Living with panic disorder can feel like being trapped in a constant state of high alert. At Taylor Counseling Group, we understand that the sudden, overwhelming surge of fear characteristic of a panic attack is more than just stress. It can be a profoundly distressing experience that disrupts a client’s career, relationships, and overall quality of life. Our mission is to provide affordable, reliable, and accessible care to help clients reclaim their lives from the grip of panic.
- Meet Our Therapists
- Understanding Panic Disorder: More Than Just Stress
- The Cycle of Panic: Why It’s Hard to Stop Alone
- Evidence-Based Treatment for Panic Disorder
- Why Choose Taylor Counseling Group for Panic Disorder?
With a deeper sense of understanding, we’ll be able to create a treatment plan to help control anxiety and improve your overall health and wellness.
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Jennifer Sprague
Fort Worth
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Lindsey Goodman, LPC-Associate, M.Ed.
Galleria
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James Ritchie, M.A., LPC
San Antonio
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Matthew Spikes, M.A., LPC
Dallas
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Jasmin Sanchez, M.S, LPC
Fort Worth
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Gabrielle White, M.A., LCSW
Waco
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Harry Carpio, M.S, LPC
Houston Memorial Park
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Tichina Lynch, M.A., LPC
Houston Memorial Park
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Lori Caperton, M.A., LPC
Dallas
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Ileana Villarreal, M.A., LMFT
San Antonio
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Nicole Garth, M.S., LPC-Associate
Dallas
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Kristen Martinez, MSW, LCSW
Fort Worth
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Megan Schaefer, M.S., LPC
San Antonio
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Desi Richardson, M.A., LPC
Fort Worth
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Jesse Gill, MSW, LCSW
Galleria
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Shannon Holliday, M.Ed, LPC
San Antonio: Alamo Heights
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Bria Harris, MA, LPC
Galleria
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Krista Weaver, MSW, LCSW, C-DBT
Fort Worth
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Ann Meripolski, MS, LPC, LCDC
Dallas
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Jessie Moore, MA, LPC
Dallas
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Claire Moody, MSW, LCSW
Dallas
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Christina Knight, M.S. LPC
Coppell
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Jamia Woods, LMFT
Houston Memorial Park
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Spandana Maitra, M.A., LPC
Coppell
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Emily Rogers, M.S., LPC
Fort Worth
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Megan Hawkins, M.A., LPC
Houston Memorial Park
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Leah Evans, M.S., LPC, RPT
San Antonio: Alamo Heights
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Antoine Votaw, MA, LPC, LCDC
Dallas
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Javeria Yousuf M.S., LPC
Galleria
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Michelle Rodgers, MS, LPC-S
Dallas
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Anita Cepeda, MA, LPC
Galleria
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Nicole Kremer, M.A., LPC
San Antonio: Alamo Heights
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Elizabeth Crowder M.A., LMFT
Waco
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Julie Furber, M.S. LPC, CRC
Galleria
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Hailey-Lou Lowry, LPC-Associate, LCDC
The Woodlands
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Ashley Jesse, MA, LPC
San Antonio: Alamo Heights
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Hannah Frederick, MA, LPC
Dallas
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Kaila “Kai” Parker, Practicum Student
Dallas
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Ashley Davis, M.A., LPC
Dallas
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Elaine La Bruyère, M.Ed., LPC
Galleria
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Holly Patterson, MA, LPC
Waco
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Abigail Locke, M.A., LPC
Waco
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Cortnee Schraer, M.S. LPC RPT
San Antonio
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Kotia Whitaker, M.S. LMFT
San Antonio: Alamo Heights
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David R. Buck, MS, LPC
Waxahachie
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Becca Kern, MA, LPC
Fort Worth
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Vanessa Perkins, MA, LPC
Fort Worth
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Amy Hill, MS, LPC-S, LMFT-S
Coppell
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Colleen Farris, MS, LPC
Coppell
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Johanna Horstman, MA, LPC
Galleria
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Stephanie Jutras, MSW, LCSW
Galleria
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Joy Lawson, MA, LPC
Cedar Park
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Lori Shaw, MS, LPC-S
Galleria
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Christopher Hinds, MRC, LPC
Dallas
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Understanding Panic Disorder: More Than Just Stress
While everyone experiences anxiety from time to time, panic disorder is characterized by recurrent, unexpected panic attacks. These episodes can occur without an obvious trigger, often leaving clients worried about when the next attack might happen. This “fear of fear” can lead to significant changes in behavior, including avoiding places or situations where previous attacks occurred.
