Mental health
Anxiety treatment in Ohio
Outpatient treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and social anxiety disorder, built on cognitive behavioral therapy and planned exposure. Medication is reviewed by a nurse practitioner, with benzodiazepines used cautiously and often not at all.
- Ambulatory detox
- Not applicable
- Treated at
- Partial hospitalization, Intensive outpatient, Outpatient, Virtual IOP, Alumni program
- Where
- Columbus, Dayton
- Admissions
- (614) 665-8878
Anxiety disorders treated here
Leora treats anxiety disorders whether or not substance use is involved. Three are most common.
- Generalized anxiety disorder: worry that moves from topic to topic, present more days than not for at least six months, with muscle tension, restlessness, fatigue, poor sleep and difficulty concentrating.
- Panic disorder: surges of fear that peak within minutes, often first seen in an emergency room with a normal cardiac workup. Avoiding the places where attacks happened narrows daily life.
- Social anxiety disorder: fear of being watched and judged, strong enough to affect work or school, and to make ordinary errands difficult. Often misread as introversion, which delays treatment.
Where substance use is also present, both are handled by the same team in one plan.
The assessment
The assessment covers symptom history, medical history, sleep, caffeine and alcohol use, current medications and previous treatment. Thyroid problems, some medications and heavy stimulant use mimic anxiety, so the medical picture is settled first.
If group therapy sounds like the worst possible format, say so at the assessment. The schedule can start with individual sessions and add group later. Both facilities welcome walk-ins, or call (614) 665-8878 for either facility.
Levels of care
- Partial hospitalization
- 5 days a week, about 6 hours a day, for anxiety that has stopped work or school. 4 hours therapy group, 1 hour relapse prevention, 1 hour nurse education, plus 1 to 2 individual sessions. Lunch provided. Nurse practitioner weekly.
- Intensive outpatient
- 3 to 5 days a week, 3 hours of group a day, 9 to 15 hours a week. Nurse practitioner every 2 to 3 weeks.
- Outpatient
- 1 to 2 days a week, 2 hours of group, the usual step down.
- Virtual IOP
- fully remote anywhere in Ohio, with morning, afternoon and evening sessions.
- Therapy
- cognitive behavioral therapy, testing what anxiety predicts and approaching avoided situations in a planned order. Dialectical behavior therapy adds distress tolerance and emotion regulation skills.
- Alumni program
- ongoing counseling, help finding work and twelve step meetings.
Medication management
Leora offers medication management with a licensed psychiatrist, and you meet with a nurse practitioner about your medication. SSRI and SNRI antidepressants are the usual first choices. They take four to six weeks to show their full effect, which is worth knowing before you decide one is not working.
Benzodiazepines are used carefully here and often not at all. Tolerance builds quickly, and stopping after regular use produces a withdrawal that can be medically serious, so for anyone with a substance use history the risk usually outweighs the benefit. Medication is optional. The prescriber tells you which one is suggested and why, and the decision is yours.
Limits of outpatient care
Leora is outpatient only, with no beds and no overnight supervision. Anxiety with active suicidal intent, or alcohol or benzodiazepine withdrawal needing 24/7 medical supervision, needs a higher level of care, and the assessment will say so. If you are in immediate danger, call 911, and the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is 988 by call or text.
Sources
References for this page:
- American Psychiatric Association, DSM-5-TR criteria for anxiety disorders
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, co-occurring anxiety and substance use
Common questions
Will you prescribe a benzodiazepine for my anxiety?
Group therapy is the exact thing I am afraid of. Can I still be treated here?
Do you treat anxiety if I do not have a substance use problem?
Do I need an appointment to be assessed?
How long does anxiety treatment take?
Where this is offered
Hope inspired
Talk to admissions about the right next step.
Outpatient addiction and mental health treatment in Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, from ambulatory detox to outpatient therapy groups. Walk-ins welcome. Call now, or leave your number and admissions will call you back.
