when panic feels intense, unpredictable, and hard to tolerate

therapy in overland park, KS, Cambridge, MA, & PSYPACT States

panic can gradually start to take over

Panic attacks can feel like they come out of nowhere. Your heart starts racing, you’re dizzy, it’s hard to breathe, and it feels like something is seriously wrong, even if you logically know you’re safe. In the moment, though, it can feel overwhelming, disorienting, and tough to ride out.

Phobias can feel different, but they can be just as limiting. You might avoid specific situations like driving on the highway, flying, crowded spaces, or certain social settings, out of fear that they’ll trigger panic. You might even notice yourself planning around avoidance, and noticing your world starting to become smaller as a result.

There are effective, evidence-based treatments for panic attacks and phobias. Therapy can help you understand what’s happening in your body and mind during those moments, and help you work toward feeling steadier and more in control again.

when panic attacks and phobias take hold, you might notice…

  • Sudden episodes of intense fear or physical panic symptoms

  • Ongoing worry about when the next panic attack might happen

  • Avoiding places, activities, or situations that feel triggering or unsafe

  • Feeling trapped or limited by decisions made out of fear

  • Monitoring yourself for physical sensations, like heart rate or your breathing

  • Feeling exhausted from trying to prevent anxiety or panic

and you might be wondering:

  • “Why am I having such strong reactions when nothing is actually wrong?”

  • “Why do I keep fearing it’ll happen again?”

  • “Why am I starting to avoid things that I used to handle just fine?”

  • “My heart is racing, does that mean I’m going to have another panic attack?”

therapy for panic attacks and phobias that works

Effective treatment for panic attacks and phobias focuses on changing your brain’s fear response and the patterns that keep it going. I use evidence-based, research-supported treatments and tailor them to your needs.

In our work together, we’d focus on:

  • Understanding how panic and anxiety function in your body

  • Reducing fear of physical sensations (like a racing heart or dizziness)

  • Gradually and intentionally decreasing avoidance

  • Building confidence in your ability to tolerate and move through anxiety

  • Gradual, structured work with feared sensations or situations while reducing avoidance and safety behaviors, which helps your nervous system relearn safety over time.

  • Builds the ability to respond differently to fear and anxiety while staying connected to what matters to you.

  • Helps you understand the cycle of fear and reduce patterns that keep panic going, including avoidance and thinking the worst-case-scenario about physical sensations.

  • Support grounding and help reduce fear of internal sensations, like racing heartbeat or dizziness.

related concerns we can address

Many people who experience panic attacks and phobias also struggle with anxiety, perfectionism and burnout, or depression. These concerns often overlap, and we can integrate them into your therapy to address the full picture.

ready to feel more steady again?

You don’t have to keep living around avoidance or fear. If you’re ready to get started, I offer online therapy for panic attacks and phobias in Kansas, Massachusetts, and PSYPACT states. Book your free consultation to see if we’re a good fit and take the next step toward feeling more in control again.

faqs for panic attack therapy and phobia therapy in overland park, ks & cambridge, ma

  • It depends, but probably! I am authorized to see clients in all PSYPACT states.

    Active PSYPACT Members (as of late 2025): 

    • Southeastern: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, MD, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV

    • Mid-Atlantic/Northeast: CT, DE, DC, ME, NH, NJ, PA, RI

    • Midwest: IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, NE, ND, OH, SD, WI

    • West/Southwest: AZ, CO, ID, NV, OK, TX, UT

    • Territories: Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) 

  • I work with a range of specific phobias, including fears related to driving, flying, vomiting, medical settings, panic-related sensations, social or performance situations, and other situational fears that lead to avoidance or distress.

  • Phobia treatment typically involves understanding how fear becomes linked to certain situations and gradually reducing avoidance. This often includes exposure and response prevention in a structured, paced, and collaborative way.

  • Therapy for panic attacks focuses on understanding the panic cycle and how it develops. We work on reducing fear of physical sensations, decreasing avoidance, and building confidence in your ability to move through anxiety without it escalating.

  • The length of therapy depends on your specific symptoms, how much avoidance is present, and what you’d like to work toward. Many people start to notice early changes as they begin applying new strategies between sessions, with more consistent improvement developing over time. For some, a shorter course of treatment is enough, while others choose to continue longer to address broader patterns and build lasting confidence. The goal is not a quick fix, but meaningful, durable progress that supports you in everyday situations.

  • The easiest way to get started is to schedule a free consultation through my contact page. During that brief call, we’ll talk through what you’re experiencing and what you’re looking for in therapy and see if it feels like a good fit. If it does, you can schedule your first virtual session and we’ll take it from there.