A panic attack is not simply a high-stress moment. It is a physiological event where the body’s “fight or flight” system activates at the wrong time. For clients with panic disorder, this alarm system can become overly sensitive, leading to intense fear episodes that may feel life‑threatening.
Common Symptoms of a Panic Attack
A panic attack is a sudden episode of intense fear that triggers severe physical reactions when there is no real danger or apparent cause. Symptoms typically peak within minutes and can include:
Physical Symptoms: A racing or pounding heart, shortness of breath or a feeling of choking, chest pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, trembling, sweating, and chills or heat sensations. Many clients describe the feeling as if they are having a heart attack or can’t catch their breath.
Cognitive Symptoms: An overwhelming sense of impending doom, a fear of losing control or “going crazy,” and an intense fear of dying. These thoughts often fuel the physical symptoms, creating a feedback loop of terror.
Because these physical symptoms are so severe, many clients experiencing a panic attack for the first time believe they are having a medical emergency. This often leads to multiple visits to the emergency room before a diagnosis of panic disorder is made.
The Cycle of Panic: Why It’s Hard to Stop Alone
Panic disorder often creates a self-perpetuating cycle. After experiencing a panic attack, the brain becomes hypersensitive to physical sensations. A slight increase in heart rate from exercise, caffeine, or even a warm room might be misinterpreted as the start of another attack. This misinterpretation triggers the very anxiety the client is trying to avoid.
Without professional support, this cycle can increase the risk of developing agoraphobic avoidance. This is a condition where clients avoid places or situations that might cause them to panic or make them feel trapped, helpless, or embarrassed. Clients might find themselves avoiding places like grocery stores, public transportation, or even being afraid to leave their home. Breaking this cycle requires specialized therapeutic techniques designed to retrain the brain’s response to fear and physical sensations.
Evidence-Based Treatment for Panic Disorder
At Taylor Counseling Group, our therapists utilize evidence‑based approaches to help clients manage panic disorder and regain a sense of safety and control. We focus on providing clients with the tools to manage symptoms in the moment while addressing the underlying causes of the disorder.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Panic Attacks
CBT is widely recognized as a highly effective treatment for panic disorder. Through CBT, clients will work with their counselor to identify the distorted thought patterns that contribute to their panic. By challenging these thoughts and replacing them with more balanced perspectives, clients can reduce the frequency and intensity of their attacks. Clients will learn to recognize that while a panic attack is uncomfortable, it is not dangerous.
Mindfulness and Grounding Techniques
We provide practical tools clients can use in the moment to manage rising anxiety. Grounding techniques help pull clients out of a panic spiral by refocusing their attention on the present environment. Mindfulness helps clients observe sensations without judgment or escalation, allowing the wave of panic to pass without fighting it, which often makes it dissipate faster.
Schedule A Counseling Session For Panic Disorder
Client PortalWhy Choose Taylor Counseling Group for Panic Disorder?
Choosing the right therapist for panic disorder is a critical step in a client’s recovery journey. Taylor Counseling Group offers a comprehensive approach to mental health care in Texas:
Accessible & Affordable Care
We believe that high-quality mental health care should be available to everyone. We accept most major insurance plans and offer affordable private‑pay options to help keep services accessible. Our income-based Affordable Care Program is designed to support clients who need counseling but face financial barriers or lack insurance.
Expert Clinicians
Our team consists of professional counselors and therapists experienced in treating anxiety and panic‑related concerns. We utilize evidence-based therapeutic approaches to provide clients with effective and compassionate care.
Personalized Treatment Plans
No two experiences with panic are the same. We tailor our therapeutic approach to each client’s specific symptoms, history, and goals, ensuring they receive the most effective care possible.
Convenient Locations
Our team is proud to serve communities throughout the Central Texas region. We offer both in‑person sessions and telehealth options to help counseling fit clients’ schedules.
Offices are located across Central Texas, including:
- San Antonio
- Alamo Heights
- Cedar Park
- Waco
- Dallas
- Galleria
- Fort Worth
- Coppell
- Houston Memorial Park
- The Woodlands
Take the First Step Toward Relief
Clients don’t have to live in fear of the next panic attack. At Taylor Counseling Group, we are here to provide the support and expertise clients need to overcome panic disorder and regain their independence.
Schedule an appointment today at one of our Central Texas locations—or via telehealth—and start the journey toward a calmer, more confident life.