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Therapists for Panic Disorder and Panic Attacks

This directory page features therapists who list panic disorder and panic attack support among their focus areas. Browse profiles below to review approaches, credentials, languages and experience.

Use the listings to learn about different therapeutic styles and to find practitioners whose background matches what you are seeking.

Understanding panic disorder and panic attacks

What panic attacks are and how they can affect you

Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort that reach a peak within minutes. During an attack you may notice a rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, dizziness, trembling, sweating or a sense of unreality. For some people these symptoms occur in specific situations and for others the attacks seem to come out of the blue. When panic attacks recur and lead to persistent worry about having more attacks or to changes in behavior - for example avoiding places where an attack happened - this pattern can be described as panic disorder. Panic disorder can shape the choices you make about work, travel and social life, and it can leave you feeling exhausted by the effort of managing fear.

Because panic attacks involve both physical sensations and strong emotional responses, they can be confusing and frightening. People often interpret the bodily sensations as a sign that something is wrong medically, which feeds more anxiety. Over time this cycle can increase avoidance and reduce confidence. Understanding the interplay between body, thought and behavior is a useful first step toward reducing the power of panic and reclaiming daily routines.

Signs you might benefit from therapy for panic attacks

Common patterns that suggest professional support can help

You might consider looking for a therapist if panic attacks are frequent, intense or unpredictable enough to interfere with activities you care about. If you notice that you consistently avoid situations, places or tasks because you fear an attack, therapy can help you explore what is maintaining that avoidance and how to move forward. Likewise, if worry about future attacks takes up a lot of mental space, you may notice difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping or reduced enjoyment in relationships. Therapy can give you structured time to address those patterns and to develop strategies for managing symptoms.

Another sign that therapy could be useful is if panic symptoms overlap with other concerns such as social anxiety, health anxiety, depression or substance use. A therapist can help you disentangle how these issues interact and prioritize steps that will improve daily functioning. You do not need to wait until symptoms reach a crisis level to seek help. Early work can reduce the long-term toll of avoidance and constant vigilance and can make it easier to practice valuable coping skills in everyday life.

What to expect in therapy for panic disorder and panic attacks

How sessions typically proceed and what you will work on

Early therapy sessions usually focus on building a shared understanding of your experience. You and your therapist will talk about when panic attacks started, what they feel like for you, and how they affect your life. Many therapists will ask about medical history and current supports so they can make recommendations that fit your situation. Expect to work collaboratively to set goals that are realistic and meaningful, whether that means reducing the frequency of attacks, increasing your ability to leave the house, or managing anticipatory worry.

As therapy continues, you will likely spend time learning skills to manage the body sensations and thoughts that accompany panic. This can include breathing and grounding techniques, strategies for calming heightened arousal, and ways to challenge catastrophic thinking. A gradual step-by-step approach is often used to help you face feared situations in a controlled way, build tolerance to uncomfortable sensations and regain confidence. Sessions also provide a space to process emotions that may be linked to panic - such as shame, anger or grief - and to plan practical changes in daily routines that support resilience. Progress may come in small increments, but steady practice of new skills often brings measurable changes in how you respond to panic triggers.

Common therapeutic approaches therapists list for panic disorder

Evidence-informed methods and additional supports you may encounter

Many therapists who work with panic disorder mention cognitive and behavioral methods among their approaches. These methods focus on how thoughts and behaviors influence panic and include techniques to reframe unhelpful beliefs and to reduce avoidance through gradual exposure. Exposure in this context can mean intentionally approaching feared situations or intentionally provoking mild bodily sensations in a controlled way so you can learn that those sensations are not dangerous. Some therapists also describe teaching interoceptive techniques, which are exercises that help you become more tolerant of bodily sensations that often trigger panic.

Other approaches you may see listed include mindfulness and relaxation-based strategies that aim to change your relationship to anxious sensations rather than eliminate them. Therapists sometimes integrate emotion-focused work to explore underlying feelings that contribute to panic, and relational approaches to address patterns that show up in close relationships. When therapists list medication management collaboration as part of their practice, they generally mean they will coordinate with medical prescribers if that is part of your plan. Remember that a therapist listing an approach does not guarantee training or certification in that method, so it can be useful to ask about experience and how the approach would be applied to your goals during an initial conversation.

How online therapy works for panic disorder and tips for choosing the right therapist

What to expect from virtual sessions and how to evaluate options

Online therapy can make it easier to access help from home, from work or while traveling, and many therapists who list panic disorder as a focus offer video or phone sessions. Virtual sessions typically follow a similar structure to in-person work - assessment, skill-building, practice and review - but you may be asked to try exercises between sessions in the environment where panic occurs. Some people find it helpful to practice exposure and grounding techniques in real settings with support from their therapist via video. When you begin online work, discuss practicalities such as technical platforms, session length and how to handle any urgent situations that arise between meetings.

When choosing a therapist for panic disorder, look for profiles that clearly describe experience with panic-related concerns, the approaches the therapist lists and any languages spoken that match your needs. Consider how comfortable you feel with the therapist's stated orientation and whether their description of therapy aligns with your goals. You may prefer someone who emphasizes skill training and behavioral practice, or someone who focuses more on emotional processing and relational patterns. It can be helpful to notice whether the therapist mentions collaboration with medical professionals if you are considering medication as part of your plan. Pay attention to logistics such as session format - video, phone or hybrid - and to the practical details of communication and scheduling explained on the profile.

Finding the right fit often involves balancing your symptom profile, personal preferences and the therapist's described approaches. Use the listings to compare profiles, and when you reach out to a therapist ask brief questions about how they would approach panic-related goals. That conversation can give you a sense of their style and whether it feels like a constructive match for the work you want to do.

Browse therapist profiles by location

Alabama

99 therapists

Alaska

8 therapists

Arizona

102 therapists

Arkansas

58 therapists

Australia

252 therapists

California

680 therapists

Colorado

159 therapists

Connecticut

70 therapists

Delaware

19 therapists

District of Columbia

19 therapists

Florida

718 therapists

Georgia

169 therapists

Hawaii

29 therapists

Idaho

49 therapists

Illinois

265 therapists

Indiana

124 therapists

Iowa

35 therapists

Kansas

45 therapists

Kentucky

115 therapists

Louisiana

142 therapists

Maine

23 therapists

Maryland

122 therapists

Massachusetts

119 therapists

Michigan

256 therapists

Minnesota

99 therapists

Mississippi

67 therapists

Missouri

174 therapists

Montana

43 therapists

Nebraska

44 therapists

Nevada

49 therapists

New Hampshire

19 therapists

New Jersey

171 therapists

New Mexico

31 therapists

New York

457 therapists

North Carolina

274 therapists

North Dakota

7 therapists

Ohio

200 therapists

Oklahoma

137 therapists

Oregon

41 therapists

Pennsylvania

259 therapists

Rhode Island

14 therapists

South Carolina

133 therapists

South Dakota

21 therapists

Tennessee

107 therapists

Texas

763 therapists

United Kingdom

1668 therapists

Utah

66 therapists

Vermont

19 therapists

Virginia

116 therapists

Washington

94 therapists

West Virginia

28 therapists

Wisconsin

116 therapists

Wyoming

19 therapists

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