THERAPY FOR PaniC
Disorder
Have you ever felt your heart racing out of nowhere?
Do waves of fear suddenly wash over you for no clear reason?
Have you ever thought, “Am I losing control?”
You’re not alone—and help is available.
At Compass Mental Health Services, we specialize in helping teens and adults from the Pleasant Grove area—including Lehi, American Fork, Orem, Provo, Spanish Fork, Salem, and Payson—find relief from panic disorder and reclaim a sense of calm. We also offer online therapy throughout Utah, making support accessible wherever you are.
Compass Mental Health Services was founded on the belief that everyone deserves to live well, have hope, and thrive. If panic attacks have taken control of your life, we can help you find direction, peace, and lasting relief.
If you’re ready to begin, contact us today. Read on to learn more about panic disorder and how therapy can help.
What Is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is a real and treatable mental health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It’s characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks—sudden surges of intense fear or discomfort that can feel overwhelming.
Common symptoms include:
-
Rapid heartbeat or chest pain
-
Shortness of breath
-
Dizziness or lightheadedness
-
A feeling of losing control
-
Fear of dying or “going crazy”
If you’ve experienced these symptoms, know that what you’re feeling is valid—and that recovery is possible.
Why Education Matters
Understanding panic disorder is the first step toward managing it effectively. Whether you’re experiencing symptoms yourself or supporting a loved one, education empowers you to take control.
At Compass Mental Health Services, our mission is to provide:
-
Clear, evidence-based information about panic disorder
-
Up-to-date treatment options, including therapy and medication
-
Coping strategies for daily life
-
Personal stories and hope from those who’ve been there
Knowledge reduces fear—and with the right tools and guidance, panic disorder can be managed successfully.
How Is Panic Disorder Treated?
Treatment can significantly improve your quality of life. Our clinicians use evidence-based, compassionate approaches designed to help you regain calm, confidence, and control. Some of the most effective treatments include:
1.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
What it is: EMDR is a powerful therapy we use to help you heal from distressing or overwhelming experiences. While it’s best known for panic disorder, it’s also highly effective for trauma and anxiety.
During sessions, we guide you through gentle bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements or tapping—while you focus on distressing thoughts or sensations. This helps your brain reprocess those panic-related memories so they no longer feel as intense or threatening.
Goal: To help you feel calmer, safer, and more in control when panic, trauma or anxiety shows up.
Why it helps: By combining talk therapy with rhythmic stimulation, EMDR helps the brain “unstick” panic-related memories and retrain its response to triggers. This process allows clients to experience a greater sense of calm, control, and confidence in situations that once felt overwhelming.
2.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
What it is: A mindfulness-based approach focused on accepting internal experiences (thoughts, feelings) instead of fighting them.
Goal: Increase psychological flexibility, reduce avoidance, and live a life aligned with your personal values.
3.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions
Programs like Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) can:
-
Improve awareness of the present moment
-
Reduce over-identification with anxious thoughts
Research shows mindfulness can lessen the intensity and frequency of panic attacks over time.
4.
Psychoeducation
What it is: Learning about panic disorder—its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Why it helps: Understanding what’s happening during a panic attack can reduce fear of the symptoms themselves—a major part of the panic cycle.
5.
Breathing Retraining & Relaxation Techniques
What it is: Learning how to manage physical symptoms of panic using controlled breathing and relaxation.
Examples include:
-
Diaphragmatic (deep) breathing
-
Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)
-
Guided imagery
These tools help calm both body and mind during moments of distress.
6.
Exercise and Physical Activity Education
Regular aerobic exercise has been shown to:
-
Reduce overall anxiety
-
Improve mood
-
Decrease sensitivity to panic-like sensations (such as a racing heart)
7.
Exposure Therapy (A Type of CBT)
What it is: Gradual, controlled exposure to the sensations or situations that trigger panic (such as crowded spaces or shortness of breath).
Goal: Reduce fear and avoidance by helping the brain “unlearn” the association between triggers and panic.
Often combined with interoceptive exposure—exposure to feared bodily sensations like rapid heartbeat.
8.
Family Therapy or Psychoeducation for Loved Ones
Because panic disorder affects not only individuals but also their relationships, we provide education and support for families.
Helping loved ones understand the disorder creates a more supportive home environment and reduces unhelpful behaviors like enabling avoidance.
9.
Emotional Processing Therapy
What it is: Emotional processing involves fully experiencing, understanding, and integrating emotions that may have been avoided or misunderstood.
It helps clients make sense of their emotional reactions and reduce the intensity of distressing symptoms like panic or anxiety.
Goals of Emotional Processing:
-
Identify and label emotions accurately
-
Understand the cause and meaning of emotions
-
Learn to tolerate distressing feelings rather than avoid or suppress them
-
Shift unhelpful emotional patterns (such as chronic fear, guilt, or shame)
-
Promote emotional flexibility and resolution of internal conflict
What Is Therapy for Panic Disorder Like at Compass Mental Health Services?
We are here for you.
All therapy sessions are completely confidential. For your comfort and convenience, we also offer online therapy throughout Utah. You’ll work one-on-one with a compassionate, skilled therapist who specializes in panic and anxiety-related disorders. Together, we’ll create a personalized plan to help you reach your goals efficiently and effectively.
Our goal is to help you feel understood, supported, and empowered as you begin to calm your body, ease your mind, and rediscover balance.
We’ll work together to uncover the thoughts, emotions, and experiences that fuel your panic responses—so you can break free from fear, regain control, and live with confidence again.
As you make progress in therapy for panic disorder, you can learn to:
-
Understand and interrupt the panic cycle
-
Calm your body’s physical stress response
-
Gain confidence in managing anxious thoughts
-
Reduce avoidance and face daily situations with greater ease
-
Build resilience and emotional awareness
-
Reconnect with your values and goals
-
Restore a sense of peace, stability, and control
-
Discover calm even in moments of uncertainty
Let’s Find Your Compass
It’s more than just a name.
Too many people living with panic disorder feel lost, trapped, or afraid of what might come next. At Compass Mental Health Services, we believe everyone deserves a chance to find their sense of direction again—to live with clarity, courage, and hope.
You don’t have to face this alone. We’re here to help you find your way forward.
