SCIENCEWORKS
BEHAVIORAL HEALTHCARE
Edited and reviewed:
June 10, 2026
Reviewed by:
Complete Care for all Neurotypes
Therapy | Assessments | Coaching
SOCIAL ANXIETY THERAPY
i-CBT for social anxiety in Tennessee
Inference-based CBT for social anxiety — easing the certainty that others are judging you, without forced exposure, by secure telehealth across Tennessee.
You're sure people are judging or laughing at you
READY FOR LESS SOCIAL FEAR?
What i-CBT for social anxiety involves
Inference-based CBT that questions the ‘everyone's judging me’ story
A therapist who understands social anxiety, at a pace you set
Skills to re-enter avoided situations gradually, on your terms
Licensed Providers
Telehealth Nationwide*
Neuro-affirming
Private & Secure
WHERE THE FEAR COMES FROM
What i-CBT is, and how it eases social anxiety
Social anxiety runs on a confident conclusion drawn before any evidence: that you'll be judged, that you came across badly, that everyone noticed. Inference-based CBT (i-CBT) — developed for OCD and adapted here to social fears — treats this as a reasoning problem. The certainty about what others think is built from imagination and self-doubt, not from what actually happened in the room.
With your therapist, you learn how that conclusion gets constructed — the selective focus on possible disapproval, the distrust of neutral or positive signals, the "what if they think…" reasoning. As you learn to weigh real evidence over the imagined verdict, the dread eases and avoided situations feel approachable again — gradually and on your terms, not by being thrown into them. We pair this with established CBT methods.
KEY STATISTICS ABOUT SOCIAL ANXIETY
12.1%
of U.S. adults experience social anxiety in their lifetime
Source:
9.1%
of U.S. teens aged 13–18 have social anxiety disorder
Source:
7.1%
of U.S. adults had social anxiety in the past year
Source:
WHAT TO EXPECT
An easier first step than you'd expect
1
Free 15-minute consult.
A low-key chat about what's hard — no performance, no pressure.
2
3
Structured i-CBT by secure telehealth statewide, or in person in Nashville.
You're paired with a clinician experienced in social anxiety.
Matched with the right therapist.
Weekly telehealth sessions.
Payment options
As a specialty practice, we're out-of-network so we can offer the most effective, customized services.
Our payment options are transparent and flexible:
-
Self-Pay: All major credit cards; FAS/HSA eligible
-
Payment Plans: 6-months interest-free for approved clients via CareCredit
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Superbills Provided
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Out-of-Network: Up to 90% reimbursement for qualifying plans
WHO YOU'LL WORK WITH
Specialized in anxiety, clinically reviewed
Your care is delivered by licensed Tennessee clinicians experienced in social anxiety, using inference-based CBT principles alongside established CBT methods. We move at a pace you control, never force confrontation, and every plan is clinically supervised and reviewed.
Dr. Kiesa Kelly (she/her)
Owner & Psychologist
Ryan Burns (he/him)
Practice Director
WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE SCIENCEWORKS
Affirming, paced, and evidence-based
Because we're independent and out-of-network, your care follows what actually helps — not a session cap or a one-size-fits-all protocol.
You're matched with a clinician who understands social anxiety and blends inference-based and established CBT — not a generic approach.
By secure telehealth statewide, with in-person visits at our Nashville office — often easier to start than a waiting room.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Questions about social anxiety care
Is telehealth a good fit for social anxiety?
For many people, yes. Starting from your own space removes the waiting-room hurdle that stops a lot of socially anxious people from seeking care. Sessions are by secure telehealth to clients across Tennessee, with in-person visits available at our Nashville office if you prefer.
How is i-CBT different from exposure-based therapy?
i-CBT works first on the reasoning behind social fear — the assumption that others are judging you — rather than starting with exposure to feared situations. Stepping back into avoided situations comes gradually and on your terms, not by being thrown in.
Is i-CBT proven for social anxiety?
Inference-based CBT was developed and best studied for OCD. We apply its principles to the doubt-driven thinking in social anxiety alongside established, well-researched CBT methods, and we tailor the mix to what fits you best.
*Therapy and assessments available in the following states (coaching available worldwide):
Work with us locally:
AL, AZ, AR, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, ID, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, MO, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NC, ND, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WV, WI, WY
2603 Elm Hill Pike, Suite C
Nashville, TN 37214
Disclaimer: This page provides general educational information and is not a substitute for mental health diagnosis or treatment. Reading this page does not create a therapist–client relationship with ScienceWorks Behavioral Healthcare. If you are in crisis or may be at risk of harm to yourself or others, call 911, go to your nearest emergency room, or call/text 988 (U.S.). Additional emergency support can be found here: Emergency Resources.