Finding a Therapist for Panic Disorder: Waiting Times
How to find a therapist for panic disorder: NHS Talking Therapies, self-referral, private therapy, US insurance, and what to bring to a session.
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When panic attacks keep coming back, the search for a therapist can feel like its own obstacle. The route looks different in the UK and the US, and this page walks through both. In the meantime you can note your attacks on paper. Once a doctor has diagnosed panic disorder, the panic attack diary in Sam gives you a doctor report as PDF for a first session. This is general information, not medical advice.
In England you can refer yourself to NHS Talking Therapies without seeing a GP or having a diagnosis. The service tells you how long you may wait for a first session, and no one can promise a fixed wait. In the US the route usually starts with your insurer, which can point you to therapists who take your plan.
This text does not diagnose. Only a qualified professional decides whether you live with panic disorder or another form of anxiety, and whether therapy suits you. A record of your attacks is a help for that conversation, never a replacement for it.
What is panic disorder, and who decides?
A panic attack is a sudden wave of strong fear that usually passes. When attacks keep happening and you start to fear the next one, doctors may call it panic disorder. The NHS lists panic disorder as one condition that talking therapies can help with.
Anyone can feel panic or anxiety at some point. That alone is not a diagnosis. A GP, doctor or therapist asks about your history and rules out other causes before they name the condition. This page assumes you want support, not that you already have a label.
Is NHS Talking Therapies free, and how do you get in?
In England the NHS runs Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, the service formerly called IAPT. It offers cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling and guided self-help. Panic disorder and panic attacks are among the problems it treats.
Two ways in exist. You can ask a GP to refer you, or you can refer yourself without seeing a GP. The NHS says you enter your GP surgery's name when you refer, and you usually need to be 18 or over, though some areas accept people from 16 and some do not require GP registration. You do not need a diagnosed mental health condition to refer yourself.
The service is free for patients. How it works varies a little by area, so your local Talking Therapies page is the clearest guide. Appointments can be in person, by video or phone, in a group or one to one.
How long do you wait for NHS Talking Therapies?
No one can give you a fixed wait. When you refer yourself, the NHS says the service contacts you and tells you how long you may wait for your first session. Each local service describes its own waits, and they differ.
You can ask your local service what to expect and what to do while you wait. Many offer self-help resources during the gap. If your symptoms feel urgent, a GP is still the right next step.
What should you consider with private therapy in the UK?
You may choose to pay for therapy rather than use the NHS. It can be quicker to start, but it costs money and you choose the therapist yourself.
Before booking, the NHS suggests checking that a private therapist is registered with a professional body accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. Ask about their licence, their approach and whether they treat panic disorder. A shorter wait is only worth it if the therapist is qualified for your problem.
Finding a therapist in the US
In the US the route often starts with your insurance. NAMI suggests calling your insurer's member services number and asking for therapists in your area who accept your plan. Ask how your plan covers therapy, because coverage differs a lot between plans.
Psychology Today runs a searchable directory of therapists, psychiatrists and treatment facilities, with specialties, qualifications and costs. You can filter by what you need, such as panic attacks or anxiety.
If you have no insurance, a community mental health centre is a good first stop. NAMI points to SAMHSA, which keeps a searchable locator of mental health and substance use treatment facilities across the states.
How can you lower the cost of therapy?
Cost can be the hardest part of the search. NAMI advises you to bring up money fears early and ask whether a therapist offers a sliding scale or a discount. In the US, federally funded health centres must offer a sliding fee discount, and most of them provide mental health care, so ask.
Therapists have different specialties and styles. It is fine to talk to more than one person before you settle. You decide who feels right and what you can sustain, because continuous care beats a single perfect first appointment.
What to bring to a first session
An attack log gives you something to hold in a stressful room. Many people find their attacks blur in memory, so a short written record helps you answer clearly. Per attack, four lines are enough: the date, how long it lasted, the situation and the physical reactions you noticed.
