Panic Disorder Therapy 

When Panic Attacks Take Over, Life Can Start to Feel Unsafe

If you are googling panic attack therapy NYC and Florida, chances are that you or someone you love, looking for real relief from anxiety attacks, shortness of breath, racing heart, fear of public places, or the intrusive worry that panic might strike againDo panic attacks or “anxiety attacks” seem to come out of nowhere, leaving you shaken and confused?

  • Does your heart race or your chest tighten, making you fear something is seriously wrong?
  • Have you started avoiding certain places, travel, work events, driving, or social situations because you’re afraid panic might strike?

Panic disorder, often described as recurring anxiety attacks, can make your own body feel unpredictable and frightening. Panic attacks often arrive suddenly, flooding you with intense physical sensations—rapid heartbeat, dizziness, shortness of breath, trembling, nausea, chest tightness, or a sense of losing control. Many people search phrases like “panic attack feels like a heart attack” or “why do I feel like I can’t breathe?” because the symptoms can feel overwhelming and even catastrophic in the moment.

Even when a panic attack passes, the fear often lingers. Many people begin living in anticipation of the next one, scanning their body for warning signs. Ordinary sensations—like feeling slightly lightheaded, noticing your breathing, or sensing a shift in heart rate—can become triggers. This fear of fear is what keeps the panic cycle going. Over time, this pattern can quietly shrink your world.

I provide panic attack therapy in NYC and Florida for adults experiencing anxiety attacks, panic disorder, and agoraphobia.If panic attacks or anxiety attacks are beginning to dictate where you go, how you travel, how you perform at work, or how safe you feel in your own body, evidence-based CBT for panic disorder therapy can help you interrupt this cycle.

Panic Disorder Is Common — And Highly Treatable

Panic disorder develops when the body’s alarm system becomes overly sensitive. The fight-or-flight response, designed to protect you from real danger, starts activating when there is no true threat. Once this happens, the fear of panic itself becomes the trigger for future attacks.

Many people with panic disorder worry they are having a heart attack, fainting, losing control, or “going crazy.” These fears feel extremely real. It’s common to search “am I having a panic attack?” or “is this anxiety or something medical?” Panic attacks, while intensely uncomfortable, are not medically dangerous. They always peak and subside.

You are not alone in this experience. Panic disorder affects millions of adults and is one of the most researched and treatable anxiety conditions. Avoidance, reassurance-seeking, checking your pulse, monitoring your breathing, or constantly scanning for symptoms are understandable attempts to feel safe—but these strategies often reinforce the panic cycle.

The good news is that with structured panic attack treatment, your nervous system can relearn that these sensations are uncomfortable but not dangerous.

When Panic Leads to Avoidance or Agoraphobia

For some people, panic attacks begin to change daily life. You may start avoiding grocery stores, highways, public transportation, airplanes, crowded spaces, work meetings, or even leaving home because you fear panic might happen there.

Many people search phrases like “afraid to leave the house anxiety,” “panic attacks in public,” or “fear of driving after panic attack.” This pattern of avoidance is often referred to as agoraphobia.

Avoidance makes sense in the short term. But over time, it strengthens the belief that certain places or situations are unsafe. Panic disorder therapy helps gently reverse this pattern so you can regain confidence in your ability to move freely through your life again.

How Panic Disorder Therapy Helps You Reclaim a Sense of Safety

Panic disorder therapy focuses on changing your relationship with panic—not eliminating anxiety entirely, but teaching your brain that panic symptoms are safe to experience.

I use cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for panic disorder, a structured, research-supported approach. A core component of panic attack treatment is interoceptive exposure, where we gradually and intentionally recreate feared physical sensations in a controlled way. This allows your body to learn through direct experience that sensations like rapid heart rate, dizziness, or shortness of breath are not harmful.

In sessions, we:

  • Identify your specific panic triggers and patterns
  • Understand how fear escalates in the body
  • Reduce avoidance behaviors that reinforce anxiety
  • Practice responding differently to panic sensations
  • Build confidence in your ability to tolerate discomfort

Rather than escaping symptoms, you learn how to stay with them safely. Over time, your brain stops interpreting normal bodily sensations as emergencies.

As treatment progresses, many clients notice that panic attacks become less frequent, less intense, and far less frightening. Even when anxiety arises, it feels manageable. Panic disorder therapy helps you rebuild trust in your body and move through life without fear dictating your choices.

I specialize in treating panic attacks, anxiety attacks, agoraphobia, and related anxiety disorders using structured, evidence-based CBT approaches. My work emphasizes clear psychoeducation, practical skill-building, and steady, collaborative progress.

I provide telehealth panic attack therapy for adults throughout New York and Florida, including New York City, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, Tribeca, SoHo, Chelsea, Park Slope, and surrounding NYC neighborhoods, as well as Miami, Miami Beach, Palm Beach, Naples, Fort Myers, Tampa, and Orlando.

 

 

 

Specialized Panic Attack Therapy in NYC and Florida

CBT for panic disorder is one of the most effective psychological treatments available. I have received advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from the Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavior Therapy, with specialized training in the treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. I integrate cognitive restructuring, interoceptive exposure, and behavioral strategies to address both panic attacks and the fear of panic symptoms.

If you’ve been searching for “panic attack help,” “anxiety attack therapy near me,” or “panic attack therapy NYC and Florida,” structured therapy can provide clear direction and measurable progress.

My approach is structured but flexible, compassionate but practical. Therapy for panic disorder  moves at a pace that feels manageable while still supporting meaningful change.

All sessions are conducted via secure telehealth, making specialized panic disorder therapy accessible from wherever you are.

But You May Still Have Questions About Panic Disorder Therapy

Q; What if my panic attacks come out of nowhere?

While panic attacks can feel unpredictable, they follow identifiable nervous system patterns. Therapy helps you understand these patterns and learn how to respond effectively—even if the trigger isn’t obvious.

Q: Is a panic attack the same as an anxiety attack?

Many people use the term “anxiety attack” when they are experiencing panic attacks. Therapy helps clarify what’s happening and determine the most effective panic attack treatment plan for your specific symptoms.

Q: Will exposure make my panic worse?

Exposure for panic disorder is gradual and collaborative. Anxiety may increase temporarily, but the purpose is to help your body learn that panic sensations are safe. Research consistently shows that exposure reduces fear and avoidance over time.

What if I’m afraid of my physical symptoms?

Fear of bodily sensations—such as heart racing, dizziness, or shortness of breath—is central to panic disorder. Therapy focuses directly on this fear, helping you build tolerance and confidence so that physical sensations no longer trigger panic spirals.

You Don’t Have to Live in Fear of Panic

If panic attacks, anxiety attacks, agoraphobia, or fear of physical sensations are limiting your life, effective help is available.

I offer online panic attack and anxiety therapy for adults throughout New York and Florida, including clients in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, the Upper East Side, Tribeca, SoHo, Miami, Miami Beach, Palm Beach, Naples, and surrounding areas.

You’re welcome to schedule a free consultation to explore whether working together feels like the right fit.

With the right support, it is possible to feel steady in your body again—and to live without panic controlling your world.

Ellie Counseling