San Diego Social Anxiety therapist
When it feels like everyone is watching, therapy helps you find relief.
Even if you have many parts of your life under control, when it comes to social situations—a team meeting, a first date, even replying to an email—your heart pounds.
You might even spend hours over-analyzing what you said (or didn't say), and the anticipation of the next social event feels like a heavy weight. It might feel like you’re the only person in San Diego struggling with social anxiety, and it can feel exhausting.
I'm Allie Evans, a therapist for San Diego residents, and my work is dedicated to helping people like you quiet that relentless inner critic that might struggle with social anxiety. We won’t just treat the symptoms; we’ll explore the roots of your anxiety, teaching your mind and body a new way to feel safe, connected, and authentic.
Social anxiety is more than feeling shy
Social anxiety isn't just shyness; it can be a deep, persistent fear of judgment, rejection, or humiliation. For many people, this can look like:
Anticipatory Anxiety: Spending days or weeks worrying about an upcoming event.
Physical Symptoms: Heart racing, sweating, trembling hands, or a sudden inability to speak clearly (which feeds the cycle of worry).
Perfectionism & The Inner Critic: A harsh voice demanding flawless performance in every interaction, leading to extreme self-criticism.
Avoidance: Turning down social invitations for activities, passing on career opportunities, or even avoiding video calls because the thought of being seen feels like too much.
"Freeze" Response: Feeling disconnected, numb, or mentally blank when you're in the spotlight.
If you recognize these patterns, therapy isn't about becoming a radically different person; it's about helping you unburden the parts of you that have learned to be afraid.
Overcome social anxiety from the inside
For most people, social anxiety isn't random—it's something that has been created by past experiences. Some people have created these worried, perfectionistic "parts" because it genuinely believed they were keeping you safe.
Our work together goes deeper than just managing thoughts. We focus on healing the emotional and nervous system wounds that created the anxiety in the first place. I specialize in combining powerful, evidence-based therapies:
Internal Family Systems (IFS): We use this compassionate framework to acknowledge the parts of you that worry and criticize. When your inner system is in harmony, you can step into social situations without a fear-based need to control the outcome.
Somatic (Body-Based) Therapy: Social anxiety is stored in the body, which is why your heart races when you aren't in any real danger. Through somatic therapy techniques, we teach your nervous system to regulate, reducing the intensity of physical symptoms. You'll learn to feel grounded and safe in your body, which is the ultimate antidote to anxiety.
Attachment-Based Therapy: We explore how early relationships shaped your core beliefs about your worth and how safe it is to be seen. Healing these relational wounds helps you confidently connect with others without relying on people-pleasing or masking your authentic self.
My goal is for you to be able to show up as yourself—imperfections and all—and feel fundamentally okay, regardless of what anyone else thinks.
If you’re living in San Diego resident looking for an experienced therapist who truly understands the complexity of social anxiety and is ready to help you find lasting freedom, send me a message to start overcoming social anxiety in ways that last.