EMDR Therapy Sydney
EMDR Therapy for Panic Attacks in Sydney
Your mind knows you are safe, but your body keeps reacting as if you are not. EMDR helps the nervous system finally catch up. No GP referral needed.
- Panic attacks and the fear of them returning, both treated
- Reduces the physical alarm response at its source
- In person in Bondi Junction and Waverley, or online Australia wide
Panic Is Your Body's Alarm Firing at the Wrong Time
A panic attack is your body's emergency alarm activating when there is no actual emergency. Once it has happened, the fear of it happening again can become its own trigger, creating a cycle that feels impossible to break. This is not a character flaw or a sign that something is fundamentally wrong with you. It is a nervous system that has learned to overreact, often rooted in a specific memory or build up of stress. EMDR works directly with the memories and patterns driving the panic response, helping the alarm system finally stand down. At My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley, Claire Addis offers EMDR therapy for panic attacks to clients across Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and online across Australia.
How Panic Attacks Show Up
You might recognise yourself in some of these:
- a racing heart, tight chest or difficulty breathing that comes on suddenly
- a feeling of losing control or that something terrible is about to happen
- dizziness, nausea or a sense of unreality during an attack
- constant fear of having another panic attack, even between episodes
- avoiding places or situations where a panic attack has happened before
- scanning your body for symptoms that might signal panic starting
- panic attacks that seem to come from nowhere with no obvious trigger
- exhaustion from being on alert for the next attack
What EMDR Builds Instead
EMDR therapy for panic attacks helps you feel safe in your own body again:
- a significant reduction in the frequency and intensity of panic attacks
- relief from the fear of panic, which is often bigger than the panic itself
- a nervous system that no longer scans constantly for danger
- the ability to return to places and situations you have been avoiding
- reduced body vigilance and symptom checking
- lasting calm, not just strategies to manage panic when it strikes
How EMDR Treats Panic Attacks — and What the Research Shows
EMDR for panic disorder works on the basis that panic attacks themselves often function as traumatic memories. A pilot study found that after five sessions of EMDR targeting memories of past and anticipated panic attacks, participants reported a considerable decrease in panic attack frequency, fear of future attacks, general anxiety and fear of bodily sensations. A separate controlled comparison found EMDR produced a significantly lower frequency of panic attacks than cognitive behavioural therapy after 12 sessions, with both treatments showing overall improvement.
At My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley, Claire Addis uses EMDR to target the specific memories of past panic attacks and the anticipatory fear that keeps the cycle going, helping the nervous system finally learn that it is safe to stand down.
Why the fear of panic becomes its own problem
After a panic attack, the brain often stores the memory of that attack as a threat in itself. This creates a feedback loop: fear of having another panic attack raises baseline anxiety, which increases the likelihood of triggering one, which reinforces the fear. The memory of past attacks and the body sensations associated with them become triggers in their own right, even in situations that have nothing to do with the original episode.
What EMDR does
EMDR targets the memories of past panic attacks, the bodily sensations associated with them, and the anticipated fear of future attacks. Using bilateral stimulation, these memories are reprocessed until their emotional charge decreases, which breaks the feedback loop between fear and physical symptoms.
What Claire works on with clients at My Bondi Hypnotherapist:
- identifying the specific panic attacks and bodily sensations driving ongoing fear
- building stabilisation and grounding skills before any processing begins
- using bilateral stimulation to reduce the emotional charge on those memories
- processing anticipatory anxiety about future panic attacks, not just past ones
- helping your nervous system learn that normal bodily sensations are not dangerous
- supporting you in returning to places and situations you have been avoiding
Research on EMDR for panic disorder has shown considerable decreases in panic attack frequency, fear of future attacks, and related bodily sensations. A controlled comparison found EMDR produced a lower frequency of panic attacks than cognitive behavioural therapy after a structured course of sessions.
EMDR Therapy for Panic Attacks Sydney
EMDR for Panic Attacks — What to Expect Across Sessions
Research on EMDR for panic disorder has shown meaningful change within a structured course of around 5 to 12 sessions. Your first session runs for 60 minutes and covers your history with panic, what triggers it, and what feeling calmer would look like. No processing begins until you feel grounded and ready.
Between sessions, you may notice the fear of panic settling gradually as the work continues to integrate. Sessions are available in person in Bondi Junction and Waverley, or online from anywhere in Australia. No GP referral needed and no annual session cap.
