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“Dr. Ott reveals himself as a clinician and teacher who makes the complex simple without being simplistic and a compassionate clinician who appreciates the task at hand. Staring Down Panic is a must read for patients and clinicians alike.
Bruce A. Levine, Ph.D. ABPPClinical Psychologist, The David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Professor Emeritus of Psychology, State University of New York Emeritus Editorial Board Member, Journal of Behavior Therapy & Experimental Psychiatry
“In Staring Down Panic, Dr. Brian Ott has provided a book that is clinically astute, scientifically informed, and “user-friendly.” Essentially, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone who suffers from panic attacks or acute anxiety, just as much as it is a practical and directly applicable guide for mental health providers in their work with anxious and panic-disordered patients. In this book, individuals will find understanding of … and relief from … panic and anxiety. At the same time, providers will find interventions grounded in the latest findings from cognitive neuroscientific research. Through stories, personal and professional, you will delight in Dr. Ott’s blending of clinical expertise and heartfelt concern for his readers.
David Gleason, Psy.D.Founder and Director, Developmental Empathy, LLC , Author of At What Cost?
“Staring Down Panic is a must-read for those who experience impairing anxiety and panic, medical and behavioral health professionals who encounter them, and psychotherapists who aspire for excellence in the effective treatment of anxiety and panic.
Robert Kinscherff, Ph.D., J.D.Senior Fellow in Law and Applied Neuroscience Center for Law, Brain and Behavior, Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Law School
“Staring Down Panic is an easy-to-read, comprehensive book that uniquely integrates psychoeducation about the etiology of anxiety with the experiences of those who battle panic every day. This is accomplished through a clever and unconventional weave of refreshingly real clinical conversations and clearly stated clinical instruction. While there are many self-help manuals written to assist in the treatment of panic disorder, this book stands out in its orientation of providing both a framework for treatment interventions based on behavioral theory alongside a comprehensive review of associated research findings. Dr. Ott does a remarkable job of taking complicated research and clinical concepts and making these concepts relatable and relevant to those struggling with anxiety and panic. While this book is written specifically for panic disorder, its concepts and clinical applications can be used across a range of anxiety disorders. Get ready for a view of panic that toggles between the lecture hall seat and the therapy office easy chair.
Karen Jacob, Ph.D.Director of Clinical Services, Gunderson Residence, McLean Hospital
“This is an encouraging and optimistic work, not least of all because it refuses to encourage beyond the point of good sense. This is a guide to panic, thank goodness, that refuses to pander. (Beware of therapists who promise you the moon.) Instead what it does is educate, in an inimitable tone that, like Brian’s own, is at once comforting, witty, and bracing.
Daniel SmithAuthor of the NY Times Bestseller Monkeymind
“The effectiveness of Exposure and Response Prevention has been documented in countless professional articles and is recommended as a best practice for many of the anxiety disorders. In Staring Down Panic, Dr. Ott translated this wealth of scientific data into a practical clinical resource for both patients and professionals. This engaging book is the work of a clinician and teacher. The behavioral and biological complexities of anxiety are captured and addressed in lessons that are true to the experience of those who suffer from it. Those lessons are structured in a manner that eases the task of applying these insights into our daily lives. This is a book you will read and gladly consult as you tackle your panic and anxiety.
Kim Leonte, Ph.D.Executive Director, Clearview Horizons
For a patient’s-eye view of Brian’s approach, he enthusiastically recommends Monkey Mind, A Memoir of Anxiety by Daniel Smith. Brian is the therapist mentioned in this book.

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1980 | Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, Hofstra University
1980 | Certification in Rational Emotive Therapy, The Institute for Rational Emotive Therapy, Supervision by Dr. Albert Ellis
1981 | Post-Doctoral Internship in Behavior Therapy, Behavior Therapy Unit, Temple University Medical School, Supervision by Dr. Joseph Wolpe
1982 to present | Member, Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies
1992 to present | Member, Association for Psychological Science
1986 to present | Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Instructor in Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School
1989 to present | Doctoral Program Faculty, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology/William James College
1995 to 1999 | Behavioral Health Advisory Board, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts
2005 to 2007 | CBT Training Coordinator, Amir Duwan for Social Development, Kuwait City, Kuwait
2006 to 2008 | Mintz Chair in Professional Psychology, Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology
2016 to present | Officer and Executive Committee, Massachusetts Psychological Association
2016 to present | EPPP Step 2 Implementation Task Force, Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards