Panic Attacks
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Panic attacks are sudden episodes of intense fear or discomfort, often with physical symptoms such as a racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness, or chest tightness. They can feel frightening, especially when they seem to come out of nowhere.
Therapy — including approaches such as CBT — can help you understand triggers, reduce the fear of future attacks, and learn grounding techniques that make episodes less overwhelming over time.
How to choose a therapist for panic attacks
Panic can feel physically alarming — racing heart, breathlessness, dizziness — and the fear of another attack can become its own problem. A therapist who understands panic disorder or anxiety will usually work at a pace that does not flood you with exposure too soon.
CBT and body-based approaches are often used to help you understand triggers, reduce fear of the sensations themselves, and build grounding skills. What you need early on is someone who takes the physical symptoms seriously and does not dismiss them as “just stress”.
- Look for profiles that mention panic attacks, panic disorder, or anxiety.
- Ask how they would help you during a session if you felt panicky.
- Check whether they explain what therapy for panic typically involves — psychoeducation matters.
New to therapy? Read our gentle introduction. Browse therapists who work with panic attacks.
Christina Marsden
Denise Freeman
Dr Joanne Livingston
Dr Katja Simoncelli
Dr Nikita Sharma
Dr Rachel Densham
Holly Ibbs
Liselotte McQuien
Tracey Worrall