To find a therapist who specializes in panic attacks, look for someone who has experience treating panic disorder and uses exposure therapy to address the fear of having another panic attack. Unlike therapy that focuses primarily on managing anxiety symptoms, specialized panic disorder treatment helps you become less afraid of panic itself.
A panic disorder therapist should understand how fear of another attack can lead you to avoid driving, traveling, going to stores, or doing things you used to enjoy. The goal isn't just to help you feel calmer. It's to help you stop letting the possibility of panic control your life.
What's the difference between a panic disorder therapist and a general anxiety therapist?
A general anxiety therapist may help people manage worry, stress, and anxious feelings. A therapist who specializes in panic disorder focuses on the fear of having another panic attack and how that fear changes your behavior.
For example, you might:
Constantly monitor your body for signs of another panic attack.
Avoid highways, crowded stores, restaurants, or traveling far from home.
Only go certain places with someone you trust.
Plan escape routes or stay close to exits.
Continue doing everyday activities but spend the entire time worrying about panicking.
These patterns can develop because you're trying to prevent another frightening experience.
Specialized panic disorder treatment addresses the fear of panic, avoidance, and safety behaviors—not just the physical symptoms of anxiety.
Safety behaviors are things you feel you need to do to prevent panic, escape it, or get through it. Examples include carrying certain items everywhere, repeatedly checking for exits, or only traveling with a trusted person.
Some general anxiety therapists are also trained to treat panic disorder. What matters most is whether the therapist has experience helping people become less afraid of panic rather than only teaching techniques to manage anxiety.
What type of therapy works best for panic attacks and panic disorder?
Exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most well-supported treatments for panic disorder and agoraphobia.
Exposure therapy helps you gradually face the physical sensations and situations you've become afraid of, while practicing responding differently instead of automatically trying to prevent or escape panic.
For example, treatment might involve:
Practicing experiencing a racing heart or dizziness in a planned, appropriate exercise.
Staying in a grocery store even when anxiety increases.
Driving farther from home without constantly checking for escape routes.
Attending events without repeatedly monitoring your body for signs of panic.
These exercises are planned collaboratively and adapted to your individual needs.
The goal of exposure therapy isn't to guarantee you'll never panic again. It's to help you stop living as though panic must be prevented.
Agoraphobia doesn't necessarily mean being unable to leave your house. It can also mean avoiding certain places or enduring them with intense fear because you're worried about panicking, being unable to leave, or not getting help.
Why hasn't general anxiety therapy stopped my fear of panic attacks?
General anxiety therapy may not have addressed your fear of panic directly, especially if treatment focused mainly on calming techniques or changing anxious thoughts.
Maybe you've tried breathing exercises, grounding, distraction, medication, or previous therapy. You might know dozens of ways to respond when panic starts, but you're still constantly worried about another attack.
In my work with clients, I often see people who've become very good at trying to control panic without becoming any less afraid of it.
Sometimes, coping strategies become part of the problem when you believe you must use them to stay safe. If you think you can only go grocery shopping with water, an escape plan, or someone accompanying you, you may continue believing you can't handle panic without those things.
Getting better at calming yourself down isn't the same as becoming less afraid of panic.
This doesn't mean coping skills or previous therapy are inherently harmful. It means that if your goal is to stop fearing panic, treatment needs to address that fear directly.
What questions should I ask a therapist who treats panic attacks?
Before booking an appointment, ask whether the therapist has specific experience treating panic disorder and agoraphobia.
Questions you can ask include:
Do you specialize in panic disorder, or do you primarily treat general anxiety?
Do you use exposure therapy for panic attacks?
How do you help people who are constantly afraid of having another panic attack?
How do you address avoiding places or relying on certain things to feel safe?
What would treatment look like if I'm afraid of driving, traveling, or being far from home?
A therapist who specializes in panic disorder should be able to explain how their approach helps you become less afraid of panic over time.
The right panic disorder therapist won't only ask how to reduce your anxiety. They'll also help you change what you do when anxiety shows up.
Can online therapy help with panic disorder and agoraphobia?
Yes. Online therapy can be effective for panic disorder and agoraphobia, particularly when it includes structured, therapist-guided CBT and exposure therapy.
You don't necessarily need to be physically present in a therapist's office to practice responding differently to panic.
