MORE THAN A PHOBIA: TARGETING SHAME-BASED BELIEFS IN CBT FOR SOCIAL ANXIETY

Larry Cohen, LICSW, A-CBT is featured in this interview by the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (A-CBT) about the importance of targeting the shame-based beliefs that underlie social anxiety disorder that distinguish SAD from all other phobias.

Larry confounded NSAC in 2013, and served as its Chair or Cochair until 2025. He represents NSAC District of Columbia (Social Anxiety Help), which he began in 1990. He has provided CBT for well over 1,000 persons with social anxiety disorder, and has led 100 20-week CBT-for-social-anxiety groups. Larry is a Diplomate of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies, which has also conferred on him the status of Fellow for having “made sustained outstanding contributions to the field of cognitive therapy.”

Larry wrote an in-depth blog article on the subject of targeting shame-based social anxiety beliefs for the Academy of CBT. In 2025, Larry authored a self-help book on the subject entitled Overcoming Shame-Based Social Anxiety and Shyness: A CBT Workbook. This user-friendly, comprehensive and practical guide integrates evidence-based strategies from all three waves of CBT (behavioral, cognitive and mindfulness), and is designed to be used by therapists seeking practical guidance, as well as persons suffering from social anxiety.

Larry was interviewed by Katy Manetta, PhD, A-CBT, a Board member of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies. Katy is also a Board member of the National Social Anxiety Center, where she serves as Blog Coordinator, and represents NSAC Long Beach.