We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.
Course image
Rebecca DiVerniero

Imagine not panicking before going to a get together.

Imagine being able to come up with things to say when you meet new people instead of freezing.

Imagine feeling satisfied with how an interaction went.

This is all possible, but first you need to change your perspective about yourself.

Social scientific research (specifically Psychology and Communication Studies) consistently shows that the higher your self-esteem, the less social anxiety will negatively affect you.

Self-esteem is

Purchase this course if you want to start that change for yourself.

Read more

Imagine not panicking before going to a get together.

Imagine being able to come up with things to say when you meet new people instead of freezing.

Imagine feeling satisfied with how an interaction went.

This is all possible, but first you need to change your perspective about yourself.

Social scientific research (specifically Psychology and Communication Studies) consistently shows that the higher your self-esteem, the less social anxiety will negatively affect you.

Self-esteem is

Purchase this course if you want to start that change for yourself.

About the Instructor:

I have a Ph.D. in interpersonal communication and 18 years of successfully teaching these concepts to higher education students.

I also have social anxiety. As I'll discuss in the course, I developed this straightforward three-step process based on my education in the interpersonal field, as well my own trial and error in raising my own self-esteem. It's a bit messy, as anything regarding mental health can be, but it works.

However, it requires you to have an open mind to (slow) change.

In addition to teaching you concepts from Communication Studies and Psychology, I also use myself as a case study. I admit some embarrassing things and felt really uncomfortable throughout the outlining, taping, editing, and posting process. So, understand that the reason I share these things isn't to complain about my own life/problems, but rather to serve as an example for you to see change is actually possible.

Enroll now

What's inside

Syllabus

Understand the goals of the course
Course Summary
Two Important Things
Introduction to Your Instructor
Read more

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Offers a straightforward three-step process for raising self-esteem, potentially providing actionable strategies for managing social anxiety
Draws upon concepts from Communication Studies and Psychology, providing a theoretical foundation for understanding self-esteem and social anxiety
Includes personal anecdotes from the instructor, which may help learners feel less alone in their struggles with social anxiety
Requires learners to have an open mind to slow change, which may be challenging for those seeking immediate solutions
Focuses on reflection and thought interruption, which may not be suitable for learners seeking more active or behavioral interventions

Save this course

Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
Save

Reviews summary

Self-esteem building for social anxiety

According to a limited sample of inferred student feedback, learners say the course 'Self-Esteem Starter for Socially Anxious Adults' provides a foundation in building self-esteem specifically for those with social anxiety. Many find the instructor's personal stories and academic background relatable and appreciate the practical three-step process offered. While noted as a helpful start, learners mention it requires significant personal commitment and time, emphasizing that it is not a quick fix and relies heavily on independent reflection and practice over 30 days. Some feedback suggests the focus is more on internal change rather than direct social interaction skills.
Addresses self-esteem, not social skills.
"Expected more specific social skills tips."
"This is more about changing your internal view."
"Useful for self-esteem, but didn't directly help with conversation."
Requires significant personal effort.
"It really relies on you doing the work for 30 days after."
"Not a quick fix, requires commitment."
"Change is slow and requires dedication."
Offers actionable 3-step method.
"The three-step process feels simple but effective."
"Gives you tools to start working on self-esteem."
"Provides a clear method to follow."
Instructor's background resonates.
"The instructor's personal story was very relatable."
"Liked that the instructor has both academic knowledge and personal experience."
"Felt like the instructor really understood the struggles."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Self-Esteem Starter for Socially Anxious Adults with these activities:
Review Basics of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Refresh your understanding of CBT principles to better grasp the thought interruption techniques taught in the course.
Show steps
  • Read articles or watch videos explaining CBT fundamentals.
  • Identify common cognitive distortions.
  • Practice identifying negative thought patterns in your own life.
Review 'The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem'
Deepen your understanding of self-esteem by exploring a classic text on the subject.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on the six pillars.
  • Reflect on how each pillar relates to your own self-esteem.
  • Identify areas where you can strengthen your pillars.
Create a Self-Esteem Journal
Track your progress and reflect on your journey to improve self-esteem throughout the course.
Show steps
  • Set up a physical or digital journal.
  • Record daily reflections on your self-image and social interactions.
  • Note any negative thoughts and how you challenged them.
  • Track your progress and identify areas for improvement.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Develop a Personal Affirmation List
Reinforce positive self-perception by creating and regularly reviewing a list of personal affirmations.
Show steps
  • Identify your strengths and positive qualities.
  • Write affirmations that reflect these qualities in the present tense.
  • Review your affirmations daily.
Practice Thought Interruption Techniques
Sharpen your ability to manage negative thoughts by practicing thought interruption techniques regularly.
Show steps
  • Identify a common negative thought pattern.
  • Practice interrupting the thought with a question or positive statement.
  • Repeat this exercise multiple times a day.
Review 'Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy'
Expand your knowledge of CBT techniques for managing negative thoughts and improving mood.
Show steps
  • Read the book, focusing on the CBT techniques.
  • Practice identifying cognitive distortions in your own thoughts.
  • Use the techniques to challenge and reframe negative thoughts.
Participate in a Social Anxiety Support Group
Connect with others who experience social anxiety to share experiences and practice social skills.
Show steps
  • Find a local or online social anxiety support group.
  • Attend meetings regularly.
  • Share your experiences and listen to others.
  • Practice social skills in a safe and supportive environment.

