulate physical discomfort (e.g., racing heart, sweaty palms) when it interferes with social functioning, using physiological reactions to enhance performance.

Emotion (what do I feel?):

We help participants to reduce feelings of shame and guilt. We assist them in setting limits, claiming their voices, and getting their needs met.

Attribution style (whose fault is it?):

We help participants to learn to consider specific, temporary (situational), or external circumstances as factors in failures and to give themselves credit for successes.

Manuals:

The Shyness Clinic follows The Social Fitness Model. This model and techniques for Getting Socially Fit are documented in the Social Fitness Training Manuals, treatment and client manuals made available through The Shyness Institute. Your comments and suggestions on this document are appreciated.

History

The Shyness Clinic continues the pioneering work of Dr. Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University. The Stanford Shyness Clinic began in the late 1970's and offered the earliest comprehensive treatment program for shyness. In order to broaden the availability of these services, the Clinic was moved off-campus into the neighboring community of Palo Alto, and was renamed The Shyness Clinic. Since 1982 The Clinic has been headed by Dr. Lynne Henderson, a psychologist with over thirty years of clinical experience who has worked with Dr. Zimbardo throughout this period. Dr. Zimbardo currently serves as a research consultant.

Services

The Shyness Clinic offers the following services:

Initial Evaluation
An initial evaluation by a licensed psychologist includes 1) a structured interview of up four sessions; 2) personality inventories; 3) a final feedback session. Together these sessions help define specific problem areas and assist in clarifying individual goals and desired outcomes for each client. (Cost: $175 per 50-minute session).

Adult Groups
Six-month structured therapy groups facilitated by a licensed psychologist that meet weekly for two-hour sessions involving no more than eight participants. The focus of the groups is on understanding shyness, examining thinking patterns, social skills training, confrontation/negotiation skills training, etc. (Cost: $90 per group session).

Adolescent & Young Adult Groups
Short term, cognitive behavioral groups for socially anxious teens currently forming. (Cost: $90 per group session) .

Individual Counseling for Adults and Adolescents
Individual cognitive behavioral sessions with a licensed psychologist which focus on the personal psychological needs of the client. These may be scheduled weekly or as needed. (Cost: $175 per 50-minute session).

Individual Telephone Consultations
Individual weekly sessions with a shyness specialist for clients who are unable to participate in our on site programs. Sessions include a structured interview designed to identify specific anxiety-producing behaviors, clarify goals, explore skills training, etc. Number of sessions determined by the client. (Cost: $175 per 50-minute session).

Brown Bag Lunch Drop-In
Bring your lunch and join us for an introduction to the format and techniques of The Social Fitness Model used at The Shyness Clinic. These meetings are held at The Shyness Clinic, 5150 El Camino Real, Building C-2, Suite 22, in Los Altos (No Cost). Contact: Nicole Shiloff, (650) 961-9300.

Notice of Privacy Practices

The services of The Shyness Clinic are offered to the entire San Francisco Bay Area through its office located in Los Altos, CA, approximately 40 miles south of San Francisco.

The Shyness Clinic has been moved to the The Kurt and Barbara Gronowski Clinic at Pacific Graduate School of Psychology located in Los Altos, California.

Director: Nicole Shiloff, Ph.D.
Consultant: Lynne Henderson, Ph.D.
Consultant: Philip Zimbardo, Ph.D.
Post: 5150 El Camino Real, Building C-2, Suite 22, Los Altos, CA 94022
Telephone: (650) 961-9300

Related institutions:

The Shyness Institute