Panic attack counselling in Kelowna
panic attacks can feel terrifying.
when your heart races, your chest tightens and your body feels completely out of control, it's understandable to wonder if something is seriously wrong.
the good news is that panic attacks are highly treatable. Therapy can help you understand what's happening, reduce your fear of panic, and rebuild trust in your body.
do panic attacks seemingly pop up out of the blue?
panic attacks often seem to come out of nowhere.
you may have been driving, shopping, lying in bed, or sitting in a meeting when suddenly your body felt like it was sounding an emergency alarm.
you might recognise this yourself if…
your heart races or pounds unexpectedly.
you struggle to catch your breath.
you feel dizzy, shaky or lightheaded.
your chest feels tight or painful.
you worry you're having a heart attack or dying.
you fear losing control or "going crazy."
you've started avoiding places where you've had panic attacks before.
you constantly monitor your body for signs another panic attack is coming.
you're living in fear of the next one.
what is a panic attack?
a panic attack is your body's fight, flight or freeze response activating when there isn't actually a physical danger present.
although the symptoms can feel overwhelming, they're not dangerous.
your brain has simply mistaken something as a threat and triggered your body's natural survival response.
your heart beats faster to pump blood to your muscles.
your breathing changes to prepare you for action.
your body floods with adrenaline.
these sensations are frightening, but they're also signs that your body is trying to protect you, even if it's interpreting the sensations as dangerous, when they aren’t.
why do panic attacks keep happening?
after experiencing one panic attack, many people begin fearing another.
that fear often leads to scanning the body for symptoms, avoiding certain situations, or interpreting normal bodily sensations as signs that another attack is beginning.
ironically, the more attention we give those sensations, the more intense they can become.
this creates what's often called the fear of fear cycle - very meta, I know.
therapy helps interrupt this cycle so your brain learns that panic isn't something you need to fear.
how counselling can help
the goal of therapy isn't simply to stop panic attacks, it's to help you stop fearing them.
together we'll work to understand your unique panic cycle, calm your nervous system and develop practical strategies that help you respond differently when anxiety shows up.
our work may include:
understanding the panic cycle
reducing fear of physical sensations
calming the nervous system
identifying triggers
reducing avoidance behaviours
building confidence in your body's ability to recover
CBT strategies for panic
EMDR where past experiences continue to contribute to anxiety
developing lasting emotional resilience
imagine if...
imagine feeling your heart beat a little faster... and not assuming something terrible is happening.
imagine walking into costco without planning your nearest exit.
imagine driving wherever you want without worrying about being trapped.
imagine trusting your body again.
imagine living your life instead of organising it around avoiding panic.
recovery isn't about never feeling anxious.
it's about knowing that even if anxiety shows up, you know exactly how to respond.
my approach
I use an integrative, evidence-based approach tailored to your unique experiences. Together we'll explore not only what keeps panic going today, but also the factors that may have contributed to it in the first place.
Drawing from CBT, EMDR, Internal Family Systems (IFS), and nervous system regulation strategies, we'll work toward helping you feel calmer, more confident, and more connected to yourself.
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although panic attacks can feel frightening, they are not dangerous in themselves. The physical sensations are caused by your body's natural survival response and will gradually settle, even if they feel overwhelming in the moment.
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many symptoms of panic, including chest tightness, a racing heart, dizziness and shortness of breath, overlap with symptoms people associate with heart problems. If you've never experienced these symptoms before or have concerns about your physical health, it's important to seek medical assessment to rule out a medical cause. Once medical concerns have been addressed, therapy can help reduce the fear and cycle of panic.
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many people experience a significant reduction in panic attacks through therapy. Even more importantly, they learn to respond differently when anxiety arises, which often reduces the frequency and intensity of future attacks.
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everyone's experience is different. Some people notice improvements within a few sessions, while others benefit from longer-term work, especially if panic is connected to broader anxiety or past experiences.
FAQs
ready to take the next step?
living with panic attacks can make your world feel smaller.
places that once felt ordinary begin to feel risky. Your own body can start to feel unpredictable.
it doesn't have to stay that way.
with the right support, it's possible to understand what's happening, rebuild confidence in yourself, and begin living without fear of the next panic attack.
if you're ready to take that first step, I'd be honoured to support you.