Career center

Learners who complete Self-Esteem Starter for Socially Anxious Adults will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Peer Support Specialist
Peer support specialists use their lived experiences to support others facing similar challenges, often including social anxiety and low self-esteem. This course's focus on self-reflection and managing negative thoughts is directly relevant to the role. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a peer support specialist with its emphasis on understanding the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, making it relevant to the challenges they address in their work. The instructor's own experiences with social anxiety, shared in the course, add additional understanding for peer support specialists.
Social Skills Coach
A social skills coach works with individuals to improve their communication and social interaction abilities. This often involves helping clients overcome social anxiety and build self-esteem, making the course highly relevant. The course helps one who is interested in becoming a social skills coach by providing a framework for understanding the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, offering practical exercises for self-reflection, and teaching techniques for managing negative thought cycles. Given the course instructor's background in interpersonal communication and personal experience with social anxiety, its lessons provide relevant insights for anyone looking to guide others in this area. This course may be useful to anyone trying to become a social skills coach.
Rehabilitation Counselor
Rehabilitation counselors assist individuals with disabilities in achieving their personal, social, and vocational goals. Social anxiety and low self-esteem can be significant barriers for these individuals, making the course highly relevant. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a rehabilitation counselor by providing insights into the interplay between self-esteem and social anxiety, offering practical strategies for self-reflection, and teaching techniques for managing negative thought cycles. The instructor's experience and insights may be valuable for rehabilitation counselors.
Life Coach
Life coaches guide individuals through personal and professional challenges to help them achieve their goals. A key aspect of this involves addressing self-esteem issues, as low self-esteem can hinder progress and well-being. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a life coach by providing tools and strategies for understanding and improving self-esteem, which are essential for supporting their clients. The course's focus on self-reflection, managing negative thoughts, and understanding the impact of self-image on one's ability to make sense of the world around them helps build a strong foundation for a life coach. This course may be useful to anyone trying to become a life coach.
Communication Trainer
Communication trainers design and deliver training programs to improve individuals' communication skills. Addressing social anxiety and building self-esteem can significantly enhance a person's communication abilities, making the course valuable. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a communication trainer by providing insights into the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, offering techniques for managing negative thoughts, and emphasizing self-reflection as a part of the process. Considering the instructor's background and experiences, communication trainers may find this course helpful.
Guidance Counselor
Guidance counselors support students in their academic, personal, and social development. This often involves helping students with social anxiety and self-esteem issues that can impact their academic performance and overall well-being. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a guidance counselor in that it offers insights into the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, as well as practical techniques for addressing these issues. The emphasis on self-reflection, managing negative thoughts, and understanding how self-image affects one's ability to make sense of the world provides valuable tools for a guidance counselor to support their students effectively. A guidance counselor may find this course useful.
Employee Assistance Program Counselor
An employee assistance program counselor provides confidential counseling and support services to employees dealing with personal or work-related issues. These issues can frequently involve social anxiety and low self-esteem, which can impact an employee's performance and well-being. This course helps one who is interested in becoming an employee assistance program counselor by delivering an understanding of the interplay between self-esteem and social anxiety, offering practical strategies for self-reflection, and teaching techniques for managing negative thought cycles. The course provides insights and tools that are directly applicable to the types of challenges employees face, making it a relevant resource for employee assistance program counselors. This course may be useful to anyone trying to become an employee assistance program counselor.
School Psychologist
School psychologists work to support students' academic, social, emotional, and behavioral well-being. They often address issues such as social anxiety and low self-esteem, which can hinder a student's ability to thrive in the school environment. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a school psychologist due to the fact that it provides insights into the interplay between self-esteem and social anxiety, offering practical strategies for self-reflection, and teaching techniques for managing negative thought cycles. School psychologists require at least a master's degree.
Marriage and Family Therapist
Marriage and family therapists diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders within the context of family systems. Self-esteem issues and social anxiety can significantly impact relationship dynamics, making this course relevant. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a marriage and family therapist by giving them the ability to understand the interplay between self-esteem and social anxiety, offering practical strategies for self-reflection, and teaching techniques for managing negative thought cycles. A graduate degree is generally required to become a marriage and family therapist.
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer coordinators recruit, train, and manage volunteers for organizations. This role demands strong interpersonal skills and the ability to motivate and support others, making addressing social anxiety and building self-esteem valuable. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a volunteer coordinator by providing insights into the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, offering techniques for managing negative thoughts, and emphasizing self-reflection. The instructor's own experiences and expertise will prove valuable to any volunteer coordinator.
Human Resources Generalist
Human resources generalists handle a wide range of HR functions, including employee relations, training, and development. Understanding and addressing employees' self-esteem and social anxiety issues can improve workplace morale and productivity. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a human resources generalist by providing insights into the interplay between self-esteem and social anxiety, offering practical strategies for self-reflection, and teaching techniques for managing negative thought cycles. The course delivers a deeper understanding of these issues, enabling the HR generalist to better support their employees. This course may be useful to anyone trying to become a human resources generalist.
Nonprofit Program Coordinator
Nonprofit program coordinators oversee the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs that serve a specific community need. A large part of their responsibilities involve interacting with clients and stakeholders, hence the importance of self-esteem and social skills. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a nonprofit program coordinator in that it offers insights into the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, as well as practical techniques for addressing these and other interpersonal issues that are commonly faced by program coordinators. The emphasis on self-reflection, managing negative thoughts, and understanding how self-image affects one's ability to make sense of the world provides valuable tools for the nonprofit program coordinator.
Community Organizer
Community organizers work to mobilize and empower communities to address social issues. This role requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships, making self-esteem and social confidence important. This course in particular helps a prospective community organizer due to its insights into the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, the techniques for managing negative thoughts, and emphasis on self-reflection. These skills learned in the course will help the community organizer build confidence in building rapport with others.
Social Media Manager
Social media managers oversee a company's online presence and interaction with its audience. While it may appear to be a solitary job, this role involves communication and engagement, making the ability to manage one's own social anxiety and self-esteem important. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a social media manager because of its insights into the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, the techniques for managing negative thoughts, and emphasis on reflecting on one's self image. The skills in this course will help social media managers interact effectively with others online.
Public Relations Specialist
Public relations specialists manage an organization's public image and communication. While it appears irrelevant at first glance, this role requires high levels of social interaction and confidence. Thus addressing social anxiety and building self-esteem are potentially beneficial. This course helps one who is interested in becoming a public relations specialist because of its insights into the connection between self-esteem and social anxiety, the techniques for managing negative thoughts, and emphasis on self-reflection as part of the process. While those who are socially anxious may think that they cannot succeed as public relations specialists, the principles in this course may help them.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Self-Esteem Starter for Socially Anxious Adults.
Provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and building self-esteem. It delves into the six key pillars that support healthy self-esteem, offering practical exercises and insights. Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of the concepts discussed in the course and offer additional strategies for improving self-esteem. It is commonly used as a reference text for those studying self-esteem.
Provides a comprehensive guide to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques for overcoming negative thoughts and improving mood. It offers practical exercises and tools for identifying and challenging cognitive distortions. Reading this book will provide a deeper understanding of the thought interruption techniques taught in the course and offer additional strategies for managing social anxiety. It is commonly used as a reference text for those studying CBT.

Share

Help others find this course page by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Similar courses

Similar courses are unavailable at this time. Please try again later.
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser