For this reason, the MCP Hahnemann program focuses on teenagers as well as adults with this condition. There are two forms of treatment for social phobia. One form of treatment that has been shown by scientific studies to work is medication. The other is psychotherapy. There are advantages and disadvantages to each of these treatment modalities.
Medications require relatively little effort on the part of the patient.
There is the possibility of side effects, but these are usually easy to minimize. In other words, when one eventually stops the medication the problems often come back. The greatest advantage of psychotherapy is that the changes achieved through treatment are more likely to be permanent. However, psychotherapy requires a great deal of work on the part of the patient. In addition to weekly therapy sessions, there are homework assignments that must be completed between sessions.