Free Online Treatment Program for Social Anxiety

Drexel University offers a free ONLINE treatment program for adults (ages 18-65) suffering from social anxiety disorder and living in the United States.

VIDEOCONFERENCING STUDY:

This state of the art cognitive-behavioral treatment consists of 12 weekly hour-long sessions with a therapist. You will be taught techniques to help cope with anxious thoughts and feelings. You will also have the opportunity to practice these techniques and improve your social skills. No medication is involved.

The therapy will occur through an online videoconferencing program called Skype, which is user-friendly and easy to learn. You and your therapist will be able to speak and see each other over the internet.  Skype can be downloaded for free onto your computer. To participate in this treatment, you must have access to a webcam and a computer with high-speed internet access. Depending on quality of sound, you may also be required to use a headset to communicate with your therapist. Our research study cannot reimburse you for any technical equipment you decide to purchase.

If you are interested in participating in the online treatment program for social anxiety, please follow the steps below.

1) Contact our office to discuss eligibility.  The first step is to contact our office to see if you are eligible. Please email us at DrexelSkypeStudy@gmail.com. In your message, please include:
      a) your name
      b) telephone number
      c) city/town and state
      d) convenient times for us to call you
      e) your time zone

Due to the large number of inquiries we are receiving, we may not be able to speak with you right away.  There is currently a long wait list.

2) Determine if your computer can run the Skype program.  After you have spoken with one of our clinicians on the telephone to discuss your eligibility to participate in the online treatment, the next step is to determine if your computer can run the Skype program. The Skype website is: www.skype.com.  Instructions for installing and using Skype are posted here:

Installing Skype (PC)		Installing Skype (Mac)
Testing Sound/Microphone/Video (PC)		Testing Sound/Microphone/Video (Mac)
Using Skype (PC)		Using Skype (Mac)

 Please find out if you are eligible for the study before you purchase any equipment, such as a webcam.

SECOND LIFE STUDY:

Our study delivering treatment through an internet-based program called Second Life is currently on hold as we analyze results from the first round of participants.  If you were on the wait-list for the Second Life study, there is no need to email us again; you will be contacted about your interest in participating in the new videoconferencing study.

 View the below video of Dr. James Herbert explaining the Second Life online treatment program: