The best online therapists for panic disorder and agoraphobia are therapists who specialize in exposure therapy and help people overcome their fear of panic attacks, physical sensations, and situations they've started avoiding. Rather than focusing only on managing anxiety symptoms, specialized treatment helps people stop letting the fear of another panic attack control their lives.
I'm Kate Moore (Regnier), LCSW, and at Regnier Restorative Counseling, I specialize in helping adults who've tried everything to stop their panic attacks but still live in fear of having another one. I offer virtual exposure therapy for adults in Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan.
What should I look for in a therapist who specializes in panic disorder?
Look for a therapist who has experience treating panic disorder and agoraphobia using exposure therapy, a treatment that helps people gradually face feared sensations and situations without relying on avoidance or behaviors meant to prevent panic.
Panic disorder isn't just about having panic attacks. It's also about the fear of having another one and how that fear begins to change your life.
Maybe you've stopped driving on highways, traveling far from home, or standing in long lines. Or maybe you still do those things, but spend the entire time monitoring your body, checking for exits, or preparing for what you'll do if panic hits.
A therapist who specializes in panic disorder should help you overcome the fear of panic, not just teach you how to manage panic symptoms.
Why am I still afraid of panic attacks after trying everything?
You might have tried breathing exercises, grounding techniques, distraction, medication, or even years of therapy. Yet you're still constantly thinking about when the next panic attack might happen.
What I often see in my work is that people become incredibly skilled at trying to prevent panic attacks, but they haven't had the opportunity to learn that they can experience uncomfortable sensations without needing to escape or control them.
Constantly checking your body, leaving situations when panic appears, or relying on certain coping strategies to feel safe can unintentionally reinforce the belief that panic is dangerous.
Trying to prevent every panic attack can keep you stuck in the cycle of fearing the next one.
The goal of specialized panic disorder treatment isn't simply to give you more ways to calm yourself down. It's to help you respond differently to panic so it no longer determines what you can and cannot do.
How does exposure therapy help people stop fearing panic attacks?
Exposure therapy helps people gradually face the physical sensations and situations they've become afraid of, without automatically responding by escaping, avoiding, or trying to make the fear disappear.
For example, treatment may involve intentionally practicing safe exercises that bring on feared physical sensations, such as a faster heartbeat or dizziness, when medically appropriate. This is sometimes called interoceptive exposure, or exposure to internal body sensations.
Exposure therapy can also involve approaching situations you've been avoiding, like driving farther from home, staying in a grocery store, traveling, or attending your child's events.
Recovering from panic disorder isn't just about having fewer panic attacks. It's about no longer letting the fear of panic control your life.
The goal isn't to guarantee that you'll never experience panic again. It's to help you become less afraid of panic so you can continue living your life even when uncomfortable sensations show up.
Is online exposure therapy effective for panic disorder and agoraphobia?
Yes. Research supports therapist-guided online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), including approaches that use exposure exercises, as an effective treatment option for many adults with panic disorder.
Online therapy allows us to plan exposure exercises around the places and situations where you actually experience fear. Depending on your needs, we may practice certain exercises during sessions and create a plan for facing feared situations between appointments.
Exposure therapy for panic disorder doesn't always require an in-person office visit because much of the work involves changing how you respond to panic in everyday life.
Virtual therapy isn't necessarily the best fit for everyone, but it can be an effective option for people who want specialized panic disorder treatment without traveling to a therapist's office.
I provide virtual therapy to adults physically located in Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan.
Can you have agoraphobia if you can still leave your house?
Yes. You can experience agoraphobia even if you regularly leave your house, go to work, drive, shop, or attend events.
Agoraphobia often involves fearing situations where escaping might feel difficult or getting help might seem unavailable if panic-like symptoms occur.
You might only go places with someone you trust, stay close to exits, avoid driving too far from home, or constantly plan how you'll leave if panic starts.
You don't have to be housebound for agoraphobia to be limiting your life.
In exposure therapy, we work toward helping you approach situations you've been avoiding and reduce the behaviors you rely on to feel safe, so you can participate more freely in everyday life.
How do I know if Regnier Restorative Counseling is the right panic disorder therapist for me?
I'm Kate Moore (Regnier), a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in helping adults with panic disorder, fear of panic attacks, and agoraphobia.
My approach focuses on helping you change how you respond to panic rather than teaching you another list of techniques to make panic disappear.
I work with adults who have often spent years trying to prevent panic attacks and are exhausted by constantly worrying about the next one.
My goal isn't to help you organize your life around panic more comfortably. It's to help you stop organizing your life around panic altogether.
Regnier Restorative Counseling is a private-pay, virtual-only therapy practice serving adults in Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan.
Frequently Asked Questions About Panic Disorder Therapy
What type of therapy is best for panic disorder and agoraphobia?
Exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-researched treatments for panic disorder and agoraphobia. It involves gradually facing feared physical sensations and situations while learning to respond without escaping, avoiding, or relying on behaviors meant to prevent panic.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy for panic disorder?
Online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy for many adults with panic disorder when it includes structured, evidence-based treatment such as CBT and exposure therapy. The best option depends on your individual needs, treatment goals, and whether virtual therapy is appropriate for you.
Can exposure therapy help if I've struggled with panic attacks for years?
Yes. Exposure therapy can help people who have experienced panic attacks for many years, including those who have tried other approaches without lasting improvement. Treatment focuses on reducing the fear of panic, changing how you respond to uncomfortable sensations, and gradually returning to situations you've been avoiding.
Do you accept insurance for panic disorder therapy?
No. Regnier Restorative Counseling is a private-pay practice and does not accept insurance. I offer virtual therapy to adults in Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan.
Additional Questions About Finding an Online Panic Disorder Therapist
How do I find an online therapist who specializes in panic disorder?
Look for a licensed therapist who specifically lists panic disorder, agoraphobia, and exposure therapy among their specialties. Ask whether they have experience helping people overcome the fear of panic attacks, avoidance, and behaviors used to feel safe.
Can I do exposure therapy for panic attacks from home?
Yes. Many exposure exercises can be practiced during virtual therapy sessions or between appointments. Depending on your treatment plan, you may practice experiencing feared physical sensations or gradually approach situations you've been avoiding in everyday life.
Do I need to have frequent panic attacks to benefit from panic disorder therapy?
No. You may benefit from specialized panic disorder treatment even if you rarely experience panic attacks but spend much of your time worrying about having another one. Treatment can address the ongoing fear, avoidance, and changes to your daily life that develop around panic.
Ready to Stop Letting Panic Control Your Life?
If you've spent years trying to stop panic attacks but still find yourself planning your life around the possibility of having another one, specialized exposure therapy may be a good next step.
You don't have to wait until panic stops showing up to start doing the things that matter to you.
At Regnier Restorative Counseling, I help adults work toward traveling, attending their children's events, going places, and enjoying life without constantly preparing for the next panic attack.
Visit Regnier Restorative Counseling to learn more about working together and explore whether we're a good fit.
