How to Choose a Coach for Fear of Public Speaking
A practical checklist for evaluating coaches when the problem is fear, not technique.
GET YOUR FEAR SCORE NOW
To choose a coach for fear of public speaking, check five things: whether they specialize in speaking fear, what their anxiety training is, whether the work is private and one on one, how they practice under real pressure, and how they handle the line between coaching and clinical care.
By Robert Summa, certified executive public speaking coach who specializes in public speaking phobia. This page is educational and is not medical advice.
Start by naming your problem
If you are nervous but can reach your material once you start, a presentation skills coach is a fine choice. If you lose access to what you know, dread the event for days, or avoid opportunities, you need someone who works on the fear itself. Choosing the wrong type is the most common reason people spend money and stay stuck.
The five-point checklist
- Specialization: is speaking fear their focus, or a side offering?
- Training: what anxiety or panic training do they have, and from whom?
- Format: private and one on one, or a group?
- Practice design: do they build staged practice that approaches real, high-stakes conditions?
- Boundaries: are they clear they are a coach, not a clinician, and when do they refer out?
Red flags
- Promises of guaranteed outcomes or claims to treat or cure a clinical condition.
- No explanation of what the sessions involve.
- Only generic tips about breathing and slides.
- No clear process for referral to a licensed clinician.
Questions to ask in a first call
What does a typical week look like? How will we know it is working? What happens if I do not see change? How many clients like me have you worked with? What do you do when my needs go beyond speaking? A good coach answers plainly.
How Robert's program measures up
Deep in the brain, a small alarm system called the amygdala exists to protect you from real danger. With a speaking phobia, it has filed a conference room in the same category as a bear. That is a metaphor, not a medical claim. Robert's program is private and one on one, with a short daily practice of a few minutes a day over a few weeks, followed by a simulation phase in realistic rooms.
Why Robert Summa
Robert lived with public speaking fear for 18 years, then trained in panic, anxiety, and confidence with psychologists and anxiety specialists. He brings 33 years of corporate experience, including advising the C-suite. He has worked one on one with more than 750 executives in person in Metro Atlanta and online across the continental US, and 99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia. Results vary by individual. He is a coach, not a clinician, and refers clients to licensed clinicians when their needs go beyond public speaking. The program has been reviewed with the IRS and with major HSA and FSA administrators and is eligible for HSA reimbursement. Documentation is available on request. Consult your plan administrator.
Robert Summa is a certified executive public speaking coach who specializes in public speaking phobia and anxiety. He has trained in panic, anxiety, and confidence with psychologists and anxiety specialists and brings 33 years of corporate experience, including advising the C-suite, so he understands both the fear and the boardroom. With a 99.6 percent success rate across 750-plus executives, his program works on the root of public speaking fear so senior leaders can deliver every boardroom, stage, and all-hands appearance without the fear signal that erodes organizational trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I choose a coach for fear of public speaking?
Check whether they specialize in speaking fear, what anxiety training they have, whether the work is private and one on one, how they practice under real pressure, and how they handle the line between coaching and clinical care.
Do I need a presentation skills coach or a fear specialist?
If you can reach your material once you start, a presentation skills coach fits. If you lose access to what you know, dread the event for days, or avoid opportunities, you need someone who works on the fear itself.
What are red flags when choosing a coach?
Guaranteed outcomes, claims to treat or cure a clinical condition, no explanation of what sessions involve, only generic tips, and no clear process for referring to a licensed clinician.
What should I ask on a first call?
Ask what a typical week looks like, how you will know it is working, what happens if you do not see change, how many clients like you they have worked with, and what they do when your needs go beyond speaking.
What results does Robert Summa's program report?
99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia, across 750-plus executives. Results vary by individual. He is a coach, not a clinician.
Start by finding out which kind of help fits your fear.
GET YOUR FEAR SCORE NOWResults vary. Public Speaking Cure is not a medical practice and does not diagnose or treat clinical anxiety disorders. Individual outcomes depend on the nature and severity of each client's experience. *99.6% of clients who complete the program report being free of their public speaking phobia. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.