Social Anxiety Supporting Children Through Virtual Therapy

If you’re the parent of a child who dreads birthday parties, freezes when called on at school, or clings to you in social settings, you may be seeing signs of social anxiety. Social anxiety is more than just shyness, it can interfere with a child’s ability to engage with peers, participate in class, or enjoy everyday experiences. The good news is, support is available. At Amy Brown Counseling, we offer virtual therapy for children in Missouri, including children in St. Louis and surrounding areas, and we’ve seen firsthand how virtual sessions can help children with social anxiety begin to feel more confident and connected.

In this blog, we’ll walk you through how to identify social anxiety in children, why virtual therapy is a valuable option, and what to expect from therapy sessions that are tailored to support your child’s comfort, growth, and resilience.

Social anxiety in children often goes unnoticed at first. It can be mistaken for shyness, sensitivity, or even stubbornness. But children with social anxiety are not just reserved—they are often overwhelmed by fear in social situations, especially when they feel they are being watched, evaluated, or expected to perform.

Here are some signs that your child may be struggling with social anxiety:

Extreme distress before social events or school
Physical symptoms such as stomachaches, nausea, or headaches before interacting with peers
Clinging to parents or refusing to leave the house for playdates or group activities
Avoiding eye contact, speaking very quietly, or refusing to speak in certain situations
Worrying excessively about saying or doing the wrong thing
Freezing, crying, or becoming panicked when asked to speak in front of others
Difficulty making or keeping friends

These symptoms may show up in school, during extracurriculars, or even within the family, especially when new people are present. Left untreated, social anxiety can affect a child’s academic success, emotional development, and relationships.

At Amy Brown Counseling, we provide online therapy for children in Missouri and have worked with many families whose children were struggling with anxiety in social settings. Virtual therapy can be especially effective for kids with social anxiety, because it allows them to begin therapy in an environment that already feels safe, their own home.

Here are just a few of the reasons virtual therapy can be a powerful tool:

1. Comfort leads to connection

Children with social anxiety often feel safest in their home environment. Starting therapy from their bedroom, a quiet corner of the house, or a favorite spot helps reduce the pressure that might come from entering a new office or unfamiliar space.

2. The screen provides a gentle buffer

Many children with social anxiety feel less intimidated by a therapist on screen than in person. The physical space creates just enough distance to ease their anxiety while still allowing for connection, communication, and trust-building.

3. Gradual exposure is easier to control

Virtual therapy allows the therapist to pace exposure activities in a way that aligns with the child’s comfort level. Role-playing social situations or practicing conversation starters can happen in small, manageable steps.

4. Parents can be nearby

Especially for younger children, it helps to know a parent is just outside the door. Virtual therapy allows for flexibility, parents can be involved in parts of the session or remain close by, depending on what makes the child feel secure.

5. Consistency is easier to maintain.

Children with anxiety benefit from predictable routines. Because virtual sessions don’t require travel or time off work and school, they’re easier to schedule and stick with—leading to better long-term outcomes.

Whether you live in a major city like St. Louis or a more rural part of the state, our goal is to make therapy for children with anxiety in Missouri accessible, consistent, and individualized. We specialize in working with children age 7 and up who may be dealing with:

Generalized anxiety
Social anxiety
School-related stress
Fear of being judged, teased, or excluded
Difficulty adjusting to changes or transitions

We provide services for children in St. Louis, Missouri as well as across the state through our secure online platform. Many of the families we serve are relieved to know that they don’t have to commute to receive high-quality therapy services, they can access help right from home.

No two children are alike, and no two therapy sessions should be either. At Amy Brown Counseling, we take a personalized approach to each child’s needs. For children experiencing social anxiety, we typically blend evidence-based strategies with creative, age-appropriate interventions, including:

Play Therapy

Play is a natural language for children. Through symbolic play, drawing, games, and storytelling, children can process feelings and experiences that may be too difficult to verbalize. In virtual sessions, we use interactive online tools and invite children to use materials from home that they enjoy. This helps them feel grounded and in control.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps children identify anxious thoughts and learn how to reframe them. A child who thinks, “Everyone will laugh at me if I speak,” can learn to replace that thought with, “I might feel nervous, but I can do it.” We work together to challenge the anxiety and build confidence through small wins.

Exposure-Based Activities

Social anxiety can improve with gradual exposure to feared situations. In therapy, we may role-play a conversation with a new friend, practice ordering food at a restaurant, or plan a short phone call with a family member, all tailored to the child’s pace.

Parent Coaching

Therapy doesn’t stop at the end of the session. We involve parents by offering guidance, feedback, and communication strategies to use at home. Parents learn how to support their child’s growth without pushing too hard or reinforcing avoidant behaviors.

Mindfulness and Coping Skills

Children learn techniques to calm their bodies and minds when they feel overwhelmed. Breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and movement-based activities help regulate the nervous system and increase a child’s ability to face challenges with resilience.

What Parents Often Search When Looking for Help

When parents are concerned about their child’s anxiety, they often turn to Google with search phrases like:

“How do I help my child with anxiety?”

“Child therapist near me for anxiety”

“Play therapy for anxious child St. Louis”

“Social anxiety in children help”

“Online therapy for kids with anxiety Missouri”

This is why we work to ensure that families in Missouri who are looking for help with anxiety in children can easily find us, understand our approach, and feel supported from the first step.

What to Expect When Starting Virtual Therapy

If you’re considering therapy for your child, here’s what the process looks like:

Complete the New Client Inquiry Form on our website. This lets us know your child’s age, the concerns you’re noticing, and your availability.
We’ll reach out to schedule an intake session with you (the parent or caregiver). This is a chance for us to gather background information and hear your perspective on what your child is going through.
We schedule your child’s first session. This usually includes a gentle introduction to the therapist and some light, engaging activities to help your child feel comfortable.
Weekly or biweekly sessions continue, and we work collaboratively to support your child’s goals.
We stay in close communication with parents, checking in regularly to share progress and strategies for home support.

All of our sessions are conducted via a secure, HIPAA-compliant video platform. You’ll receive a unique link before each session, and your child can log in from anywhere with internet access and a device with a camera.

Why Support Early Makes a Difference

Anxiety can be persistent, but it is also highly treatable. When a child with social anxiety receives the right support early on, they can learn that their fears don’t have to control them. They begin to take healthy risks, form meaningful connections, and approach new situations with more confidence. Small steps, like waving at a classmate or speaking up during a group activity, can create big shifts in how a child views themselves and their place in the world.

Therapy gives children the tools and emotional safety to practice these steps at their own pace. Over time, they build courage, not because their anxiety disappears entirely, but because they know they can handle it.