For example, virtual treatment can involve exercises that bring on feared physical sensations, practicing staying with uncomfortable feelings, and working toward activities you've been avoiding.
Exposure therapy can happen in the places where panic affects your life, not just inside a therapy office.
For someone who's afraid to drive, shop alone, or travel away from home, therapy can include a plan for practicing those activities between sessions.
Virtual therapy isn't the best fit for everyone, but it can be a useful option for people who want specialized panic disorder treatment without traveling to a therapist's office.
Where can I find a therapist who specializes in panic disorder in Reston, VA, or online?
If you're looking for a therapist who specializes in panic disorder in Reston, Virginia, or online, Regnier Restorative Counseling offers specialized exposure therapy for adults who fear having another panic attack.
I'm Kate Moore (Regnier), LCSW, and I work with adults who've spent years trying to stop panic attacks but still find themselves constantly worrying about another one.
My approach focuses on helping you become less afraid of panic, reduce avoidance, and return to activities you've been missing.
My approach isn't about finding another trick to stop panic. It's about helping you stop letting panic make your decisions.
I provide private-pay virtual therapy based in Reston, VA, for adults physically located in:
Virginia
Washington, DC
Maryland
Indiana
Michigan
You don't need to be completely housebound or have frequent panic attacks to benefit from treatment. If the fear of another attack is affecting your decisions, relationships, travel, or daily activities, that fear is worth addressing.
Frequently Asked Questions About Finding a Panic Disorder Therapist
Do I need a therapist who specializes in panic disorder, or can any anxiety therapist help?
A therapist with specific training and experience treating panic disorder may be a better fit when your main struggle is fearing another panic attack.
Some general anxiety therapists also have this expertise. Ask whether they use exposure therapy and how they help people address avoidance, fear of physical sensations, and behaviors used to feel safe.
What if I've already tried CBT for anxiety and it didn't help my panic attacks?
You may still benefit from panic-focused CBT that includes exposure therapy, even if previous CBT didn't provide lasting improvement.
Not all CBT focuses on the same things. If your previous therapy mainly involved changing anxious thoughts or learning coping strategies, you may not have directly worked on becoming less afraid of panic.
Can a therapist help if I'm afraid of panic attacks but don't have them very often?
Yes. Therapy can help with the fear of panic attacks even when they happen infrequently.
You might still spend a lot of time anticipating another attack, avoiding certain situations, or doing things to make sure panic doesn't happen. Those patterns can be addressed in treatment.
Can I see a panic disorder specialist online instead of going to an office?
Yes. Many adults can receive effective panic disorder treatment through virtual therapy.
Online exposure therapy can include exercises during sessions and planned practice between appointments, depending on your needs.
How do I know if my therapist actually specializes in panic disorder?
Ask about their specific experience treating panic disorder and whether they use exposure-based treatment.
A therapist who specializes in panic should be able to explain how they help clients face feared sensations, reduce avoidance, and become less dependent on behaviors used to prevent or escape panic.
Can exposure therapy help if I'm afraid to drive or travel because of panic attacks?
Yes. Exposure therapy can help people gradually return to driving, traveling, and other activities they've been avoiding because of panic.
Treatment usually involves creating manageable steps and practicing approaching feared situations without automatically escaping or relying on the same safety behaviors.
Is exposure therapy for panic attacks the same as learning coping skills?
No. Exposure therapy focuses on changing your relationship with feared sensations and situations rather than primarily trying to reduce anxiety in the moment.
While coping skills may have a place in treatment, exposure therapy helps you learn that you can experience anxiety and continue doing meaningful activities without needing to eliminate every uncomfortable feeling.
How Can I Get Started With Specialized Therapy for Panic Attacks?
If you've spent years trying to stop panic attacks but still find yourself constantly worried about having another one, specialized exposure therapy may offer a different approach from what you've tried before.
You don't have to wait until panic disappears to start driving farther, traveling, going places, or participating in activities you've been avoiding.
At Regnier Restorative Counseling, I help adults work toward getting their lives back from the fear of panic, rather than spending more time searching for ways to make every anxious feeling go away.
I offer virtual therapy for adults in Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Indiana, and Michigan.
Visit Regnier Restorative Counseling to learn more about my approach and explore whether working together might be a good fit.
