EMDR for Panic Attacks and Health Anxiety
Panic feels like danger—but it’s memory.
Panic attacks and health anxiety can feel terrifying, confusing, and deeply personal. One moment you are grocery shopping in Beachwood, Ohio, or driving through Cleveland or Columbus, and the next your heart is racing, your chest feels tight, and your mind is certain something is terribly wrong. As a trauma-informed therapist with over 20 years of clinical experience, I want you to know this: panic is not a personal failure. It is often your nervous system responding to unresolved memory, not present-day danger. Many people searching for EMDR panic attacks support, trauma therapy, or therapy for anxiety are not broken. They are adaptive. Their brains learned to protect them during overwhelming experiences. Today, therapies like EMDR and other evidence-based trauma treatments can help your nervous system relearn safety.
This article will walk you through four well-researched trauma therapies used at Ascension Counseling across Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, and Florida, including Beachwood, Columbus, Dayton, Detroit, Charlotte, Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Gainesville, and Jacksonville. Whether you are Googling EMDR therapy near me or simply seeking hope, this guide is for you.
What Trauma Is and How It Can Show Up
Trauma is not defined by the event itself. It is defined by how your nervous system experiences and remembers that event. Trauma can come from a single incident, ongoing stress, medical experiences, childhood neglect, or accumulative emotional overwhelm. Unprocessed trauma can show up in many ways, including:
• Panic attacks that seem to come out of nowhere
• Health anxiety and constant body scanning
• Intrusive thoughts or mental images
• Sleep difficulties or nightmares
• Avoidance of places, people, or situations
• Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected
• Sudden waves of fear, shame, or irritability
• Difficulty trusting your body or your mind
These symptoms are not signs of weakness. They are signs that your brain and body learned survival strategies that once made sense.
Evidence-Based Trauma Therapies That Help
Trauma therapy is not about reliving the past endlessly. It is about helping your nervous system process memory in a way that restores choice, calm, and connection. Below are four evidence-based approaches commonly used for trauma, anxiety, and panic.
EMDR Therapy
What it is
EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, is a therapy that helps the brain reprocess traumatic memories so they no longer feel like they are happening in the present. This approach is especially effective for EMDR panic attacks and health anxiety rooted in fear-based memory.
Learn more about how EMDR works and what to expect from EMDR therapy at Ascension Counseling here: https://ascensioncounseling.com/emdr-therapy
Who it’s a good fit for
• Individuals with panic attacks or health anxiety
• People with single-incident or complex trauma
• Clients who struggle to talk in detail about their experiences
• Those whose symptoms feel body-based or sudden
What a typical session may look like
• Identifying a target memory or sensation
• Using bilateral stimulation such as eye movements or tapping
• Processing thoughts, emotions, and body sensations
• Ending sessions with grounding and stabilization
EMDR allows healing without requiring detailed storytelling, which many clients find relieving.
If you’re looking for practical, day-to-day tools, you may also find our guide on proactive EMDR resourcing for preventing panic attacks helpful: https://ascensioncounseling.com/preventing-panic-attacks-with-proactive-emdr-resourcing
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
What it is
CPT is a structured trauma therapy that focuses on how trauma affects beliefs about safety, trust, control, and self-worth. It helps identify and gently shift unhelpful thinking patterns that keep anxiety and fear alive.
Who it’s a good fit for
• Clients who feel stuck in self-blame or guilt
• People who like structure and homework
• Those who want to understand the meaning they made from trauma
• Individuals with PTSD, anxiety, or depression
What a typical session may look like
• Learning about trauma and its effects
• Identifying stuck points in thinking
• Writing or discussing the impact of trauma
• Practicing new, more balanced perspectives
CPT can be especially helpful for clients in Detroit, Michigan or Charlotte, North Carolina seeking insight-driven trauma therapy.
Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE)
What it is
PE is a trauma therapy that helps reduce fear by gradually and safely confronting trauma-related memories and avoided situations. Over time, the brain learns that these cues are no longer dangerous.
Who it’s a good fit for
• Individuals with PTSD and strong avoidance
• Clients whose fear limits daily functioning
• Those ready for a more active approach
• People who want to reclaim parts of life they’ve avoided
What a typical session may look like
• Education about fear and avoidance
• Guided revisiting of memories at a tolerable pace
• Gradual real-world exposure exercises
• Processing and grounding at the end of sessions
PE is always paced carefully and collaboratively to prioritize safety.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
What it is
TF-CBT is a trauma therapy originally developed for children and adolescents but also adapted for adults. It integrates cognitive, behavioral, and emotional regulation skills.
Who it’s a good fit for
• Children and teens impacted by trauma
• Adults with developmental or early relational trauma
• Families wanting involvement in the healing process
• Clients needing skills alongside processing
What a typical session may look like
• Learning coping and relaxation skills
• Gradual trauma narration or processing
• Cognitive restructuring
• Strengthening support systems
TF-CBT is frequently used by clinicians throughout Florida, including Tampa, Miami, Orlando, Gainesville, and Jacksonville.
How These Trauma Therapies Differ
Each approach works with the brain and nervous system differently.
• EMDR focuses on memory reprocessing with minimal verbal detail
• CPT centers on beliefs and meaning-making
• PE emphasizes reducing fear through exposure
• TF-CBT integrates skills, thoughts, and emotional processing
No therapy is best for everyone. The right fit depends on your symptoms, history, preferences, and readiness.
How to Choose the Right Trauma Therapy
Choosing trauma therapy is not about getting it perfect. It is about finding safety and trust. Consider the following:
• Do you want a structured or flexible approach
• Are your symptoms more body-based or thought-based
• Do you prefer talking or less verbal processing
• What feels manageable right now
A trauma-informed therapist will help guide this decision with you.
What to Expect in Your First Appointment
Your first session is about connection, not commitment.
• Reviewing current symptoms and concerns
• Discussing past experiences only as much as you choose
• Talking about goals and therapy options
• Establishing emotional safety and pacing
You are always in control.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to talk about everything?
No. Trauma therapy respects your boundaries. You share what feels safe.
Is trauma therapy safe?
Yes, when provided by a trained, trauma-informed clinician who prioritizes stabilization.
How long does it take?
Healing is individual. Some people notice change in weeks, others over months.
Will I feel worse before I feel better?
Some discomfort can happen, but therapy should never feel overwhelming or unsafe.
Hope for Healing
Panic attacks and health anxiety are not life sentences. With the right trauma therapy, your nervous system can learn that the present is safer than the past. Whether you are in Beachwood or Cleveland, Columbus or Dayton, Detroit, Charlotte, or Jacksonville, support is available. If you are ready to explore trauma therapy or EMDR therapy near me, Ascension Counseling would be honored to walk alongside you.
Take the Next Step
You can book an appointment with Ascension Counseling by:
Visit https://ascensioncounseling.com/contact
Email intake@ascensioncounseling.com
Call (833) 254-3278 Text (216) 455-7161
You deserve care that understands your story and honors your strength.