Social Anxiety & Overthinking Group Therapy Calgary
An evidence-based group for adults with social anxiety, and patterns of overthinking or rumination.
This is an online group format. No previous experience required.
Most people with social anxiety or patterns of overthinking have spent years avoiding the situations that make them anxious. The harder ones get put off, declined, worked around, or quietly endured.
The problem is that avoidance is what keeps social anxiety and fears running.
This group exists for that. It's a 6-week, online, evidence-based group designed specifically for adults with social anxiety and overthinking. The work is structured, paced, and focused on practicing the things that have felt impossible to do alone.
You don't have to be at your worst to join. You also don't have to be ready to "fix" everything. You just have to be tired enough of avoiding things to try a different approach.
How The Group Works
6 weeks. 90 minutes. Up to 8 participants.
Sessions meet weekly on Wednesday evenings, 6:30 – 8:00 PM Mountain Time, hosted online via Zoom. Joining online means you can participate from anywhere, without the added barrier of walking into a building full of strangers in the early weeks.
Sessions are structured but conversational. Each week builds on the last, combining psychoeducation, group discussion, and real-time practice in a paced, supportive way. Cameras on, speaking when you're ready, and no pressure to perform. Over time most people find it gets easier, not because the anxiety disappears, but because they stop being run by it.
Week 1: Orientation & Understanding Social Anxiety
Week 2: The Avoidance Cycle & How It Keeps You Stuck
Week 3: Working with Self-Critical Thoughts
Week 4: Tolerating Discomfort in Real Time
Week 5: Practicing Visibility & Honest Communication
Week 6: Integration & What Comes Next
Is This Group Right For You?
This group might be for you if:
You avoid speaking up in meetings, social settings, or with people you don't know well
You replay conversations afterwards, scanning for what you said wrong
You've turned down opportunities, professionally or socially, because the anxiety felt too much
You feel exhausted by interactions that other people seem to find easy
You want to do exposure work but the idea of doing it alone is too overwhelming
You've thought about individual therapy but want the practice of being with other people who understand
It is open to adults of all genders. No prior therapy experience needed. Suitable for first-time participants.
Cost.
$85 per session. Billable to most insurance plans that cover psychological services. Payment is made per session. Receipts provided for insurance reimbursement.
Your Facilitator
Michael brings clinical expertise in evidence-based treatment for anxiety disorders, including social anxiety, panic, OCD, and phobias. He has specialized training in Exposure and Response Prevention and creates a group environment that is structured, paced, and respectful of where each person is in the work.
Michael Grisonich, Registered Provisional Psychologist
Next Group: Starting October 7, 2026 Wednesday evenings | 6:30 – 8:00 PM | Zoom Meeting
Spots are limited to 10 participants. A brief consultation with Michael is required before joining.
Winter offering starts February 17, 2027 on Wednesday evenings for 6 weeks.
FAQ
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Do I have to have my camera on?
Yes, cameras on is part of the format. The group works because everyone shows up visibly. That said, the early weeks are paced. You don't have to speak the whole time, you don't have to perform, and the group structure protects you from being put on the spot. Most participants find that having their camera on becomes one of the genuinely useful parts of the experience.
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What if I have a panic attack during a session?
This happens, and the group is designed to handle it. You can step away from the screen, mute, take a break, and return when you're ready. Michael is trained in working with anxiety in real time, and the group culture is set up so that visible distress is met with care, not pressure to be okay.
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Is this real therapy or just a support group?
This is real therapy. It's facilitated by a registered psychologist, structured around evidence-based treatment for social anxiety (Exposure and Response Prevention combined with cognitive work), and billable to insurance under psychological services. It's not unstructured peer support.
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Why a group instead of one-on-one therapy?
For social anxiety specifically, group therapy is one of the most effective treatment formats. Individual therapy can address the thinking patterns, but exposure to other humans is part of what social anxiety actually requires. A group provides that exposure in a contained, supportive way that 1-on-1 sessions can't replicate. Many people do both, in sequence or in parallel.
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What if I miss a session?
The group is designed as a sequence, so consistent attendance is important. We understand that things come up, but missing more than one session affects the experience. The consultation before joining helps make sure the timing works for your schedule.
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Is this group only for people in Calgary?
No. Because the group is online, it's available to adults across Alberta. Michael is licensed in Alberta as a Registered Provisional Psychologist, so in order to join, you need to be a resident of Alberta.