Health anxiety therapy · Atlanta & virtual
Health anxiety therapy for when worry won't settle
Health anxiety, also called illness anxiety disorder, is persistent worry about being seriously ill, even after normal results or reassurance. It can take over your days with checking, searching, and doctor visits. We treat it with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and CBT, in person in Atlanta and virtually.
Who we see
Kids, teens & adults
Approach
ERP & CBT
Sessions
In person or virtual
Location
Atlanta, GA
Does this sound familiar?
Health anxiety often shows up as habits that feel protective but keep the fear going.
Health anxiety isn't "all in your head" and it isn't attention-seeking. The fear is real, and it's very treatable.
The health anxiety cycle
Every check, search, or reassurance brings relief for a moment. But it also teaches your brain that the worry was worth checking, so the next sensation feels even more urgent.
Health anxiety often overlaps with OCD: intrusive thoughts about illness, compulsive checking of your pulse or breathing, and mentally reviewing past events for mistakes.
- 1A sensation or thought. A twinge, symptom, or "what if" about your health.
- 2Anxiety. It feels urgent to find out what it means.
- 3Checking or reassurance. Searching online, body checking, or asking someone.
- 4Brief relief. You feel better, for now.
- ↻The worry returns. Often stronger, with a new "what if."
How we treat it
ERP and CBT for health anxiety
The goal isn't to never think about your health. It's to manage anxiety without reacting to every sensation or doubt, and to make room for the rest of your life again.
01
Initial consultation
We learn about your health fears, habits, and goals.
02
Less checking
Gradually cutting back on body checks, searching, and reassurance-seeking.
03
Tolerating uncertainty
Building comfort with not knowing for sure, through gradual exposure.
04
Skills for daily life
Responding to body sensations with less fear, with ongoing support.
Who we help
Therapy for health anxiety can help if you have:
Persistent health fears
Worry about illness that doesn't settle, even after reassurance or normal tests.
Checking cycles
Repeated body checking, symptom searching, or asking for reassurance.
OCD-related health worries
Intrusive thoughts about illness, contamination, or death, or mentally reviewing for mistakes.
Common health anxiety fears
Health anxiety can attach to almost any part of the body. Some of the most common worries we treat:
Serious illness
Fears of cancer, heart problems, neurological conditions, or a rare disease that doctors might miss.
Body sensations
Heartbeat, breathing, dizziness, headaches, or stomach symptoms that feel like warning signs.
Contamination and germs
Fears of catching or spreading an illness, which can overlap with contamination OCD.
Health anxiety in children and teens
Kids can get health anxiety too. It may look like:
Frequent body complaints
Stomachaches, headaches, or "feeling sick" that lead to repeated questions or school avoidance.
Fear of throwing up or choking
Avoiding foods, parties, or school because of worry about getting sick.
Needing reassurance
Asking parents again and again whether they're okay. We involve parents to help break that loop.
Common questions
Is health anxiety a form of OCD?
They often overlap. Intrusive health thoughts, checking, and reassurance-seeking can be part of OCD, and ERP works on these same patterns.
What's the difference between health anxiety and being careful about my health?
Being health-conscious means seeing a doctor when something's wrong and moving on. Health anxiety means the worry doesn't settle, even after reassurance, and checking takes up time and energy you'd rather spend elsewhere.
Should I still see my doctor?
Yes. Therapy doesn't replace medical care. It focuses on the extra checking and reassurance-seeking that keep anxiety going. We can also help you plan reasonable, not excessive, medical follow-up.
Will therapy make me ignore real symptoms?
No. The goal is to respond to your body the way most people do: noticing real changes and getting them checked, without spiraling over every sensation.
Can panic attacks be part of health anxiety?
Yes. Racing heart, shortness of breath, or dizziness can feel like a medical emergency and fuel health fears. Treatment helps you understand and respond differently to these sensations.
Do you offer virtual sessions?
Yes. We see clients in person at our Atlanta office and virtually.
How do I get started?
Fill out our short New Patient Screener Form and we'll reach out within 24–48 hours to schedule your free consultation. You can also call us at (404) 462-5533.
You don't have to keep checking
Start with a short screener, and we'll follow up to set up your consultation.
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