Panic & anxiety therapy
Panic & social anxiety therapy — Melbourne psychologists
Support for adults whose world has gradually narrowed due to panic, avoidance, or constant anticipation of anxiety.
Anxiety often grows during life changes — work pressure, responsibility shifts, or transitions — until ordinary situations begin to feel unsafe.
Supporting new clients with availability within 1–2 weeks. Medicare rebates available.
When life starts shrinking
People rarely notice the change at first.
You adjust plans slightly.
Leave earlier.
Sit near exits.
Decline invitations.
Prepare constantly.
Over time, daily life becomes organised around preventing anxiety rather than living freely within it.
You might recognise:
Anticipation
Constantly thinking ahead to prevent panic
Physical alarm
Heart racing, dizziness, breathlessness
Avoidance
Changing behaviours to stay within safe zones
After-effects
Replaying interactions or needing recovery time
The nervous system is trying to protect you
Panic is not a sign of losing control.
It is a threat response firing too easily and too often.
Avoidance works temporarily because it reduces alarm — but teaches the brain the situation was dangerous.
So the boundary of safety slowly contracts.
Therapy reverses this learning carefully and predictably.
A gradual return to confidence
1. Understand
Learning why anxiety behaves the way it does
→
2. Stabilise
Regulation skills that reduce intensity
→
3. Re-engage
Carefully planned exposure to avoided situations
→
4. Expand
Confidence grows as experiences become predictable again
Common focuses include:
social anxiety
fear of losing control in public
returning to normal routines
panic attacks
driving or public transport anxiety
workplace avoidance
Structured, collaborative therapy
We use evidence-based approaches including behavioural and cognitive therapies, adapted to your pace.
The goal is not forcing exposure, but rebuilding trust in your own responses.
Sessions focus on predictability and gradual change — not overwhelm.
You are in the right place if:
anxiety is limiting your daily life
you avoid situations you want to participate in
reassurance helps briefly but never lasts
confidence has reduced over time
You don’t need to wait until anxiety becomes severe to seek support.
Appointments available in 1-2 weeks.