Social Anxiety Formulation (Clark & Wells)
A formulation based on Clark and Wells' cognitive model of social anxiety — mapping self-focused attention, the observer-perspective self-image, and safety behaviours.
Written by Tarun Vermani, Trainee Clinical Psychologist Last reviewed
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Social Anxiety Formulation (Clark & Wells)
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Clark & Wells Social Anxiety Model
Social Anxiety Model (Clark & Wells)
Social Situation
Assumptions Activated
Perceived Social Danger
Self-Focused Attention & Self-Image
Processing of self as a social object
Safety Behaviours
Anxiety Symptoms
Pre- & Post-Event Processing
Protective Factors & Strengths
What resources, strengths, and supports might help in recovery?
Reflection
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The Social Anxiety Formulation (Clark & Wells) is an interactive cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) worksheet, most often used in CBT for social anxiety.
It is designed to be used within therapy rather than as a standalone self-help tool: a therapist introduces it, works through it collaboratively, and helps make sense of what it surfaces. You can preview the full worksheet above, then assign it digitally for clients to complete between sessions on any device — or download it as a print-ready PDF.
How it works
Most people work through it in around 25 minutes. It moves through three short steps:
- Clark & Wells Social Anxiety Model
- Protective Factors & Strengths — What resources, strengths, and supports might help in recovery?
- Reflection
Completed on the Formulate platform, your client's answers are saved automatically and shared straight back to you, so you can review them before the next session rather than waiting for a paper copy to come back.
The CBT approach behind it
In common with other CBT methods, the Social Anxiety Formulation (Clark & Wells) works by mapping how the parts of a problem connect and keep it going (formulation). The aim is not positive thinking but a clearer, shared understanding of what keeps a difficulty going — and practical, testable ways to change it.
Because it is a CBT tool it stays focused on the here-and-now links between thoughts, feelings, the body and behaviour, and it works best as one part of a wider course of therapy rather than as advice or a diagnosis.
Evidence & sources
This worksheet is grounded in established cognitive behavioural therapy theory and practice. Key sources include:
- Clark, D.M. & Wells, A. (1995). A cognitive model of social phobia. In R.G. Heimberg et al. (Eds.), Social Phobia: Diagnosis, Assessment, and Treatment. New York: Guilford Press.
- Wells, A. (1997). Cognitive Therapy of Anxiety Disorders. Chichester: Wiley.
- Connor, K.M., Davidson, J.R.T., Churchill, L.E., Sherwood, A., Foa, E., & Weisler, R.H. (2000). Psychometric properties of the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN). British Journal of Psychiatry, 176(4), 379-386. doi:10.1192/bjp.176.4.379
For use alongside professional support
Formulate provides educational CBT resources for use with a qualified therapist. They are not a substitute for professional assessment, diagnosis, or crisis care.
If you need urgent help now:
- Emergency services: 999 — if you or someone else is in immediate danger
- Samaritans: 116 123 — free, day or night, 365 days a year
- SANEline: 0800 689 5555 — 4:30pm–10:30pm, every day
More Social Anxiety worksheets
View all Social Anxiety worksheets →Social Anxiety
Social Situation Record
Record and reflect on social situations to identify the role of self-focused attention, safety behaviours, and predictions.
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Video Feedback Worksheet
Compare your internal self-image with how you actually appear on video to challenge distorted self-perception in social anxiety.
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Self-Image Identification Worksheet
Identify the distorted observer-perspective self-image that drives social anxiety — the "felt sense" of how you appear to others.
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Post-Event Processing Record
Monitor and challenge the post-mortem rumination that follows social situations — a key maintenance factor in social anxiety.
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Attention Refocusing Experiment Record
Compare the effects of self-focused attention vs external focus during social situations to test whether self-focus makes anxiety worse.
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Social Belief Updating Worksheet
Track changes in a specific social belief across multiple experiments — building cumulative evidence for an updated view of yourself in social situations.
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