CBT for Anxiety and Panic Attacks in Columbus
At Proven Pathways, our therapists are experts in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). We provide CBT adherently, which means as it was researched and found to be most effective. CBT is a goal-focused, practical form of psychotherapy that helps you better understand your emotions and to change unhelpful patterns in your thinking and behaviors that are fueling negative emotions. This present-focused approach is based on the idea that thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are interconnected—and that changing these patterns can lead to meaningful improvements in how you feel and function. For anxiety specifically, anxiety is often maintained by avoidance and safety behaviors that provide short-term relief but reinforce fear over time. CBT helps break this cycle by helping you approach what you fear in a gradual, structured way
CBT is a time-limited treatment, typically 12-16 sessions, though duration of care is based on your specific needs and severity of symptoms. CBT is time-limited because the goal of this treatment is to help you learn actionable skills you can continue using independently—so you can handle future stressors with greater confidence.
For significant problems with anxiety, including panic attacks, adherent CBT is the top recommended treatment and includes multiple components:
A clear, individualized treatment plan with specific goals and measurable progress
Psychoeducation about anxiety and panic, including the role of fear and avoidance
Cognitive strategies to identify and respond more effectively to unhelpful thought patterns
Interoceptive exposure to reduce fear of physical sensations such as a racing heart, dizziness, or shortness of breath
In vivo exposure to gradually face anxiety-provoking situations in real life, to help one reconnect with valued activities and build new learning to reduce fears
Between-session practice to reinforce skills and facilitate progress outside of sessions
These components work together to create lasting change by helping you respond differently to anxiety—rather than simply trying to reduce or avoid it. It is important to seek clinicians who have expertise in adherent CBT for anxiety and panic that includes exposure-based techniques. Many clinicians are not trained in, and thus do not use, interoceptive and in vivo exposures, despite being considered key parts of first-line evidence-based treatment for panic disorder and many anxiety conditions. Participating in comprehensive, adherent CBT that includes exposure-based techniques can lead to more meaningful and lasting improvement.
Primary and co-occurring concerns we specialize in treating with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:
Anxiety concerns, including Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Anxiety Disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Adjustment Disorder
Illness Anxiety (a.k.a. health anxiety, hypochondriasis) and Somatic Symptom Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Depression
Anger and irritability
Grief
Insomnia (CBT-I)
To learn more about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, click here
