How Counselling Can Help Develop Your Social Skills
Socializing and engaging with others is an activity most of us do on a daily basis. Yet, despite this fact, many Canadians actually feel awkward and even uncomfortable in social settings. So if you find yourself anxious in gatherings – you’re not alone. Many people share this same problem.
But there are resources available to help you overcome this insecurity, and here at The Family Psychology Place, we want to offer you the assistance you need.
So if this piques your curiosity, keep reading to learn more about how we can help you become more confident and less anxious in social situations.
Complications with Social Skills
A lack of social skills can hinder you in many ways. It can cost you job opportunities, friendships, even romantic relationships can be unfortunate casualties of poor social skills. Learning how to interact with others in a confident, relaxed, and self-assured manner makes people feel comfortable in your presence.
Here are some signs that indicate you may need social skills counselling:
- Unable to maintain eye contact
- Struggle to share your opinions
- Difficulty connecting with others
- Trouble meeting new people
- Unable to pick up on social cues (vocal tone, body language, conversation subtext, etc)
These kinds of complications are obvious indicators that you may need counselling to help you become more attuned, socially.
Social Skills/Anxiety for Children
Anxiety and poor social skills in children can be tricky to navigate. Namely, it could result in stress and pressure; making children feel inadequate. As a result, this can easily transfer to a child’s academic performance; confidence level, and social relationships.
Moreover, the effects can cause children to become reclusive; avoiding events, games, and other group activities with peers in an effort to avoid the potential possibility of embarrassment or disapproval.
Social Skills/Anxiety for Adults
Social anxiety is not a quality reserved for young children. Far from it. Many adults battle with their social skills (or lack thereof) as well. In fact, there are countless adults who suffer from high levels of anxiety and powerful phobias related to social interactions.
This can be quite isolating. Many times, adults – similar to children – hide away from any social gatherings. This results in lack of friendships, missed job opportunities, and challenges with long term relationships.
Managing Anxiety
We all deal with a certain degree of anxiety – that’s just life. However, for many people, their levels of anxiety far outweigh the amounts that the average person has learned to live with. If this sounds like you, we can help.
Here are some signs that you may have inordinate levels of anxiety:
- Excessively dreadful thoughts of bad things happening
- Circumventing activities, places, or people that you feel may trigger your anxiety
- Chest pain, heart palpitations
- Nausea or vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Shaking, overbearing muscle tension
- Dizziness
- Trouble sleeping
- Struggling with concentration
Additionally, autism can play a factor in increased anxiety levels in both children and adults alike. Individuals with autism are more prone to experiencing anxiety and in stronger waves.
If you see your child struggling with making friends, and avoiding extracurricular activities, The Family Psychology Place can help. Reach out to us but, in the meantime, talk to your child/teen about what is making this hard.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re dealing with poor social skills or difficulty with anxiety, you’re much stronger with a support system backing you, so don’t make the mistake of thinking you need to do this on your own.
Contact us today with any questions and our team of experts will be happy to assist you so that you can look forward to a better tomorrow.
