Panic Disorder Treatment in Denver | Evidence-Based Therapy for Panic and Agoraphobia
If you’re experiencing panic attacks, fear of bodily sensations, or avoiding situations out of fear that panic will strike, effective treatment is available. I’m Josh Kaplan, LCSW, and I provide evidence-based anxiety therapy in Denver and throughout Colorado, helping teens and adults break these patterns and regain a sense of calm and confidence.
Meet Josh Kaplan, LCSW
Denver Anxiety and Panic Disorder Specialist
Hi, I’m Josh Kaplan. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing exclusively in anxiety disorders, including panic disorder and agoraphobia. My practice is focused on evidence-based treatment, not general counseling.
Training and Treatment Approach
My work is grounded in CBT, Exposure Therapy, ERP, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, with over a decade of specialized experience treating OCD and anxiety disorders. Treatment is practical, direct, and focused on lasting change rather than short-term symptom management.
Over a decade of exclusive specialization in treating Anxiety Disorders and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Advanced expertise in CBT, Exposure Therapy, and Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Structured, clear, actionable, and collaborative treatment that helps clients understand the “why” behind each step of therapy
Contributing member of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
The Panic Cycle That Keeps You Stuck
What Panic Disorder Really Is
Panic disorder is driven by a fear of physical sensations such as a racing heart, dizziness, shortness of breath, nausea, or feelings of unreality. These sensations are not dangerous, but they feel alarming and overwhelming. Over time, the fear of panic itself becomes the problem.
How Panic, Fear, and Avoidance Reinforce Each Other
When panic symptoms appear, the nervous system interprets them as a threat. This leads to increased fear, heightened monitoring of the body, and attempts to escape or control the sensations. While these responses may reduce anxiety briefly, they teach the brain that panic sensations are dangerous, reinforcing the cycle and making future panic attacks more likely.
Why Talk Therapy Alone Often Isn’t Enough for Panic Disorder
How Reassurance and Control Attempts Maintain Panic
Traditional talk therapy often emphasizes reassurance, relaxation, or understanding why panic happens. While this can feel comforting, efforts to control or eliminate panic sensations often increase fear of those sensations, making panic more persistent over time.
Why Understanding Panic Does Not Stop Panic
Many people with panic disorder understand logically that panic attacks are not dangerous, yet still feel terrified when symptoms appear. Panic is maintained by conditioned fear responses in the body, not a lack of insight. Effective treatment must target how you respond to sensations in the moment.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure Therapy: The Gold-Standard Treatment for Panic Disorder
How Evidence-Based Panic Treatment Works
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with exposure therapy is considered the gold-standard treatment for panic disorder. Treatment focuses on changing your response to physical sensations, thoughts, and situations that trigger panic rather than trying to eliminate them.
Interoceptive and Situational Exposure
Exposure therapy for panic includes interoceptive exposures, which involve intentionally bringing on feared bodily sensations in a safe, controlled way. Situational exposures gradually reduce avoidance of places or activities associated with panic. Over time, the nervous system learns that panic sensations are uncomfortable but not dangerous.
What You Learn Through Treatment
Treatment helps you build tolerance for bodily sensations, reduce fear of panic itself, and disengage from safety behaviors such as constant monitoring, escape behaviors, or reassurance-seeking. As this shift occurs, panic attacks become less frequent and less intense, overall anxiety decreases, and many people develop a renewed sense of safety within their own body and mind. Confidence increases as panic loses its power.
Why Specialized Panic Disorder Treatment Matters
Panic Treatment Requires Exposure-Based Precision
While many therapists offer CBT, effective treatment for panic disorder requires careful identification of avoidance patterns and subtle safety behaviors, along with specialized training in exposure therapy. Exposure therapy is a distinct area of specialization that not all therapists are trained in. My work is grounded in advanced training in both CBT and exposure-based treatments, allowing therapy to target anxiety at its core rather than unintentionally reinforcing fear. Panic disorder improves when fear of bodily sensations is addressed directly, not avoided or controlled.
How Improper Treatment Can Reinforce Panic
When therapy focuses primarily on calming techniques or panic prevention, panic can become more frightening and more frequent. Specialized treatment targets the fear-learning mechanisms that maintain panic, leading to lasting improvement rather than short-term relief.
The Benefits of Online Panic Disorder Therapy in Denver and Throughout Colorado
Practicing Treatment Where Panic Actually Occurs
Online therapy allows panic treatment to be practiced in real-world environments such as your home, car, workplace, or public settings where panic tends to occur.
Applying Newly Learned Skills in Daily Life
Because exposures can be done in real time, treatment is more targeted and practical. Skills are practiced where they matter most, leading to faster and more relevant progress.
What to Expect From Online Panic Therapy
Sessions are structured, collaborative, and focused on reducing fear of panic sensations. Online panic disorder treatment is offered throughout Colorado, and many clients experience meaningful improvement within 8–12 sessions.
Panic Disorder Treatment in Denver and Across Colorado
My passion is helping people recover from panic disorder, whether symptoms are mild, moderate, or severe. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck, I encourage you to reach out and schedule a free online consultation. We can discuss your current symptoms and explore what exposure-based treatment would look like for your specific situation, tailored to your individual needs and goals.
Online Panic Disorder Therapy Sessions
I provide online panic disorder treatment for teen and adult clients throughout Colorado, making specialized care accessible regardless of location.
Serving Denver and Surrounding Areas
This includes Denver, Aurora, Littleton, Centennial, Lakewood, Highlands Ranch, and other communities across the state.
Get Started With Panic Disorder Treatment in Denver
If Anxiety or OCD has been controlling more of your life than you want, help is available. With the right treatment, it is possible to break out of the cycle and move forward with greater clarity and confidence.
I offer a free 20 minute online consultation to answer questions, discuss your symptoms, and help you determine whether my approach is the right fit.
CBT 4 Anxiety