Panic attacks are terrifying — and they are also one of the most treatable conditions in psychology. With the right treatment, most people achieve complete or near-complete recovery.
Our registered psychologists in Melbourne provide evidence-based treatment for panic attacks and panic disorder across four clinic locations and via Telehealth.
WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.
A panic attack is a sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort accompanied by strong physical symptoms — typically peaking within minutes. Panic disorder is diagnosed when panic attacks are recurrent and are followed by persistent worry about further attacks or significant changes in behaviour to avoid them (American Psychiatric Association, 2022).
Panic disorder affects approximately 2–3% of Australians and is often accompanied by agoraphobia — fear of situations where escape might be difficult if a panic attack occurs.
A panic attack involves four or more of the following symptoms:
Because panic attack symptoms mimic serious medical conditions, many people present to emergency departments before receiving a psychological diagnosis. Medical causes should always be ruled out with your GP first (Clark, 1986).
Panic disorder is maintained by a cognitive model: physical sensations (racing heart, breathlessness) are catastrophically misinterpreted as dangerous — triggering more anxiety and more physical symptoms in a vicious cycle (Clark, 1986). Avoidance of feared situations and safety behaviours prevent the disconfirmation of these catastrophic beliefs.
Effective treatment breaks the cycle by:
CBT for panic disorder produces recovery rates of 70–90% — among the highest of any psychological treatment for any condition (Barlow et al., 2000).
Our psychologists use the most effective evidence-based approaches:
The gold standard treatment for panic disorder, with recovery rates of 70–90% (Barlow et al., 2000). CBT-Panic targets the catastrophic misinterpretation of physical sensations, drops safety behaviours, and uses interoceptive exposure — deliberately inducing feared sensations in a safe context to demonstrate they are not dangerous.
A core component of CBT for panic — deliberately inducing feared sensations (e.g., hyperventilating, spinning, running) in session to build tolerance and disconfirm the belief that sensations are dangerous. Highly effective for breaking the fear-of-fear cycle (Craske & Barlow, 2007).
Graded, systematic exposure to avoided situations — always collaboratively planned and at your pace. Exposure therapy for agoraphobia produces significant and lasting recovery when combined with CBT (Craske & Barlow, 2007).
Teaches clients to relate differently to panic sensations and thoughts — accepting them without avoidance or struggle, and engaging fully in life despite their presence. Particularly useful for long-standing panic with significant avoidance.
Treatment is structured and time-limited. Most people with panic disorder achieve significant improvement within 10–14 sessions (Clark, 1986).
Your first appointment includes a thorough assessment of your panic history, avoidance patterns, and the impact on your daily life.
We provide education about the neuroscience of panic — understanding what is happening in your body during a panic attack is itself therapeutic.
Telehealth is available, and many clients with agoraphobia find this helpful initially, gradually transitioning to in-clinic as they build confidence.
We offer appointments in-clinic at our Mooroolbark, Wheelers Hill, Reservoir, and Melbourne CBD locations, as well as Telehealth sessions from anywhere in Australia.
WorkCover, NDIS or TAC approved? YOU PAY NOTHING.
If your claim has been approved, we bill your funder directly. Zero out-of-pocket cost — no gap, no upfront payment, nothing.
Can a panic attack kill you?
No. Despite how terrifying they feel, panic attacks — once medical causes are excluded — are not medically dangerous. Your heart is not going to stop. You are not going to lose control. Understanding this is one of the first steps in recovery.
How long does treatment for panic attacks take?
Most people with panic disorder achieve significant improvement within 10–14 sessions of CBT. For panic with agoraphobia, treatment may take longer — typically 15–20 sessions.
Do I have to do exposure therapy?
Exposure — to both sensations and situations — is the most powerful component of panic treatment. It is always conducted collaboratively, at your pace, and with full explanation of the rationale before starting.
Can medication help with panic attacks?
SSRIs are sometimes prescribed for panic disorder. Research shows CBT produces superior long-term outcomes, and combining CBT with medication offers limited advantage over CBT alone for most people. Your GP can discuss medication if appropriate.
Panic attacks feel out of control — but they are completely treatable. Our team can help you break free.
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American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.). APA. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787
Barlow, D. H., Gorman, J. M., Shear, M. K., & Woods, S. W. (2000). Cognitive-behavioral therapy, imipramine, or their combination for panic disorder. JAMA, 283(19), 2529–2536. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.283.19.2529
Clark, D. M. (1986). A cognitive approach to panic. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 24(4), 461–470. https://doi.org/10.1016/0005-7967(86)90011-2
Craske, M. G., & Barlow, D. H. (2007). Mastery of your anxiety and panic: Workbook (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
