Social Anxiety · Brisbane CBD & Online

When navigating social situations feels harder than it should.

Evidence-based support for professionals managing social anxiety and fear of judgment.

Registered psychologist – support for social anxiety in Brisbane City.

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Social anxiety: It’s More than just nerves

It’s the intense, often exhausting fear of being judged or embarrassed. For some people it shows up in obvious ways — dreading social events, struggling with small talk, or feeling overwhelmed in groups. For others it’s more subtle: a constant self-monitoring, replaying interactions long after they’re over, or a persistent sense that you are unliked.

Social anxiety can affect both professional and personal life. At work it might mean difficulty speaking up, avoiding certain colleagues, or withdrawing from social functions. Outside of work it can quietly limit relationships, new experiences, and the ability to feel at ease with the people around you.

Many people with social anxiety are capable — they push through, over-prepare, or carefully avoid situations that trigger it. Performance can look fine from the outside. The internal experience is often exhausting.

How social Anxiety tends to show up for professionals

Fear of judgement

A persistent sense that others are watching, evaluating, or forming negative opinions — even in ordinary, low-stakes situations.

Avoidance

Steering clear of interactions or events that trigger anxiety. Avoidance provides short-term relief but may leave you feeling isolated.

Self-monitoring

Constant awareness of how you’re coming across. Replaying conversations afterwards or worrying about how you were perceived.

Excessive worry

Worry makes it hard to join conversations, contribute in social settings, or feel at ease when attention is on you.

Physical symptoms

Blushing, sweating, a racing heart, or feeling shaky — particularly in situations where you feel observed or evaluated by others.

Social Withdrawal

Gradually pulling back from friendships, social invitations, or new connections to manage the discomfort that social situations bring.

Social anxiety is often present for years before people seek support — partly because avoidance works well enough in the short term, and partly because it can start to feel like just part of who you are rather than something that can change.

You might also be looking for

Social anxiety can connect to other challenges that have their own dynamics. If any of these feels more relevant to what you’re experiencing, there’s more specific information available.

Performance Anxiety

If anxiety is most prominent in situations where you have to perform — presentations, important meetings, or moments where you feel like you’re being assessed.

Find Out More
Confidence & Self-Worth

If social anxiety connects to a deeper sense of self-doubt or a persistent feeling of not being good enough. These feelings might be impacting you in more than just social situations.

Find Out More
Relationships & Communication

If social anxiety makes it hard to be present, assertive, or genuine in relationships. You might need support navigating relationships or strengthening communication skills.

Coming Soon

What we work on together

  1. Understand the patterns maintaining it
    We explore the specific situations that trigger your social anxiety, what keeps it going, and the avoidance patterns that provide relief but prevent lasting change.
  2. Change your relationship with anxious thoughts
    My approach helps you hold self-critical and anxious thoughts differently — so they have less influence over how you show up in social situations.
  3. Gradual exposure
    Gently and systematically facing situations that trigger social anxiety — with some new tools to manage it — is the most effective way to reduce it over time. We build a plan together.
  4. Build social confidence
    Develop practical skills for the situations that feel hardest — conversations, social settings, navigating relationships — so that showing up feels less effortful and more natural over time.
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Working with a psychologist who understands professional life.

I’m Adam Sadd, a registered psychologist and the founder of Uplift Psychology. With 17 years of combined experience across psychology, coaching, HR, and leadership, I have a practical understanding of how workplace pressure affects how we think, feel, and perform.

I work with professionals navigating anxiety, burnout, self-doubt, and career challenges — people who take their work seriously and want support that’s grounded in psychology, not generic advice. My approach is warm, direct, and focused on what’s actually useful for you.

Registered
Psychologist (AHPRA)

17+ years
combined experience

Board approved
Supervisor

Background in
Psychology, HR & Leadership

→ Learn more about Adam and his approach

Tailored to How You Think and Work

When managing social anxiety I draw on a blend of evidence-based approaches. Here’s what you can expect from our sessions.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

A mindfulness-based framework that supports you to manage difficult thoughts and feelings, build psychological flexibility, and take action guided by your values.

Positive Psychology

Rather than focusing only on what’s not working, we build on your strengths, supporting resilience, motivation, and long-term wellbeing.

successful professional
Coaching Psychology

A forward-focused, goal-oriented approach that combines psychological insight with practical strategies. Helping you understand what’s getting in the way and move toward meaningful change.

Rates and Rebates

Session Type

Fee

After Medicare Rebate**

Initial session (50 min)*

$320

$218.45

Subsequent sessions (50 min)

$275

$173.45

*Initial session includes onboarding, psychological assessment, and developing a customised plan

**Medicare rebate available with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. Private health insurance rebates may also apply depending on your level of cover — I can process most funds at time of payment.

How You Can Get Started

Step 1
Book a 15-Minute Intake Call

I’ll call you for a relaxed 15-minute conversation. Ask questions, share what you’re looking for, and decide whether Uplift Psychology feels like the right fit for you. There’s no pressure, and no obligation to commit.

Step 2
Begin With a Clear Plan

In your first session, we’ll clarify your goals, explore what’s happening for you, and introduce evidence-informed approaches. Whether short-term or ongoing, your plan will be tailored to how you think and work.

Step 3
Practical, focused sessions

Focused on what’s important to you. Each session is practical, psychology-backed and solutions-oriented. You’ll leave with insight, strategies, and a clear sense of where to direct your energy.

Initial session $320  ·  Subsequent sessions $275  ·  Medicare & Private Health Rebates Available

A 15-minute conversation. No obligation.

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→ check availability and rates

You’re capable. getting support when you need it doesn’t change that.

A free 15-minute intake call is all it takes to get started. There’s no pressure, and no obligation to commit.

Book intake call

FAQs

I offer a forward-focused, evidence-based approach that works on understanding how social anxiety is showing up in your life now — and building practical strategies to manage it differently. The focus isn’t on endlessly analysing where it came from, but on what’s maintaining it, how it’s affecting your work and relationships, and what genuinely helps. If you’re a professional looking for a practical way to manage social anxiety, Uplift Psychology might be a strong fit.

No referral is needed to book an intake call or start sessions. If you’d like to access the Medicare rebate, you will need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP — but you can book and start without one. Many clients arrange the MHTP after their first session once they’ve decided to continue.

It varies depending on what you’re dealing with and your goals. Some people find real clarity and shift in 4–6 sessions. Others prefer ongoing support to keep building momentum. After your first session, I’ll give you a clearer sense of what an appropriate plan looks like for your specific situation. There’s no set formula and no pressure to commit to a package upfront.

Many people who come to see me are managing well on the surface but struggling internally. Social anxiety doesn’t have to be debilitating to be worth addressing. If it’s affecting your relationships, limiting opportunities, or costing you energy on a daily basis — even quietly — there’s real value in developing strategies to manage it differently.

Exposure-based work involves gradually facing situations that trigger social anxiety — which can feel uncomfortable. But this is always done at a pace you’re comfortable with and with proper preparation. You’ll be supported with new tools to manage your anxiety along the way. Over time, anxiety tends to reduce with exposure therapy. We’ll build a plan together that feels manageable, not overwhelming.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is an evidence-based, mindfulness-informed approach. Rather than trying to eliminate anxious thoughts about what others think of you, ACT helps you change your relationship with those thoughts, so they have less influence over how you show up. It’s practical, skills-based, and well-suited to managing the avoidance patterns that maintain social anxiety.