See how Rachel, 46, worked through complex PTSD alongside significant autoimmune and medical complexity, in a panic disorder treatment programme delivered on an outpatient basis.
Rachel, a university academic from Victoria, came to Goodsky after being diagnosed with panic disorder and complex PTSD. She had a significant history of childhood adversity and was managing multiple autoimmune and medical conditions alongside her psychological symptoms. Her goals were straightforward: relief from panic, and to feel happier and less anxious.
At intake she described her main concerns as anxiety, PTSD, body image, and trauma. Her nervous system was under sustained pressure, with recurrent dizziness, frequent headaches, low motivation, persistent gastrointestinal symptoms, interrupted sleep, and pins and needles in her arms and hands.
Her medical picture was genuinely complex — an autoimmune thyroid condition, a rare connective tissue disorder, a history of stroke in her early forties, previous spinal surgery, chronic asthma, and several gastrointestinal conditions. She travelled interstate for the programme.
| Measure | Intake (May 2025) |
|---|---|
| PCL-5 (PTSD) | 36/80 — Likely (clinical threshold: 31) |
| Depression (DASS-21) | 15 — Extremely Severe |
| Anxiety (DASS-21) | 12 — Extremely Severe |
| Stress (DASS-21) | 10 — Moderate |
Rachel's case required careful coordination between her psychological treatment and her medical history. Her autoimmune conditions and connective tissue disorder meant body-based therapies needed adapting, and her naturopathic care had to account for existing medications and sensitivities.
Telehealth from Victoria — somatic, systemic, and trauma-focused psychotherapy.
16 days of intensive treatment across psychotherapy, equine work, and body-based modalities.
Telehealth follow-up across both psychotherapy streams.
Rachel's recent panic disorder diagnosis sat on top of a long history of complex trauma. Rather than treating the panic separately, the programme worked with the underlying trauma while building her capacity to regulate her nervous system in real time.
Trauma processing, family dynamics, and emotional restructuring across all three phases.
Gestalt, NLP, systemic constellations, and body-based processing, delivered by a second practitioner.
Experiential sessions with two therapists, focused on boundary-setting and somatic awareness.
Frequency Specific Microcurrent, neuroacoustic sound therapy, red light and hyperbaric sessions within her broader support plan.
Gentle practitioner-led sessions supporting her gastrointestinal symptoms and general regulation.
Functional pathology and nutritional protocols developed around her existing conditions and medications.
A central focus was equipping Rachel with practical strategies she could use independently. By the end of the on-coast phase she had built a personal toolkit including paced breathing for acute anxiety, sensory grounding techniques, vagus nerve activation, movement to complete the stress cycle, a daily meditation and yoga practice, and cognitive reframing to interrupt unhelpful thought patterns.
A follow-up assessment was completed seven weeks after intake, immediately following the on-coast phase.
| Measure | Intake (May 2025) | Follow-up (Jul 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| PCL-5 (PTSD) | 36 — Likely | 14 — Unlikely |
| Depression | 15 — Extremely Severe | 3 — Normal |
| Anxiety | 12 — Extremely Severe | 3 — Normal |
| Stress | 10 — Moderate | 3 — Normal |
Post-programme clinical notes recorded how Rachel was applying what she had learned, including through significant life stressors.
At around six weeks, she reported that when intrusive, fear-based thoughts returned and led to two panic episodes, she was able to navigate both using her toolkit — paced breathing, sensory orienting, vagus nerve activation, and movement to release the physical charge. Her practitioners noted a growing sense of confidence in managing these events rather than being overwhelmed by them, alongside a re-established morning routine of meditation, yoga, and walking.
By three months, clinical notes recorded continued development in her self-care. Despite navigating a family bereavement during that period, she was identifying her fatigue triggers, asserting boundaries, advocating for her own needs, and resting rather than pushing through. Her therapist noted evident growth in how she was caring for herself, and a sense of meaning-making as she channelled her own history into her commitment to supporting vulnerable children through her work.
In a programme involving several treatments at once, change can't be attributed to any single element. The care team identified three factors they believed were particularly important.
Working with two practitioners meant Rachel could process trauma from both cognitive and somatic angles rather than one alone.
Her autoimmune and gastrointestinal conditions shaped how every physical modality and nutritional protocol was delivered.
The emphasis on strategies she could use independently meant the work continued after she returned home.
We're happy to talk it through.
Get in TouchThis case study reflects one individual's experience and is published with consent. Names and identifying details have been changed to protect privacy. Individual results vary. The Goodsky programme is a complementary approach and does not replace medical treatment — we encourage everyone to continue working with their GP and specialist healthcare providers.
