Teaching Teens to Face Social Anxiety (Without Avoidance) - Kaci Jacobellis

In this episode of Extending Branches, Dr. Mike Courtney talks with counselor Kaci Jacobellis, ALPC, about social anxiety in teens and how parents can help. They explain the difference between normal social nervousness and diagnosable social anxiety, why adolescence can intensify fear of judgment or rejection, and how social media can add pressure through comparison. Kaci shares practical tools for parents, including staying curious instead of critical, helping teens challenge harsh self-talk, and using “scaffolding” so teens can take small, supported steps forward instead of avoiding social situations.Extending Branches is a biweekly podcast from Branches, a nonprofit dedicated to helping people recover hope, find healing, and experience growth through Christ-centered mental and emotional care. Thanks for joining us! You can find us online at branches.org.