NSAC Statement on Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

At the National Social Anxiety Center (NSAC), we recognize that social anxiety does not exist in a vacuum. The environments we live in, the identities we hold, and the societal structures that shape our daily experiences all play a role in mental health. Marginalized communities—including BIPOC individuals*, LGBTQIA+ persons**, immigrants, Jews, Muslims and other religious minorities, and people with disabilities—face unique systemic barriers that impact access to care, increase stigma, and contribute to heightened social anxiety.

As a non-partisan organization dedicated to fostering evidence-based treatment and education, we reaffirm our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in all that we do. This means:
  • Ensuring access to high-quality, culturally responsive social anxiety treatment for individuals from all backgrounds.
  • Advancing research and collaboration that acknowledges the role of systemic and cultural factors in social anxiety.
  • Educating therapists and the public on the intersection of identity, marginalization, and social anxiety to break down stigma and promote healing.
  • Creating spaces where individuals feel seen, valued, and empowered to show up as their whole selves without fear of exclusion or judgment.
We believe that mental health care is a human right, and social anxiety treatment should be accessible to all. Through our collective efforts as clinicians, educators and advocates, we will continue to uphold diversity not just as an ideal but as an active, integral part of our mission.

Together, we are building a future where every voice matters, every identity is affirmed, and every person struggling with social anxiety has the support they deserve.


* Black, Indigenous and People of Color ** Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual and others who identify with this community.
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Social Anxiety in Generation Z and What We Can Do to Help:

NSAC Board member, Janeé Steele, PhD, LPC (director of NSAC Kalamazoo, MI) is conducting a study to learn more about the unique experience of social anxiety among adult members of Generation Z. If you were born between 1997 and 2006, live in the US, and experience problems with social anxiety, please click HERE to learn more about how you can participate in this study. You will be helping therapists learn how to better help young adults with social anxiety!
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What people say about us...


"Best of the Counseling and Mental Health Web” Award

Mastering Counseling podcast, United Kingdom

(a show for mental health professionals and students)
Listen here to NSAC’s award.

NSAC in the News

Post-Event Rumination

Read this article in Vogue featuring an interview with NSAC Board member, and director of NSAC Kalamazoo, Janeé Steele, PhD, LPC, A-CBT, about the common problem of ruminating about our performance after interactions we experienced with social anxiety.


Rejection Therapy

Learn about this bold and often fun form of exposure therapy for social anxiety in this CNN interviewwith Taylor Wilmer, PhD, ABPP, NSAC Associate, Board member and Clinical Education Coordinator. Kevin Chapman, PhD, HSPP, A-CBT, NSAC Board member and director of NSAC Louisville, is interviewed about rejection therapy in this SELF article. Watch one amusing example of rejection therapy in action in a a behavioral experiment conducted by NSAC Chair, Larry Cohen, LICSW, A-CBT (NSAC DC).


CBT Approach to Manifesting

Learn about the cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) approach to “manifesting”, including for social anxiety, by watching this NBC Today Show interview with Chamin Ajjan, LCSW, A-CBT, CST, NSAC Marketing Coordinator, Board member, and director of NSAC Brooklyn.


Public Speaking Anxiety

Get practical suggestions on overcoming public speaking anxiety anxiety in this CNBC article by the NSAC Marketing Coordinator, Board member, and director of NSAC Brooklyn, Chamin Ajjan, LCSW, A-CBT, CST.


Socially Anxious about Resuming In-Person Activity?

Podcast interview with NSAC Cochair, Lauren Neaman, PsyD, A-CBT (NSAC Chicago).

New York Times interview with NSAC Cochair, Larry Cohen, LICSW, A-CBT (NSAC DC).


What is Social Anxiety?

Listen to this Canadian Mental Health Association radio interview with NSAC Chair, Larry Cohen, LICSW, A-CBT (NSAC DC) for an introduction to what social anxiety is, and its treatment using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT).


Exposure Therapy

Read this Signs of the Times (SOTT) interview with NSAC Board member and director of NSAC St. Louis, Suma Chand, PhD, A-CBT, about using exposure therapy for social anxiety and other phobias.


CBT for Social Anxiety in Action

Listen to this National Public Radio (NPR) story about cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for social anxiety, in which NSAC cofounder and Chair, Larry Cohen, LICSW, A-CBT (NSAC DC) and one of the members in his social anxiety CBT group are interviewed. Listen to that group member conduct a behavioral experiment (exposure) with a stranger in a public plaza.