Panic Attack Therapy in Ottawa
Calm the alarm, and stop dreading the next one. Panic attack therapy in Ottawa, in person or online.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationCalm the alarm, and stop dreading the next one. Panic attack therapy in Ottawa, in person or online.
✓ Same-week ✓ Direct billing ✓ Sliding scale ✓ Licensed therapists
Book a free consultationEvery clinician is registered with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario (CRPO) or the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW).
We want therapy to be financially accessible for everyone. Reduced rates are available case-by-case based on need and availability.
We submit directly to most major insurers, so you don't pay out of pocket upfront.
Our office is in Ottawa. All client records are stored in Canada and handled under PIPEDA and PHIPA.
Therapy is a space to slow down and look at what's underneath. These are some of the patterns people bring into the room.
FOR WHEN SOMETHING FEELS OFF
A sudden surge of intense fear or discomfort: racing heart, chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, a sense of unreality, or a feeling of losing control. Most panic attacks peak within minutes. That doesn't make them less terrifying in the moment.
Panic disorder isn't just about the attacks themselves. It's about what happens between them: the constant scanning for signs that another one is coming, the hypervigilance, the dread. Many people describe this as its own kind of suffering.
To avoid triggering a panic attack, people start avoiding. Crowds, driving, certain places or activities, being far from home. This avoidance makes complete sense as a short-term strategy. Over time, it narrows your world significantly.
Panic attacks feel dangerous. They're not, but your body doesn't know that. What's happening is your nervous system's alarm system has misfired, triggering a full fight-or-flight response when there's no actual threat. Therapy works by teaching your brain and body to update that alarm.
We may use approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), which has strong evidence for panic disorder. This can include learning to recognize and interrupt the cycle of catastrophic thinking that escalates a physical sensation into a full panic attack, and gradual exposure work to break the avoidance patterns that keep the fear alive.
You'll also develop practical skills like breathing regulation, grounding techniques, and interoceptive awareness, all of which give you real tools to use when anxiety starts to rise. Over time, most clients find that panic attacks decrease in frequency and intensity, and that even when they do occur, they're far less overwhelming.
Panic attacks frequently co-occur with health anxiety, because the physical symptoms of panic can feel impossible to distinguish from a medical emergency. If that overlap is part of your experience, that page goes into it in more detail.
Email, phone, or fill out our booking form. There's no script and no pressure. You can share as much or as little as you want.
A real person, not a bot, will reply as soon as we can with a few options for a free 15-minute consultation.
We listen. You ask questions. No paperwork, no obligation. If we're not the right match, we'll point you toward someone who might be.
Direct billing where possible. Evening and weekend availability. Virtual or in-person in Ottawa.
Sessions are 50 minutes in length. Rates vary by therapist and are confirmed during your free consultation. We accept e-transfer and credit cards, and direct-bill most insurers.
Sliding-scale spots are available based on need. Ask during your free consultation.
Same 50-minute format, structured for two participants and shared concerns.
Registered Psychotherapist and Registered Social Worker services are covered by most extended health plans in Canada. We recommend confirming your specific coverage before your first paid session. Sun Life, Manulife, Canada Life, Green Shield, and most major insurers include coverage.
We direct-bill where your insurer allows it. Otherwise, you pay at the time of session and submit the receipt for reimbursement.
Every session generates a receipt listing the provider's license number, suitable for insurance reimbursement.
In-person sessions are held at our Ottawa office. Virtual sessions use a secure, PIPEDA-compliant video platform. You can switch between the two.
We ask for 24 hours notice on cancellations. Late cancellations and no-shows are charged the full session fee.
After the free 15-minute consultation, your first paid session is intake-focused. Bring questions, anything you have already tried, and any goals you have in mind.
QUESTIONS
Panic attacks feel dangerous but are not physically harmful; they are a misfired alarm response. That said, sudden symptoms should be checked by a doctor at least once to rule out medical causes. Therapy then helps your body learn the alarm is false.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is often a very effective approach. It interrupts the catastrophic thinking that escalates a sensation into a full attack, plus gradual exposure to break avoidance. You will also learn breathing and grounding skills for the moment.
Many people see panic attacks become less frequent and less intense within a few months of focused work, though timelines vary. Even early on, having concrete tools tends to reduce the fear of the next attack.
Slow your exhale, longer out than in, and remind yourself the peak passes within minutes. Grounding by naming what you see and feel helps. These are starting points; therapy builds a fuller, personalized toolkit.
Therapy is a longer-term relationship. If you're in acute distress, please reach the services below first. They are free, confidential, and available right now.
