Panic Disorder Therapy in Los Angeles
Your body isn't broken. It's protecting you from a threat that isn't there.
A racing heart. Chest tightness. The sudden, overwhelming certainty that something is very wrong. If you've experienced a panic attack, you know how terrifying it can be. And if you've started avoiding situations because you're afraid of having another one, you know how quickly panic can start running your life.
Panic attacks feel dangerous, but they're not. What you're experiencing is your body's alarm system misfiring. And there's a clear, effective way to reset it.
You’re not aloneWhat Panic Disorder Actually Feels Like
Panic disorder isn't just "bad anxiety." It's a specific pattern: unexpected panic attacks followed by ongoing fear about when the next one will hit.
You might be here because:
You've had sudden episodes of intense fear with physical symptoms that made you think something was seriously wrong
You've gone to the ER convinced you were having a heart attack, only to be told it was "just anxiety"
You've started avoiding places where you've panicked before, or where escape might be difficult
You spend significant mental energy scanning your body for signs that another attack might be coming
You've limited your life to feel safer
Common Signs & Symptoms
The difference between anxiety and panic attacks: Anxiety is a sustained state of worry that builds gradually. Panic attacks are sudden surges of intense fear that peak within minutes, with physical symptoms that can feel like a medical emergency.
Mental and Emotional Symptoms:Racing heart, chest pain or tightness
Shortness of breath, dizziness
Numbness or tingling, sweating, trembling
Nausea
Physical Symptoms:Intense fear of dying or losing control
Feeling detached from yourself or your surroundings
Urgent need to escape
The scienceWhy Panic Takes Hold
When you panic, your amygdala sends an emergency signal that activates fight-or-flight. Stress hormones flood your system. Your heart rate spikes. Your breathing quickens. Your body is preparing to survive a life-threatening situation, except there's no actual threat. Your alarm system has misfired.
This is why panic attacks feel so physical and terrifying. Your body is doing exactly what it's designed to do in an emergency. It just got the wrong information.
The panic attacks themselves aren't usually what makes panic disorder so disabling. It's the fear of panic attacks that shrinks your life. You have an attack. You start avoiding where it happened. You scan your body for warning signs. That hypervigilance creates more anxiety, more physical symptoms, which you interpret as signs of impending attack. The fear feeds itself.
This is good news for treatment. We don't need to prevent panic attacks forever. We need to change your relationship to them so they lose their power.
Our MethodHow We Treat Panic Disorder
CBT treatment for panic disorder is one of the most effective interventions in mental health. Most people experience significant improvement, and many become completely panic-free.
COGNITIVE BEHAVIORAL THERAPYCBT focuses on the connection between your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. When you experience physical sensations like a racing heart, the thoughts you attach to them ("I'm having a heart attack," "I'm going to pass out") fuel the panic cycle. Together, we identify these patterns, develop more accurate interpretations of body sensations, and build practical skills so panic doesn't control your life. Most people notice improvement within 10-20 sessions.
Exposure and response prevention therapy ERP gradually exposes you to feared sensations and situations while preventing avoidance behaviors. For panic, this often includes interoceptive exposure, where we deliberately bring on physical sensations (through exercises like spinning or breathing through a straw) so you can learn they're uncomfortable but not dangerous. Avoidance keeps you from learning your true tolerance. Through collaboration, we slowly build your confidence that you can handle these feelings.
the differenceWhat Makes Our Approach Different
We combine structured, evidence-based treatment with a relational approach. Panic often develops in contexts where we didn't feel safe, and healing often requires a relationship where safety is palpable. We build that foundation before doing exposure work.
I'm also transparent about the process. You'll understand exactly why we're doing what we're doing at each stage. No mysterious techniques, just clear explanations and collaborative work.
beyond symptom reductionReal Freedom
Effective panic treatment doesn't just reduce attacks. It changes how you relate to fear and uncertainty altogether. Many clients find the skills generalize, becoming more comfortable with discomfort, more confident in their ability to handle whatever comes.
Can panic disorder go away? With proper treatment, many people stop having panic attacks entirely. Others have occasional attacks but no longer fear them. Either outcome represents real freedom.
the processWhat to Expect
Getting StartedWe begin with a free 15-minute consultation call. You'll share what's been happening, and I'll answer questions about how we work. There's no pressure, and you don't need to have everything figured out.
The workSessions are 50 minutes, typically weekly. Early sessions focus on education and cognitive work. As we progress, we move into exposure work, gradually and collaboratively. You'll have homework between sessions, that's where the real learning happens.
TimelineMost people see significant improvement within 12-16 sessions. We'll set clear goals and track progress together.
FAQCommon Questions about Panic Disorder
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Yes. Living with panic is exhausting and isolating. When it starts limiting your life, depression often follows. Treating the panic often lifts the depression too.
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Generalized anxiety involves persistent worry across many areas—a constant hum. Panic disorder centers on discrete attacks and the fear of having them. You can have both, but they're treated somewhat differently.
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Not at all. The techniques work regardless of how long you've been dealing with this. People who have struggled for years are often highly motivated—they know exactly how much they want their lives back.
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We do exposure work that brings on uncomfortable sensations, but we start small and build gradually. You're never forced into anything. Most clients find the anticipation is worse than the actual exercises.
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It can be significantly disabling—affecting work, travel, and relationships. But with treatment, most people recover enough functioning that accommodations become unnecessary.
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Medication can help manage symptoms short-term. But CBT addresses the underlying patterns that maintain the disorder and produces more lasting results. We can coordinate with your prescriber.