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eTreatment
Social anxiety - guided internet treatment
Social anxiety is the most common anxiety disorder in Norway, and is characterized by a persistent fear that others will think negatively about us. The fear may apply to one or a few specific types of situations, or in various situations. The symptoms are more extensive than for a person who is shy or has performance anxiety. Social anxiety can lead to a person not participating in family life, working life, schooling, or social gatherings. If you experience that social anxiety makes it difficult for you to function in your daily life, there is treatment that can help you.
In eTreatment, you gain access to a knowledge-based treatment program via PC, tablet, or mobile, while being followed up by a specialist in the specialist health services. This is a form of internet treatment with professional guidance.
The program is based on cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of therapy that focuses on how bodily reactions, thoughts, and actions affect how we feel. The goal is to give you insight into what contributes to social anxiety, and how you can manage the anxiety. You learn how to make exposure as effective as possible. You also learn how to recognize and change patterns of behavior and thought that maintain the anxiety.
Referral and assessment
How to get an offer of eTreatment for social anxiety?
If you are already in treatment at your local DPS (Community Mental Health Center), we ask that you apply in consultation with your therapist.
If you are not in treatment for mental difficulties, you can contact your family doctor and ask for a referral to us. Ask the doctor to write in the referral that you want eTreatment. Other doctors or psychologists can also refer.
You will receive a response from eTreatment by letter or on helsenorge.no. The response on Helsenorge will be notified with an SMS to your phone. In the response, you can read about the assessment that has been made, what will happen next, and about your rights.
Response to referral
You will receive a response from eTreatment by letter or on helsenorge.no. The response on Helsenorge is notified with an SMS to your phone. In the response, you can read about the assessment that has been made, what will happen next and about your rights. If we assess that the treatment is not relevant to you, you will be recommended to contact the person who referred you, or seek other treatment offers. Your family doctor will in both cases be informed that you have been in contact with us.
Before
If we conclude that you may benefit from eTreatment, you will be invited to an assessment interview. The appointment can be a video consultation or a face-to-face meeting. You will receive more information about this in the reply letter.
You will meet a therapist from eTreatment. Together with you, the therapist will map your difficulties and your life situation. You can also ask questions about eTreatment. Together, you will assess whether eTreatment will be a good offer for you.
During
The treatment
If you conclude that the offer is suitable for you, you can start treatment the same day. You will receive information about logging in, and you log in to the treatment with your BankID.
eTreatment is step-by-step. When you have finished one chapter, you gain access to the next. The most important part of the treatment is to practice the exercises you receive. The exercises do not take place within the digital program, but are tasks you should practice in your daily life.
The treatment for social anxiety includes:
information about social phobia
a model for social phobia and exposure to bodily reactions
exposure to social situations
how to make exposure as effective as possible
more about exposure
handling difficulties that may arise during exposure, and acceptance
managing relapse
how to maintain change and plan for the future
Collaboration with your eTherapist
Your therapist will follow up with you every week through written messages in the program. You can write to the therapist when it suits you – for example, about how it has gone with the exercises, what you have been thinking about, and ask questions.
Your therapist will read what you write, give you feedback, and support you in the work with the treatment. The goal is for you to work together towards what is important to you, and to get help to reach your goals.
Involve your loved ones
It can be helpful for you to tell, and preferably show your loved ones, what you are working on in the treatment. Our experience shows that those who allow relatives or a close friend to participate in the treatment may find it easier to work through the challenges.
After
When the eTreatment is completed, you will be offered an appointment with your therapist. After this meeting, the treatment will be completed, but you will have read access to all content for 6 months.
You can reach our locations by public transport. Go to Agder kollektivtrafikk to find your route:akt.no
You may be entitled to have necessary expenses covered when traveling to and from the treatment center.
You should primarily use public transport, and you must pay a deductible. To get money back for expenses you have incurred for the trip, you must fill out a travel expense form and send it toPatient travel.
You can reach our locations by public transport. Go to Agder kollektivtrafikk to find your route:akt.no
You may be entitled to have necessary expenses covered when traveling to and from the treatment center.
You should primarily use public transport, and you must pay a deductible. To get money back for expenses you have incurred for the trip, you must fill out a travel expense form and send it toPatient travel.
