Panic disorder involves recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and persistent fear of future episodes. Understanding the full picture can help determine the right level of care.
If any of these resonated, our clinical team can help determine the right level of care.
Get a Free AssessmentSame-day admissions available. Most insurance accepted. Completely confidential.
Multiple levels of care designed to meet you where you are. Step up or down as your confidence grows — each chapter builds on the last.
Our most intensive outpatient level. Full-day programming with CBT, interoceptive exposure, group therapy, individual sessions, and holistic activities. The foundation for reclaiming your life from panic.
A structured step-down from PHP. Continued CBT, exposure practice, and individual sessions with more flexibility for work, school, or family. Morning, afternoon, or evening tracks.
Designed for working adults who can’t attend daytime programming. The same evidence-based IOP curriculum with panic-focused CBT, delivered in the evening.
Step-down support for continued progress. Less intensive than IOP but maintains therapeutic continuity with weekly groups, individual sessions, and exposure maintenance.
Full access to our programming from anywhere. HIPAA-compliant video sessions for groups, individual therapy, and psychiatric consultations. Particularly valuable for clients whose agoraphobia makes in-person attendance difficult initially.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches you to identify and challenge catastrophic thinking patterns that fuel panic. Interoceptive exposure gradually reintroduces feared physical sensations in a controlled setting, teaching your brain that the sensations are uncomfortable but not dangerous. Together, these approaches are the most effective treatment for panic disorder.
“[Client testimonial about panic disorder treatment at Trailhead — I was having panic attacks multiple times a day and couldn’t drive. After learning CBT and doing exposure work, I drove to the grocery store alone for the first time in two years.]”— [Client Name] • Google Review
“[Client testimonial about the personalized approach — my therapist understood that panic disorder isn’t “just anxiety.” They built exposure exercises specifically for my triggers and never pushed me beyond what I could handle. I finally feel in control.]”— [Client Name] • Google Review
“[Family member testimonial — the family education program taught us how to support someone with panic disorder without reinforcing the avoidance. We stopped tiptoeing around triggers and started helping them face fears instead.]”— [Family Member] • Google Review
1. Live at home, heal during the day. Our outpatient model means you sleep in your own bed, maintain family connections, and practice coping skills in the real world from day one — exactly where panic disorder needs to be confronted.
2. Flexible scheduling across three tracks. Morning, afternoon, or evening sessions — switch daily based on your work, family, or personal commitments. Our Evening Professional Track (6–9 PM) is built specifically for working adults.
3. CBT-trained clinicians specializing in panic. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the gold standard for panic disorder. Our therapists are trained in panic-focused CBT protocols including cognitive restructuring and interoceptive exposure.
4. Medication support when appropriate. SSRIs and SNRIs can significantly reduce panic frequency and intensity. Our on-site Psychiatric NP evaluates each client within 24 hours and takes a collaborative approach to medication decisions.
5. Daily DBT skills groups provide the emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and mindfulness foundation that helps you ride out panic sensations without catastrophizing.
6. Weekly individual therapy with a licensed therapist at every program level. One-on-one exposure sessions aren’t a luxury — they’re a standard.
7. Client-driven therapy approach. CBT, exposure therapy, ACT, mindfulness-based interventions — your treatment plan is built around your specific panic triggers and avoidance patterns, not a rigid curriculum.
8. Rapid admission. Multiple weekly admission opportunities. No months-long waitlists — begin programming within 24 to 48 hours of your first call.
9. A family-style environment where staff know every client by name. Shared lunches build fellowship. This isn’t a factory — it’s a family.
10. Holistic & experiential programming including yoga, meditation, breathwork, equine therapy at Blue Sky Farm, and structured recreational activities that build confidence and reduce baseline anxiety.
11. Dual state licensing in both New Hampshire and Massachusetts ensures broad regional access and insurance acceptance across both states.
We work with most major insurance providers. Verify your coverage in minutes.
| Provider | Network Status |
|---|---|
| Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield | In-Network |
| Point 32 Health (Harvard Pilgrim) | In-Network |
| Point 32 Health (Tufts) | In-Network |
| Tricare | In-Network |
| Uprise Health | In-Network |
| WellSense (NH Medicaid) | In-Network |
Don’t see your provider? We may still be able to help. Call or submit the form below.
Submit the form below and our admissions team will verify your benefits within minutes.
Your information is secure and confidential. We will never share your data.
Once you make it, we handle everything else. Admissions, insurance, scheduling — all of it.
If you are reading this, you are probably worried about someone you love. That worry is a sign of something good — it means you haven’t given up. And we want you to know: you shouldn’t.
Panic disorder is a medical condition, not weakness or drama. The person you love is experiencing a misfiring of their body’s fight-or-flight response — genuine physical terror that they cannot simply “calm down” from through willpower. They need professional treatment to retrain their brain’s alarm system.
One of the most important things you can do is stop accommodating avoidance. When your loved one asks you to drive because they’re afraid, to skip the restaurant, to stay home instead of going out — saying yes feels supportive, but it actually reinforces the message that the world is dangerous. Gently encourage them to face feared situations rather than avoid them.
Have the conversation with empathy. “I can see how much you’re suffering, and I know the attacks feel terrifying. I want to help you get treatment so you can have your life back.” Offer specific next steps: “I found a program with CBT-trained therapists in Salem — can we call together?”
Take care of yourself, too. Consider therapy or our monthly family education groups on Zoom. Supporting someone with panic disorder is stressful, and you deserve support. Trailhead offers individual family therapy sessions and ongoing family support — for all family members ages 18 and up, past and present clients.
Resistance to treatment is common with panic disorder — ironically, the fear of having a panic attack can make people afraid to seek help. Below, our clinical team answers the questions families ask most.
Our family support program is open to all family members ages 18+, past and present clients.
Trailhead Treatment Center is located in Salem, New Hampshire — minutes from the Massachusetts border and easily accessible from communities across southern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts.
103 Stiles Rd, Suites 1 & 2, Salem, NH 03079Occasional panic attacks are common and don’t necessarily indicate a disorder. Panic disorder is diagnosed when you experience recurrent, unexpected panic attacks AND develop persistent worry about future attacks, or change your behavior to avoid them. If fear of the next attack is limiting your life, treatment is appropriate. Our clinical team can conduct a free assessment to help clarify.
Interoceptive exposure involves deliberately triggering the physical sensations associated with panic — rapid heartbeat, dizziness, breathlessness — in a controlled therapeutic setting. Exercises might include spinning in a chair, breathing through a straw, or running in place. The goal is to teach your brain that these sensations, while uncomfortable, are not dangerous. Over time, they lose their power to trigger a full panic attack.
Many people benefit from a combination of CBT and medication. SSRIs and SNRIs are the first-line medications for panic disorder, reducing both the frequency and intensity of attacks. Our on-site Psychiatric NP can evaluate whether medication would be helpful and manage your prescription collaboratively. We generally avoid benzodiazepines for long-term use due to dependency risks.
PHP clients attend Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM. A typical day includes group therapy (CBT, DBT, or exposure-focused), an individual session with your assigned clinician, psychoeducation, holistic activities like breathwork or yoga, and lunch. You go home each evening — this is outpatient treatment, not residential.
Most major insurance plans cover mental health treatment. We are in-network with Anthem BCBS, Point 32 Health (Harvard Pilgrim and Tufts), Tricare, Uprise Health, and WellSense (NH Medicaid). Use the verification form above or call our admissions team — we can typically verify benefits within minutes.
Most clients begin treatment within 24 to 48 hours of their initial call. We have multiple admission windows each week. If your situation is urgent, same-day admission may be available when clinically appropriate. Telehealth options are available immediately for clients who cannot travel.
Yes. Many clients with panic disorder also experience co-occurring conditions such as agoraphobia, generalized anxiety, depression, PTSD, or social anxiety. Our clinical team is trained to treat dual diagnosis conditions with an integrated approach. Your treatment plan is individualized to address everything you’re dealing with.
When you’re ready to move from reading to recovering, we’re here.
