Selecting A
Therapist
Various types of health
professionals may have the training and experience needed to treat
panic disorder. Sometimes panic disorder patients are treated by two
healthcare professionals—one who prescribes and monitors
medication and another who provides cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
Each professional will use the
treatments with which he or she is most familiar and successful. It
is vital to choose a professional who is trained and experienced in
the treatment methods described earlier; it is equally important to
choose someone with whom you feel comfortable.
Many people begin looking for
treatment by visiting their family doctor or a local clinic or
health maintenance organization. Other places to seek help include
your local health department or community mental health clinic. If
there is a university near you, you may wish to ask about
participating in a panic disorder study. Many universities have
ongoing treatment research programs in their psychology or
psychiatry departments that may provide care at less expense.
When seeking a healthcare
professional to treat your panic disorder, you may want to ask the
following questions:
- How many patients with panic
disorder have you treated?
- Do you have any special training
in panic disorder treatment?
- What is your basic approach to
treatment—cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, or both?
- If you provide only one type of
treatment, how do I get the other if I need it?
- How long is a typical course of
treatment?
- How frequent are treatment
sessions?
- How long does each session last?
- What are your fees?
- Can you help me determine whether
my health insurance will cover this?
It's also important to realize that
you have to work with your therapist
to make your treatment successful.
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types of
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