Social Anxiety Therapy in California
Find your way to more confidence and ease—through mind–body therapy for your nervous system.
If you already understand why your social anxiety comes up—but still find yourself avoiding conversations, situations, or moments where you might be seen—you’re not alone. And you’re not stuck.
A brief, no-pressure call to see if this work is the right fit.
You’ve built a life that reflects your intelligence, your effort, your discipline.
You’ve done what was asked of you—and more.
You show up. You perform. You carry a lot.
So what’s getting in the way?
Social Anxiety.
Even when you understand what’s happening, your body responds before you can think your way through it.
You find yourself thinking:
“What’s wrong with me?”
“Why can’t I just relax?”
“I should be better at this by now.”
“I’m overthinking everything.”
“I’m not coming across the way I want to.”
You leave interactions wishing you had said less—or said it differently.
Or wondering if you were being judged in ways you can’t quite confirm.
You want to feel more at ease,
more confident, and more like yourself.
We can begin that work here.
Likely, you’ve done therapy before and understand this as “nerves.”
Maybe that insight opened the door to different supports—medication, breathwork, or other approaches.
But you’re ready to work in a way that feels more natural, more integrated—one that allows a different kind of response to take shape in real time.
It’s not either/or—but together, we can:
Reduce the intensity of your body’s response in social and performance settings
Expand your capacity to stay present in real time
Strengthen internal regulation
Shift patterns that lead to over-monitoring or self-doubt
Help you feel more natural and at ease—not just prepared
This May Be a Good Fit If:
You’re able to show up and perform—but it takes more effort than it should.
You find yourself thinking ahead, managing how you’ll come across, or reviewing interactions after the fact.
You’ve developed ways to cope—but they don’t fully change how it feels in the moment.
You want more than strategies—you’re looking for a shift in how you experience yourself in real time.
About the Work
You may know exactly what’s happening—and still feel it take over in the moment.
My approach draws from cognitive and behavioral therapies—including exposure-based therapy—alongside mind-body frameworks such as Brainspotting, and relational insight.
This isn’t about pushing through discomfort or performing differently.
It’s about changing what happens in your body in the moment—so you can stay present, respond more flexibly, and feel more like yourself in real time.
I’m Dr. Pipkins, a licensed clinical psychologist, specializing in mind-body-based care.
Next Steps
If this feels like the right direction, you’re welcome to reach out.
We’ll start with a brief consultation to get a sense of what you’re looking for and whether this work is a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions.
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Yes. Many people with social anxiety are socially skilled, professionally successful, or highly articulate. Social anxiety does not always look like avoiding people entirely. For some, it shows up internally through overthinking conversations, fear of being evaluated, difficulty relaxing socially, replaying interactions afterward, or feeling highly self-conscious even while appearing composed externally.
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IAbsolutely. Social anxiety often involves strong physical responses such as blushing, muscle tension, shakiness, sweating, stomach discomfort, shallow breathing, or feeling mentally “blank” during conversations. These responses are driven by the nervous system’s threat response and can occur even when you logically understand that the situation is safe.
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Many people with social anxiety experience a pattern called post-event processing — mentally reviewing conversations, analyzing how they came across, or worrying they said the wrong thing. This often reflects a nervous system that remains activated even after the interaction has ended. Therapy can help reduce this cycle by working not only with thoughts, but with the underlying physiological patterns that keep social situations feeling emotionally high-stakes.
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Exposure therapy doesn’t mean being pushed into overwhelming situations.
In this work, it’s approached gradually and collaboratively—at a pace that allows you to stay present and engaged. Often, we’re working with smaller moments or internal experiences rather than jumping straight into high-pressure situations.
The goal isn’t to force anything, but to help your system respond differently over time.
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No. Medication can be a helpful part of treatment, and you’re not expected to stop.
This work can complement what you’re already doing. Some people continue medication, some adjust over time in consultation with their prescribing provider, and some choose not to change anything at all.
We focus on expanding your options—not replacing one approach with another.
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Brainspotting is a mind-body approach that helps process experiences at a deeper level than talk therapy alone.
You’re never required to use any specific method. We can talk through different options and decide together what feels most useful and appropriate for you.
The work is always collaborative and tailored to your comfort and goals
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No. Effective social anxiety therapy is collaborative and gradual. Exposure-based work is not about overwhelming you or pushing past your limits. The goal is to help your nervous system build flexibility and confidence over time, at a pace that feels manageable and supportive rather than forced.
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Yes. Many people seek therapy after years of adapting to social anxiety privately. Even long-standing patterns can shift. Nervous system responses are learned through repetition and experience, which means they can also change through new experiences of safety, regulation, and connection over time.