Ryan DeCook, LCSW — Panic & Trauma Therapist
I work with adults who are navigating clear challenges and distress — not people who are dealing with vague concerns. My practice is relational, but specific and built around your unique history.
About
Who I am and how I work.
I'm Ryan DeCook, an EMDRIA Certified psychotherapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) offering telehealth therapy throughout California and Colorado, with a practice focused on two things: panic and trauma. I work with adults 25+ who are dealing with panic attacks, panic disorder, or the lasting effects of something that happened to them — an accident, a violent experience, a workplace incident, a loss. I've developed my approach through research, focused training, and thousands of hours in the therapy room.
My approach is relational, structured and clinically grounded. It's crucial that we build trust and a good relationship, but I find it's not helpful to have open-ended conversations that circle the same terrain indefinitely. I want to understand what's driving what you're experiencing, provide support, and then work with you on it in a systematic way.
Panic attacks aren't weakness, overreaction, health issues, or "just in your head." They're a nervous system cycle with well-researched approaches that can interrupt that pattern. The same goes with trauma: the goal with trauma work isn't to revisit pain endlessly, but to help your system process what happened and reduce the hold it has on your daily life.
Who I typically work with
- Adults 25+ dealing with panic attacks or panic disorder — including driving anxiety, avoidance, and fear of future panic
- Adults with specific traumatic experiences — accidents, violence, workplace incidents, assault, sudden loss — who are ready for structured processing work
- Colorado workers' compensation cases where behavioral health counseling is part of an authorized treatment plan
- People who are skeptical of vague conversations and self-help approaches — who want to understand what's happening and are willing to do real work in session
Proven tools for panic and trauma
The approaches I use depend on what you’re dealing with. All are evidence-based and well-researched.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) — for trauma processing; EMDRIA Certified
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) — the most well-researched treatment for panic disorder; targets thought patterns, behavioral responses, and avoidance
- Mindfulness — builds the capacity to observe distress without reacting to it, which reduces the secondary alarm cycle that drives panic
- IFS (Internal Family Systems) — for working with the deeper patterns trauma creates
What to expect
Sessions are collaborative but purposeful. I'll work to understand your history, what's maintaining the problem, and what the most direct path forward looks like. If EMDR is appropriate for trauma processing, I'll explain the approach clearly before we begin. Nothing happens without your understanding and consent.
I offer a free 15-minute consultation so you can get a sense of how I work and ask any questions before committing to anything.
Clinical Approach
Methods that have evidence behind them.
I use structured, researched approaches. The tools I use depend on what you're dealing with, your goals, and where we are in the work.
CBT and Mindfulness for Panic Treatment
CBT is the most well-researched treatment for panic disorder — targeting the thoughts, interpretations, and avoidance patterns that keep it going. Mindfulness complements this by building the capacity to observe physical sensations without immediately reacting to them, which reduces the secondary panic that drives much of the cycle.
EMDR for Trauma Processing
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based approach to trauma therapy. It helps the brain process distressing memories in a way that reduces their emotional charge, without requiring you to talk through every detail repeatedly.
Nervous System Focus
Both panic and trauma impact the body, not just the mind. I pay close attention to how your nervous system is responding. I work directly with these physical symptoms, reactive moments, and shutdown patterns. We adjust the pace of treatment depending on how you're responding.
Logistics
Credentials and practice details.
- Credentials Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), licensed in California and Colorado. EMDRIA Certified Therapist.
- CA License LCSW106098
- CO License CSW 09929362
- States served California and Colorado. Sessions available to clients in both states.
- Who I see Adults 25 and older dealing with panic disorder, trauma, or workers' compensation-related counseling needs
- Workers' comp Available in Colorado when counseling is clinically appropriate and part of an authorized treatment plan. Case details, billing, and documentation requirements vary.
- Phone (408) 673-1906
- Email ryan@decookmhs.com
- Psychology Today View profile ↗
What sets this work apart
Specific, not general.
A focused practice tends to do better work. When panic and trauma are the primary areas of focus, the clinical work reflects that depth.
Focused specialties
Panic and trauma, including EMDR-based processing, are the core work. This is not a generalist practice trying to serve everyone.
Evidence-based methods
CBT, Mindfulness, and emotion regulation tools for panic. EMDR and IFS for trauma. Approaches with decades of research behind them, applied with clinical judgment and pacing appropriate to each person.
Dual licensure
Licensed as an LCSW in both California and Colorado — meaning clients in both states can work with a licensed provider without additional referral friction.
Get Started
Ready to find out if this is the right fit?
A free 15-minute consultation gives you the chance to ask questions and get a sense of how I work before committing to anything.