What Happens Across Sessions
-
Map your panic pattern
We explore your first panic attack, your worst one, and what triggers anticipatory fear between episodes. -
Build stabilisation skills
Before any processing begins you learn grounding techniques so you feel safe and steady throughout. -
EMDR processing
You hold a specific panic memory or sensation in mind while following bilateral stimulation. You notice what shifts as the charge decreases. -
Process anticipatory fear
We work with the fear of future panic attacks directly, not only the memories of past ones. -
Install a calmer response
We replace beliefs like "I am about to lose control" with ones that reflect your present safety. -
Leave each session grounded
Every session closes with a grounding exercise so you leave feeling settled, not activated.
EMDR Therapy Pricing
Transparent, upfront pricing. Pay as you go or save with a package. No GP referral needed, no Medicare paperwork, no annual session cap. Packages valid for 6 months from purchase.
Pay As You Go
Single Session
One session at a time. No commitment required. Book when it suits you.
Flexible, no lock-in
Most Popular
4 Session Package
4 × 60 min sessions. Total $620. Valid for 6 months from purchase.
Save $25 per session
Best Value
6 Session Package
6 × 60 min sessions. Total $900. Valid for 6 months from purchase.
Save $30 per session
Free hypnosis sessions on YouTube
Guided hypnotherapy sessions for anxiety, stress and sleep — free on the My Bondi Hypnotherapist YouTube channel.
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Relaxed & Focused — Hypnosis for Anxiety and Stress
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Watch for freeEMDR Therapy for Panic Attacks — Frequently Asked Questions
Does EMDR work for panic attacks?
Yes. Research on EMDR for panic disorder has found considerable decreases in panic attack frequency, fear of future attacks, and related bodily sensations after a structured course of sessions. A controlled comparison found EMDR produced a lower frequency of panic attacks than cognitive behavioural therapy after 12 sessions of treatment.
Why does EMDR target memories for panic attacks?
Panic attacks themselves often function like traumatic memories. The brain stores the memory of a past attack as a threat, and the bodily sensations associated with it can become triggers in their own right. EMDR targets these specific memories and sensations directly, helping to break the feedback loop between fear and physical symptoms.
Can EMDR help with the fear of having another panic attack?
Yes. The fear of panic returning is often bigger than the panic itself and can become its own trigger. EMDR works directly with this anticipatory fear, not only with memories of past attacks, helping your body stop scanning for danger so normal sensations stay normal.
How many EMDR sessions will I need for panic attacks?
Research shows meaningful change within a structured course of around 5 to 12 sessions for panic disorder. Your first session is used to map your specific panic pattern and build an honest, clear plan.
Do I have to describe my panic attacks in detail?
No. You hold the memory or sensation in mind while following bilateral stimulation. You do not need to narrate the experience in full detail for the processing to work.
What is the difference between panic attacks and anxiety?
Anxiety is a general state of tension or worry that builds gradually, while a panic attack is an intense burst of fear that peaks quickly, often with strong physical symptoms. EMDR can address both, though the specific memories and triggers targeted differ depending on which pattern is driving your experience.
Is online EMDR effective for panic attacks?
Yes. Online EMDR sessions via Zoom use adapted bilateral stimulation techniques that work effectively for panic disorder. Online sessions are available to clients anywhere in Australia.
Do I need a GP referral for EMDR therapy for panic attacks in Sydney?
No. At My Bondi Hypnotherapist you can book directly with no GP referral, no Mental Health Care Plan, and no annual session cap. Sessions start from $180 and packages are available from $150 per session.
Who is the best EMDR therapist for panic attacks in Sydney?
Claire Addis at My Bondi Hypnotherapist in Bondi Junction and Waverley is one of Sydney's most experienced practitioners for panic attack treatment, with over 400 clients helped and more than 2,000 hours of clinical experience. My Bondi Hypnotherapist holds a 5.0 star Google rating and is a leading choice for EMDR therapy for panic attacks in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs and online across Australia.
Where can I find EMDR therapy for panic attacks in Sydney?
My Bondi Hypnotherapist offers EMDR therapy for panic attacks in person at Bondi Junction and Waverley in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, and online across Australia. No GP referral is needed and sessions can be booked directly.
Ready for Your Body to Feel Safe Again?
You do not have to keep living on alert, waiting for the next panic attack.
Book a free 20-minute discovery call and we can talk through what you have been experiencing, how EMDR works for panic attacks, and whether this is the right approach for you. No pressure, just an honest conversation.
Sessions are available in person in Bondi Junction and Waverley in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, or online from anywhere in Australia. No GP referral needed.
