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Social Anxiety Clinic

Social Anxiety Clinic
Dr Matt Davies

Director and Clinical Psychologist
PhD. M.Psych (Clin), B.B.Sc (Hons), MAPS

Director Social Anxiety Clinic

Dr Davies directs our social anxiety clinic. He has considerable expertise and experience treating social anxiety, shyness, and social disconnection.
People with social anxiety simultaneously feel anxious in the presence of others, while also having a deep desire for connection and belonging.
Social Anxiety -Happy young couple in a coffee shop

At some level, almost everyone has the capacity to connect with others in a satisfying and grounded way.

Therefore, successful therapy for social anxiety seeks to uncover and treat barriers to such connection.

While everyone is unique, barriers to connection that can be important to focus on in psychotherapy include:

  • Being preoccupied with what others might think of them
  • Harsh self-criticism that manifests both during and after social situations
  • Physiological arousal (such as heart racing, shortness of breath, shaking, muscle tension) in the presence of others
  • A disconcerting sense of self-consciousness that makes genuine connection extremely difficult
  • A tendency towards avoiding social situations or doing ‘the bare minimum’ socially ‘just to get through’ (eg, giving short answers to questions, minimal eye contact, etc.)
  • A focus on not making social mistakes, rather than a focus on authentic engagement with others

Psychotherapy should be able to better help people identify core issues underlying their difficulties, rather than provide generic, or superficial advice (eg, “Just be yourself!”). As such, effective therapy for social anxiety provides a balance between genuine self-understanding, and practical techniques that make a real difference in a person’s relational life. Everyone with social anxiety is different and Dr Davies’ therapeutic approach reflects this.

Dr Davies is committed to evidence-based practice, research and education. He integrates best-practice treatments such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), mindfulness-based approaches (e.g. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) and Schema Therapy. Dr Davies has many years experience as a clinical lecturer, researcher, and supervisor of Masters and PhD level postgraduate students at the School of Psychology, University of Adelaide and the Department of Psychiatry, Flinders University.

Dr Davies prioritises treatment for people with social anxiety and related difficulties.
Please note Dr Davies does not engage in WorkCover claims or Medico-Legal and Family Court reports.