Add sleep and resting heart rate from that period if you have them, plus any medicine you take. One dedicated page per week is easier to keep than long notes. Our panic attack record for a doctor appointment shows the fields, and the general doctor visit checklist for a chronic condition fits a first session too. How panic disorder differs from generalised anxiety is in that comparison.
The record only captures what happened. How to cope during an attack is a question for a professional, not for a diary.
What to do in a crisis
If you are in danger right now or worry about hurting yourself, do not wait for a therapy slot. Use your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US).
In the UK, Samaritans is free to call any time, day or night, on 116 123. People also struggle with sleep and triggers between sessions, which a daily-life guide to panic disorder covers. In the US, call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day, for confidential support. A diary never replaces any of these.
Log your attacks in Sam and take them to your first session
You walk into the room with a record instead of a blur of memories. The panic program is a diary with a doctor report and a monthly questionnaire. It starts once you confirm a doctor has diagnosed panic disorder; until then the symptom diary tracks your days in one tap.
- Instead of memory: each attack keeps a date, time, peak fear from 0 to 10, the physical symptoms and the situation, still readable weeks later.
- Instead of paper: the doctor report summarises the period as a PDF, your choice of 1, 3, 6 or 12 months, to print or show.
- Instead of loose notes: the monthly OASIS questionnaire runs into the report as a trend line.
Sam is for recording after an attack, not for the moment itself, and it does not replace therapy.
Try Sam HealthSam is a wellness companion, not a medical device. The app does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any condition or health state. Always consult qualified professionals for medical decisions.
Related reading
- Living with panic disorder: sleep, triggers and daily life
- Panic attack record: what to note for a doctor appointment
- Panic disorder or generalised anxiety: the differences
- Doctor visit checklist for a chronic condition
- Your Partner Has Panic Attacks: How to Help
Sources
Updated: October 2026
- NHS: Talking therapies (last reviewed 5 November 2025), Find an NHS talking therapies service and NHS talking therapies for anxiety and depression (last reviewed 14 February 2025)
- NHS England: NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression
- NAMI: Finding a mental health professional and Understanding health insurance
- Rural Health Information Hub: Federally Qualified Health Centers and the Health Center Program
- SAMHSA: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and 988 Frequently asked questions
- Samaritans: Contact a Samaritan (call 116 123, free, 24 hours)
More on Panic Disorder
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral to see a therapist?+
In England, no: NHS Talking Therapies lets you refer yourself for anxiety and depression, or you can ask a GP to refer you. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own services. In the US it depends on your plan, as some insurers want you to see a primary care doctor first and others let you book directly.
How long do I wait for therapy in the UK?+
There is no single figure. The NHS says a talking therapies service tells you how long you may wait for your first session when you refer yourself, and local services describe their own waits. No one can promise a fixed wait for you.
Is NHS Talking Therapies free?+
Yes. NHS Talking Therapies for anxiety and depression, formerly called IAPT, is free for patients in England. You usually name a GP surgery when you refer and need to be 18 or over, though some areas take people from 16.
How do I find a therapist in the US?+
NAMI suggests starting with your insurer's member services number and asking for therapists who take your plan. Psychology Today runs a searchable directory. If you have no insurance, a community mental health centre or the SAMHSA treatment locator is a good place to start.
What is a sliding scale fee?+
A reduced fee based on what you can afford. NAMI advises you to raise cost worries early and ask whether a therapist offers a sliding scale or a discount. Federally funded health centres in the US must offer a sliding fee discount, and community mental health centres often see people regardless of ability to pay.
What should I bring to a first session?+
A short record helps: for each attack, note the date, how long it lasted, the situation and the physical reactions you noticed. Sleep and resting heart rate from that period are useful if you have them. This stays your own notes, not a diagnosis.
What do I do in a crisis?+
Use your local emergency number (112 in the EU, 999 in the UK, 911 in the US). In the UK you can call Samaritans free any time on 116 123. In the US you can call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, 24 hours a day.