Starting Here
A panic attack can feel like your body is malfunctioning—racing heart, trouble breathing, a wave of fear that seems to come out of nowhere. Once it's happened, the fear of it happening again can start running your life.
Panic disorder therapy addresses both the attacks themselves and the anticipatory anxiety that builds around them.
This Can Look Like
Panic attacks and panic disorder can look like:
- Sudden waves of intense fear with physical symptoms like a racing heart or shortness of breath
- Fear of losing control, “going crazy,” or having a medical emergency during an attack
- Constant worry about when the next attack will happen
- Avoiding places or situations out of fear of having an attack there
- Repeated trips to urgent care or the ER without a clear medical cause
- Feeling like your body can't be trusted
How Therapy Can Help
Therapy can significantly reduce both the attacks and the fear around them. We'll help you:
- Understand the physiology of panic, so it feels less frightening and confusing
- Reduce the frequency and intensity of panic attacks
- Break the cycle of anticipatory anxiety and avoidance
- Rebuild trust in your body's physical sensations
- Reclaim places or activities you've been avoiding
Our Approach
Panic disorder responds well to a structured, skills-based approach that helps you understand what's happening in your body during an attack and gradually reduces the fear response, rather than reinforcing avoidance.
Therapeutic Approaches We May Use
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) — addressing the thought patterns that fuel panic
- Somatic Experiencing — working directly with the body's fear response
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) — reducing the struggle against physical sensations
- Mindfulness-Based Therapy — building grounding tools for the height of an attack
Who Might Benefit From Treatment
This kind of therapy may be a good fit if you:
- Have had one or more panic attacks and fear having another
- Avoid places, driving, or situations because of panic
- Have been checked out medically with no clear physical cause found
- Feel like panic is starting to shrink your world
- Want to understand what's happening in your body during an attack
What to Expect in Therapy
Your first session focuses on understanding your panic—when it started, what triggers it, and what you've already tried to manage it.
Your therapist will teach you what's actually happening physiologically during a panic attack and build a plan to reduce both the attacks and the anticipatory fear.
Sessions are available in person at our Midtown Nashville office or online for clients throughout Tennessee.
FAQ
Is a panic attack dangerous?
Panic attacks are intensely uncomfortable but not medically dangerous, even though they can feel like a heart attack or a loss of control. Understanding this physiologically is often a key part of reducing their power.
How is this different from general anxiety therapy?
Panic disorder involves a specific cycle of physical sensations, fear, and avoidance that responds well to targeted approaches. If your anxiety is more generalized rather than centered on panic attacks, our
page may be a better starting point.
Do you accept insurance?
Nashville Counseling Associates is out-of-network with insurance providers, so we don't bill insurance directly. Many clients use out-of-network benefits to get reimbursed, and we're happy to provide a superbill (an itemized receipt) for you to submit.
Session fees generally range from $130–$185 depending on the clinician, with $85 sessions available with our graduate-level interns and sliding-scale options based on financial need.
How do I get started?
Fill out our contact form or call (615) 281-9139. We'll ask a few questions about what you're looking for and help match you with a therapist whose experience fits panic attacks and the fear around them.
Sessions are available in person at our Midtown Nashville office or online for clients located anywhere in Tennessee.
Ready to begin counseling?
You don't have to keep carrying this on your own. Reach out to Nashville Counseling Associates, and we'll help connect you with a therapist whose training and approach fit panic attacks and the fear of the next one.
