• One in eight people suffer from some form of Social Anxiety Disorder, and it is the third most prevalent mental health disorder in the United States.

• Mahatma Ghandi fainted from anxiety the first time he presented a case in court as a young lawyer in South Africa.

• Kim Bassinger, Barbara Striesand and Carly Simon suffered from stage fright debilitating enough to keep them from performing.

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How and Why the Program is Effective!

Gradual Exposure - Our behavioral therapy approach allows you to face your fear in manageable steps, at your own pace. Although each exercise is challenging, you are never required to attempt anything you cannot handle.

Sample of Gradual Exposure Program for Public Speaking Anxiety

Private sessions are suggested if you do not feel ready to enter the group environment. As the comfort level grows, another person will participate. Once this dynamic becomes manageable, one more person is added, and so on, until you feel confident enough to participate in the group sessions.

You may skip this process and start with group sessions if you feel ready from the start.

Session One - Answer very simple questions while seated. The questions (name, occupation, where you live, etc.) require little thought and responses can be brief.

Session Two - If your anxiety is high, you will simply be asked to describe your surroundings. Once the nervousness subsides, you will be gently encouraged to describe something very familiar to you, like your home, car, or pet.

Session Three- By the third session you may feel comfortable enough to attempt standing (with several other people) and responding to very simple questions. As your confidence increases, one by one, each person standing with you will sit, until you are standing alone. You will continue fielding simple question until this begins to feel comfortable.

Session Four - This exercise is the same as the previous one except you start by standing alone.

Session Five - Not knowing what to do with your hands and body is a great source of anxiety and discomfort for the inexperienced speaker. This exercise teaches you how to incorporate gestures and movement while speaking in front of a group.

Session Six - You will begin to implement the skills learned in the previous exercise by relating a personal experience using gestures and movement to enhance your description.

Session Seven - You will gain experience initiating and sustaining conversation with a variety of people in this exercise.

Session Eight - The rudiments of reading aloud effectively (voice projection, pacing, pronunciation, eye contact, etc.) are covered in this session.

Session Nine - Learn how to organize and deliver and impromptu (unprepared) talk.

Session Ten - Learn the secret of outlining and presenting a prepared speech with minimal effort or stress.

Once you have mastered the above you can begin practicing a variety of exercises simulating all manner of interpersonal and public communication including:

• PersuasiveSpeaking
  
• Panel Discussion
  
• Conflict Resolution
  
• Defending your Position
  
• Debating
  
• Initiating and Sustaining Conversation
  
• As well as many others

Note: - The program can be tailored to your particular needs. The emphasis would tilt toward conversation and social interaction for those with social anxiety. Work related exercises can also be simulated for those facing presentations in the workplace.

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STAGE FRIGHT is thought by many to be an irrational fear. However, in closed tribal societies extreme timidity might result in banishment from the group, which could severely impact one's ability to survive and procreate. It is certainly not irrational to fear circumstances which threaten one's survival.

Group dynamics relating to dominance and hierarchy have not really changed throughout history. The dread of losing one's status and all it portends symbolically is a rational and natural reaction to a potentially very real threat.

However, not every group interaction comprises the same level of risk. When the situation is relatively innocuous and the reaction is extreme, professional guidance may be necessary.

By approaching low risk environments in manageable steps, within the structure of a well planned behavioral approach, it is possible to alter perception of the stakes involved in the group dynamic and lower overall stress levels.

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SHYNESS is a condition that generally has genetic roots. Some children are naturally reserved, while others are rambunctious. Studies have found that variations in levels of neurotransmitters such as dopamine may be responsible for the differences.

However, shyness need not be a life sentence. The shy person can learn skills to overcome or compensate for their timidity.

Just as a musician's or an athlete's confidence increases in direct correlation to their skill level, so it is with the shy person. They likely will not become "outgoing", but they can learn to dramatically alter their ability to function with others.

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The PREPARED SPEECH mortifies most people and they avoid it. However, facing the issue sensibly and breaking it down into manageable components makes all the difference. The preparation process, rehearsal, anticipation and performance need not be fraught with anxiety when basic guidelines are adhered to.

The wisest policy is to stick to what you know, give graphic personal examples, be prepared and well organized and keep it brief and to the point.

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The POWERPOINT PRESENTATION - Give your presentation a trial run without lugging your laptop around. Simply email
the powerpoint file attachment, and you will be set to present when you arrive.

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The DVD - ON CAMERA TRAINING - Have your exercises recorded for analysis at home.

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The IMPROMPTU SPEECH generally causes problems when one feels the need to elaborate on issues they are not conversant with.

Take a moment to gather your thoughts. Don't rush! Choose one, or at the most two points to make which relate to you personally and keep it brief. This strategy will make you more effective and help minimize anxiety.

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ASSERTIVENESS is not to be confused with confrontation or aggression, which have negative connotations in certain situations. Assertiveness is a non-threatening way of expressing your views or letting someone know how their behavior is affecting you.

The goal is to remain poised, while using reason to persuade, without casting blame.

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Some feel CONVERSATIONAL SKILL is a natural talent; but it is possible to learn to converse more effectively. The ability to speak to others is largely a consequence of personality. However, with proper guidance, motivation and effort, it is possible to make significant improvement in that area.

Keeping abreast of current events by reading the newspaper on a daily basis, is just one way to immediately impact your knowledge base and improve speaking skills. Learning techniques for initiating and sustaining conversation and practicing in controlled and uncontrolled settings are others. Confidence increases with practice and ultimately anxiety diminishes.

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The EMPLOYMENT INTERVIEW need not be a journey into foreign territory, if you are prepared and aware that the interviewer expects you to be nervous.

In preparation for a press conference, the President of the United States responds to questions he is likely to receive. You should do the same before each interview. List the questions you are most likely to face and have someone drill you.

As always, keep responses brief and use vivid personal examples. Instead of saying you like to work with numbers, talk about a specific project you worked on.

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CONFRONTATION brings out the best and worst in people. The fight or flight response is triggered and either throws one into disarray or rivets concentration. However, stick to the topic without getting personal and you are on firm ground.

Use emotion to heighten the appeal, not to bully your antagonist. Use fact, logic and reason to shape your responses, being careful to respect the other person's integrity. If your adversary becomes abusive, be firm and unwavering during the onslaught, but do not succumb to the temptation to retaliate in kind.
You are most effective when you are fair, stick to the topic and keep a cool head.