DIANA DAMER, PH.D.
DIRECTOR / LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
SHE/HER
I opened the Anxiety Treatment Center of Austin in 2012 after serving as the Anxiety Specialist and Program Director for Group Services at the Counseling and Mental Health Center at the University of Texas at Austin. My 30 years of clinical experience has spanned a wide variety of roles and settings; however, from day one, it has included cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety disorders and a commitment to providing empirically supported treatment. In addition to serving Texans, I am able to offer teletherapy in all PSYPACT states. I have published several journal articles and presented numerous workshops with a goal of making anxiety treatment more accessible to the public.
Currently accepting new clients!
I specialize in and am passionate about treating the full range of anxiety disorders, including but not limited to:
Specific Phobias (such as needles, roaches, vomit, driving, flying)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Social Anxiety Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Panic Disorder
Illness Anxiety Disorder
I utilize a flexible cognitive-behavioral approach which incorporates mindfulness, cognitive techniques, and exposure-based interventions. I often use perfectionism as a conceptual model for treating anxiety and related issues such as depression, eating disorders, body image issues, and anger.
My Treatment Philosophy
Anxiety is a necessary and important part of life. It protects you from harm and motivates you to succeed. Anxiety is problematic, however, when it becomes out of proportion to the situation and interferes with your life. When this happens, it may be necessary to seek help because anxiety often worsens if left untreated.
Sometimes the things you do to cope with your anxiety can make it worse. If something makes you anxious, you avoid it or engage in behaviors that help you feel less vulnerable. The relief that you get from avoidance and “safety behaviors” exacerbates your anxiety.
The treatment that I provide is geared toward interrupting this vicious cycle by helping you gradually face your fears, eliminate safety behaviors, and build your confidence in a collaborative and supportive environment.
Contact and Fees
Please contact me at diana@anxietyaustin.com or 512-879-1836 ext.2, if you would like to discuss the possibility of working together. My standard fee is $225 per 50-minute session. The fee for the initial assessment is $250. I am in network with Aetna insurance. I am out of Network for all other insurance companies but I am happy to provide you with an invoice that includes all the billing codes required to obtain reimbursement from your insurance company.
Publications
“Build Your Social Confidence”: A Social Anxiety Group for College Students
“Tackling Test Anxiety”: A Group for College Students
A Psychoeducational School-Based Group Intervention for Socially Anxious Children
“Helpful and hindering events in psychotherapy: A practice research network study”
“Psychotherapists, researchers, or both? A qualitative analysis of psychotherapists’ experiences in a practice research network”