Panic attacks and trauma therapy for adults.
I help adults 25+ who are dealing with panic attacks, panic disorder, or the lasting impact of traumatic experiences. Therapy with me is relational, practical, built around your history, and goes at whatever pace you are ready for.
How therapy can help.
If you are dealing with panic attacks, the fear of future panic, or the lasting effects of a traumatic event — structured, evidence-based therapy can interrupt the cycle and reduce the hold those experiences have on your daily life.
Recurring panic, avoidance, and fear of future episodes
Structured treatment targeting the thoughts, body sensations, and avoidance patterns that keep panic disorder going — including agoraphobia and driving anxiety.
Panic therapy →Specific traumatic events from adulthood or childhood
EMDRIA Certified trauma processing using EMDR and IFS for adults who experienced accidents, violence, workplace incidents, or other traumatic events.
Trauma & EMDR therapy →Workplace injury, trauma reactions, and return-to-work anxiety
Level 1 Accredited behavioral health counseling for Colorado workers’ compensation cases. Accepting referrals from Authorized Treating Physicians.
Workers’ comp counseling →Focused work at your pace.
Whether you come in for individual therapy or join the Panic Recovery Group, the work is tailored to your needs and pace. It is not a "talk about anything" open-ended approach. We balance trust building and focused discussion with specific action.
How we work together
Individual Therapy
One-on-one sessions for panic disorder, trauma, EMDR processing, and workers' compensation cases. Weekly or biweekly via telehealth in Colorado and California.
How individual therapy worksPanic Recovery Group — Waitlist open
A structured 4-session group for adults with panic attacks and panic disorder. Built around the same evidence-based methods as individual work — empowering education, helpful tools, and strong peer support. The group is currently forming.
See the group curriculumClinical specialties
Panic attacks & panic disorder
Therapy for recurring panic, fear of future panic, body-based triggers, and the avoidance that builds up around it.
Learn moreTrauma & EMDR therapy
Structured trauma processing for adults with specific traumatic experiences from adulthood or childhood: accidents, violence, workplace incidents, assault, loss, and more.
Learn moreWorkers’ comp — Colorado
Behavioral health support for Colorado workers' compensation cases: workplace injury, trauma reactions, stressful adjustments, and return-to-work.
Learn moreMany of my clients are thoughtful, motivated people who are tired of carrying the weight of panic or something that happened to them.
About Ryan DeCook, LCSW
Practical therapy, authentic relationship.
Early in my career I was asked to lead a panic disorder group at my first job out of graduate school. I ran it for years — and ended up writing the curriculum myself. That's where I learned how treatable panic actually is, and how much people suffer unnecessarily because they never get the right help.
That experience shaped everything. I've spent my entire career building a focused practice around panic disorder, trauma, and EMDR. These are areas where structured, evidence-based work consistently produces real change. I'm an EMDRIA Certified therapist, with additional training in CBT, exposure therapy, DBT, IFS, and Mindfulness-based approaches.
My style is relational, calm, and direct. I'm going to support you and challenge you. I'm going to help you figure out what's actually going on and do something about it.
More about how I workWhat to Know.
Licensed clinical social worker
LCSW in California and Colorado. Solo private practice; adults 25+.
EMDR-informed trauma work
Structured trauma processing paced to your nervous system and readiness.
Specialty-focused practice
Panic disorder and trauma therapy — not a generalist trying to work with every mental health issue.
Workers’ comp welcomed
Colorado workers' compensation cases when counseling is clinically appropriate.
Common questions
A few of the most-asked.
Short answers below. The full FAQ page covers getting started, fees, workers' comp logistics, and more.
How do I know if I’m having panic attacks?
Panic attacks often involve sudden surges of fear or alarm along with body symptoms — racing heart, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest tightness, tingling, nausea, or a sense that something is seriously wrong. Many people fear they are losing control or having a medical emergency.
What kinds of trauma does EMDR help with?
EMDR is most commonly used for adults who have experienced specific traumatic events — accidents, physical or sexual assault, workplace incidents, violence, sudden loss, and similar experiences. The goal is to help the brain reprocess what happened so the memory no longer carries the same emotional and physical charge it once did.
Do I have to describe the trauma in detail for therapy to help?
Not necessarily. EMDR and trauma therapy don't require a full verbal retelling of every detail. Therapy should be paced in a way that is grounded and clinically appropriate — we work at a pace that your nervous system can handle.
Do you work with workers’ compensation cases?
Yes, in Colorado, when counseling is clinically appropriate and the case fits the scope of my practice. Treatment scope, referrals, billing, and documentation depend on case details and applicable requirements.
Ready when you are
You don’t need to have everything figured out before reaching out.
If you are in California or Colorado and want support for panic or trauma, or have a workers' compensation-related concern in Colorado, schedule a free 15-minute consultation. We can decide if I would be the best fit for what you need and discuss next steps.