Public Speaking
Public-speaking fear isn’t something you can simply “think your way out of.” When the fear of being seen or evaluated feels like a threat, your body reacts long before your thoughts do. That’s why glossophobia often comes with shaking, sweating, a tight chest, nausea, or sudden panic, even when you logically know you’re safe.
In our work together, we focus on calming the body first. Through gentle nervous-system techniques, pacing that you control, and a space where nothing is rushed or expected, you learn to uncouple visibility from danger. Over time, your system becomes less reactive, your panic decreases, and speaking begins to feel possible, not because you forced confidence, but because your body finally feels safe enough for your voice to come through.
What is Glossophobia?
Public speaking anxiety is more than “getting a bit nervous.”
For many people, it triggers a full-body survival response; shaking, breathlessness, nausea, a racing heart, difficulty thinking clearly, or even panic attacks. This reaction is known as glossophobia, and it is one of the most common fears worldwide.
What makes it so overwhelming is that it doesn’t just live in the mind. It lives in the body.
When you stand in front of others, your nervous system can interpret visibility as danger. Being watched, evaluated or perceived can activate old protective pathways, the same fight-flight-freeze responses designed to keep you safe.
You might know logically that you’re fine, yet your body reacts as if you’re under threat: tight chest, trembling, dry mouth, dissociation, or a shutdown of your voice.
This is why talk-therapy alone often isn’t enough.
Public speaking anxiety is physiological as much as emotional. You cannot “think” your way out of a survival response.
In our work, we combine nervous-system regulation, somatic tools, and gentle exposure at your pace, always in a contained space where you are in full control. You set the pace. You decide what feels safe to practise. Together, we help your body learn that visibility is not danger, and that you can stay present while being seen.
How mind-body therapy helps
In our work together, you’re always in control of the pace.
We create a space where:
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your body can slowly unlearn the “danger” signals around being seen
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you build the capacity to stay present instead of shutting down or panicking
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we explore the deeper roots of performance fear, from childhood experiences to perfectionism and high self-expectations
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you practise gentle, embodied exercises that strengthen your voice, presence, and sense of safety
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visibility becomes something your nervous system can tolerate, and eventually, even enjoy
This approach doesn’t push you into exposure you’re not ready for.
It builds internal safety first so your confidence grows from the inside out, not from forcing yourself through fear.
Why the body reacts this way
Being watched is one of the oldest triggers for the nervous system. It is historically linked to risk, threat, and rejection. Even today, visibility can feel dangerous if your body has learned that speaking up leads to criticism, conflict, shame, or pressure or threat.
Before you can think your way out of it, your body has already:
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scanned the room
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assessed threat
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activated protection
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pulled you into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn
This process happens in milliseconds.
You can’t out-think it, but you can retrain it.