Connect More is a short course for students with social anxiety. It'll help you deal with the discomfort of social situations so you can start connecting more with others.

The course takes place over five weeks. You'll start with two or three one-to-one sessions with a therapist. You'll then take part in group sessions with other participants.

During the course, you will:

• understand social anxiety and how unhelpful thoughts and behaviours maintain it
• learn tools from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for managing social anxiety
• practise interacting with others in a supportive setting.

Connect More is not group therapy. You don’t have to disclose difficult feelings or speak at all if that feels too much. That said, we’ll gently encourage you to take part as we know it’s one of the best ways to make progress.

Who is the course for?

This course is for you if you feel fearful in social situations such as making small talk or meeting new people. Or you find yourself avoiding interactions - from being in a shared kitchen to speaking up in lectures. It could also help if you feel overly worried about what others think of you.

The course is not suitable if you have severe social anxiety or another significant mental health problem or are at high risk. In that case, please arrange an appointment with a Wellbeing Adviser to talk through other options.

What participants say

• "I feel better equipped to deal with situations that cause anxiety and can more confidently interact."
• "My confidence has grown and I’m better at facing my fears."
• "I found it really useful in overcoming anxiety."

Dates

We have finished running this course for the 2022-23 academic year. We plan to run it again shortly after the start of the 2023-24 year. Once we know dates, we will update this page. You can use the link below to register your interest in taking part in the course the next time we run it.