Therapy & Counseling
Panic Attack & Panic Disorder Therapy
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear with powerful physical symptoms: a pounding heart, shortness of breath, dizziness, or a sense of losing control. Therapy for panic helps your nervous system relearn that these sensations are not a threat, so the attacks lose their grip and their hold over your choices. It is one of the most treatable forms of anxiety.
We see clients in person at our South Bay office and virtually across California.
Panic disorder affects an estimated 2 to 3% of U.S. adults each year, and many more experience occasional panic attacks (National Institute of Mental Health). Effective help exists, and it works.
Source: National Institute of Mental Health.
What panic can look like
- Sudden racing heart, chest tightness, or shortness of breath
- Dizziness, tingling, sweating, or trembling
- A feeling of unreality, or fear of losing control or dying
- Fear of the next attack, or avoiding places where one happened
- Symptoms that peak within minutes, then ease
Sudden physical symptoms should be evaluated by a physician at least once to rule out medical causes.
Our approach
We use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with interoceptive exposure, the approach with the strongest evidence for panic. It gently retrains the body's alarm so the sensations stop signaling danger. The work is part of your wider anxiety care and individual therapy, and when medication would help, we coordinate with psychiatry.
As Jack Foley, LMFT, puts it:
"Panic feeds on the fear of panic. Once people learn the sensations can't actually hurt them, the attacks usually lose most of their power."
What to expect
Care begins with a free 15-minute consultation. From there we match you thoughtfully and build practical tools to interrupt the panic cycle, at a pace that feels manageable.
How it works
Starting is simple.
Book a free consultation
A confidential 15-minute call to understand what you need.
Get matched
We pair you with the right clinician for your goals.
Begin care
Start in person or online, at a pace that feels right.
Questions
Frequently asked
What is a panic attack?
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear with physical symptoms like a racing heart, shortness of breath, chest tightness, dizziness, or a feeling of losing control. It peaks within minutes and, while terrifying, is not physically dangerous.
What is the difference between panic attacks and panic disorder?
Many people have an occasional panic attack. Panic disorder is when attacks recur and you start fearing the next one or changing your life to avoid it. Both respond well to therapy.
Are panic attacks dangerous?
They feel dangerous but are not physically harmful. That said, sudden symptoms should be checked by a physician at least once to rule out medical causes.
What therapy works best for panic?
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including interoceptive exposure, has the strongest evidence. It helps your nervous system relearn that the sensations are not a threat.
Do you offer panic attack therapy online?
Yes, in person in the South Bay and via telehealth across California.
When you're ready, a conversation is the place to begin.
Book a complimentary 15-minute consultation, confidential, and without obligation.
Book a free consultation