The Social Fitness Center

The Social Fitness Center is a non-profit organization providing workshops, classes, and one-on-one coaching with experienced and trained professionals in specific areas related to shyness, such as dating, public speaking, job interviews, etc.

The Social Fitness Center offers:

• A comfortable, structured environment in which to share experiences, goals, problems, thoughts and feelings regarding social relationships and interpersonal functioning, and to hear and learn from the experiences of others.
  
  
• Practice in self-disclosure skills, listening skills, self-assertion skills, and negotiating skills in a safe and supportive environment.  (Participation is optional for all exercises.)
  
  
• Opportunities to practice participating in social situations, role-plays, public speaking, interpersonal communication on the job, communication in love and close relationships or in expressing romantic interest.

Services of The Social Fitness Center include:

Public Education Classes:

Weekly classes designed to offer support and address specific problem areas related to shyness such as initiating and maintaining conversations, speaking in front of groups, and participating in social activities. Pre-registration is necessary to guarantee a space in the classes. Call 650-723-9827 to register.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) Class for Shyness and Social Anxiety, based on the protocol developed by Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn and colleagues at the University of Massachusetts Stress Reduction Clinic.

The Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction class is sponsored by the Shyness Institute to provide a space for people to come together on a weekly basis to learn and strengthen emotion regulation skills through mindfulness meditation training.

The class offers a comfortable, structured environment in which to learn and practice mindfulness skills. In order to gain the most benefit, participants are required to:

• Attend 8 classes, once a week for 2 hours (3 hours for the first and last class).
• Attend one half-day session on the weekend.
• Incorporate formal and informal daily meditation for the duration of the course.


Dr. Lynne Henderson is the Director of the Shyness Clinic, Clinical Faculty at Stanford, and conducts research at Stanford and at the Shyness Institute. Dr. Philippe Goldin of the Psychology Department at Stanford University is trained in Clinical Psychology and in Buddhist mediation practice. Together, Drs. Henderson and Goldin will provide both theoretical knowledge and practical training in specific mindfulness practices that can positively impact everyday life. Contact: Dr. Goldin at (650)723-5977 for more information.

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Boldly Braving Beyond Shyness

This course will provide an overview of shyness theory, inclusive of both the positive and negative aspects. Students will examine core beliefs; learn when shyness is appropriate and when it can limit one’s potential. Accepting one’s shy traits will promote change through acceptance. Students will also work to enhance self-esteem before confronting challenges and how to handle and move past rejection. Interpersonal skills, experiential exercises and role plays will be practiced within a safe and non-judgmental group setting.


Karen Mikolic, Instructor. Contact 650-305-9398 for more information.

Coaching and Consultations:

• SOCIAL FITNESS COACHING
  Individual sessions with you and your coach are designed to focus on specific areas of difficulty.  Areas may include but are not limited to: public speaking, stress management, assertiveness, initiating and maintaining conversation, relocation adjustment, etc.  Sessions may be held by phone or on site at 2000 Williams, Palo Alto, CA. Cost: $75 an hour.
• DATING COACHING
  Individual sessions with a dating coach who assists clients in definingtheir personal style, determining priorities, exploring current patterns, and setting/accomplishing goals. Sessions can be held by phone or on site at 2000 Williams, Palo Alto, CA. Cost: $75/hour.
• CAREER COACHING
  Individual sessions with a career counselor who assists clients in exploring motivations, obstacles, and solutions for career development and accomplishment.  Sessions may be scheduled weekly or as otherwise appropriate. Cost: $75/hour.
• NEGOTIATION & CONFLICT RESOLUTION COACHING
  Individual sessions with a career counselor who assists clients in exploring motivations, obstacles, and solutions for career development and accomplishment.  Sessions may be scheduled weekly or as otherwise appropriate. Cost: $75/hour.
• EXECUTIVE COACHING: SOCIAL FITNESS IN THE WORKPLACE
  Individual sessions with Dr. Henderson for general work place strategic and leadership development, amplifying one’s natural strengths and extending interpersonal skill to build and deliver a values-driven vision. Sessions may be scheduled weekly or as otherwise appropriate. Face-to-face in Connecticut or California, or by phone. Call 650-814-9210 for further infomation, or to schedule an appointment. Cost: $150/hour.

Directions:

The Social Fitness Center is located at 2000 Williams Street in Palo Alto. From El Camino Real in Palo Alto, take Stanford Ave. (between Oregon Expressway/Page Mill and Embarcadero Ave) west to Williams; park on Stanford Ave. Very close to Calfornia St. CalTrain Stop.

More information:

For more detailed information, or coaching call The Social Fitness Center at 650-493-6398.

Note: The workshops, classes, and coaching are NOT psychotherapy sessions intended to treat psychological disorders, therefore they are not facilitated by licensed health care professional. The instructors and coaches are trained and experienced professionals in the area of shyness and are supervised by Dr. Lynne Henderson, Ph.D.

See also: The Shyness Clinic, The Shyness Institute, and The Shyness Reading List.

The Shyness Clinic offers cognitive-behavioral group and individual treatment and longer-term psychodynamic psychotherapy for shyness.

The Shyness Institute is a non-profit research institution dedicated to research in the areas of shyness, social phobia, and related anxiety disorders.