— HOW I WORK

Online ERP Therapy for Panic Attacks in Virginia, DC, Maryland, Indiana & Michigan

Therapy for adults who are living in fear of they’re own bodies and minds, while fighting off the impending panic attack—and are ready to actually enjoy life again.

Kate Moore (Regnier), LCSW, LICSW, LMSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker- Virginia & Indiana

Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker- Washington, DC

Licensed Master’s Social Worker- Michigan

Licensed Certified Social Worker Clinical- Maryland

— WHO THIS IS FOR

Therapy for Adults with Panic Attacks Who Are Done Living Restricted

I work with adults who are suffering from panic attacks—and do anything they can to avoid the next one. Their panic didn’t show up as a one & done event. It keeps coming back and it terrifies them. They’ve missed trips, life events, and even lost relationships because of the fear of panic. They’ve tried to push the panic down, cope with it, minimize the effects and distract from it, but they’re still stuck and they’re ready for more than just “managing”.

—THE SPECIFICS

Who This Work is a Good Fit For

I work with adults who have chronic panic attacks or panic disorder, meaning the they feel anxious and fearful of the panic sensations. They avoid the possibility of a panic attack, leading to a life that doesn’t align with their values.

What tends to bring you here: fear of having a panic attacks or specific sensations that mimic a panic attack such as: stomach aches, heart palpations, dissociation, dizziness, feeling you might lose control, feeling like you’re dying, numb or tingling in your body, hot flashes, feeling of doom or dread, tight chest, hyperventilation, feeling like your throat is closing up, or feeling sick. Not only have you experienced these sensations, but you are scared and on edge about them coming back.

You’ve likely been in therapy before and have tried the coping methods like deep breathing, grounding, eating sour candy, putting ice packs under your arms, etc. You’re wanting to learn how to actually get comfortable with panic so it becomes white noise. You’re ready to try practicing some exposures through ERP (Exposure & Response Prevention) Therapy.

You may also be experiencing:

agoraphobia
emetophobia
monophobia
OCD or pure O-OCD
fear of flying/travel

With support, adults who are a good fit for this work tend to start realizing that their panic can be treated as safe, they begin to build confidence through practice that they can handle their panic sensations no matter how uncomfortable, and they tend to stop avoiding places/situations where panic may arise, leading to more freedom in everyday life.

— BEING DIRECT

When This May Not Be the Right Fit

This isn’t the right fit if you’e in crisis and in need of psychiatric care, if you’re looking for unstructured talk therapy, if you’re not struggling with a form of anxiety, OCD, or panic, or if you’re not ready to practice exposures at times. I work with individual adults only.

— THE WORK ITSELF

Therapeutic Approach & Style

I work primarily from Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy. I also use Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), & Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Therapy.

ERP is focused around purposefully exposing yourself to the sensations of panic, anxiety, or an obsessive distressing thought, and not acting on the compulsion, such as using a safety behavior to calm down the panic or completing a compulsion to get rid of the obsessive thought. It also incorporates practices to help you change your response to the panic or anxiety, instead of trying to get rid of them.

Sessions are active and structured and will include homework of practicing exposures when you are ready. Practicing exposures are completely up to you and on your time. But practice is how you make the most progress with this work. I will never force you to practice an exposure and I will only recommend exposures that I am also comfortable doing myself. I will not ask you to practice an exposure that is not safe, though many exposures may feel uncomfortable and intense. And that’s why you’ve got me to support you through it!

The goal of ERP is to learn how to treat discomfort as safe. The goal is not to not feel anxious or never have a panic attack again.

— BACKGROUND

Credentials & Experience

I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 7 years of clinical experience. I have a background working with anxiety disorders & trauma work. I also have my own experience of panic disorder & agoraphobia that lasted for 10 years and is now in recovery.