Facilitators of and barriers to a three-day intensive group cognitive behavioural therapy-based programme for social anxiety among Chinese college students: A qualitative study

Abstract Intensive group interventions have gained popularity among time-constrained young adults. This study aims to explore the facilitators of and barriers to implementing a three-day intensive group intervention for social anxiety, providing guidance for future implementation and promotion in China. A qualitative research design was employed, involving in-depth, semistructured interviews with twenty-two participants who had taken part in a research project implementing an intensive intervention for social anxiety. Thematic analysis was used to identify facilitators of and barriers to intensive delivery format, as perceived by the participants. Four facilitators were identified: low time commitment, rapid effectiveness, coherent and immersive experience, and high completion rates. Five key barriers were also noted: participant fatigue, limited intervention duration, scheduling difficulties, lack of ongoing psychological support, and insufficient opportunities for real-life scenario practice. This three-day intensive group intervention demonstrated promising outcomes for individuals with social anxiety seeking short-term psychological support. However, due to several limitations, this intervention may be best suited to a specific subset of clients. To ensure a more comprehensive delivery format, such interventions should be supplemented with interval-based follow-up assessments.