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ClearAccessPsychology
DVA-funded psychology

Anxiety and Panic in Veterans: DVA-Funded Treatment That Works

Generalised anxiety, panic attacks, social anxiety and hypervigilance after service: the psychological treatments with the best evidence, and how DVA pays a psychologist in full so you pay nothing.

By ClearAccess Psychology · 25 October 2026

The short answer: anxiety after service is common, and it responds well to treatment. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with graded exposure is the most effective psychological treatment for panic, generalised anxiety and social anxiety, and most people need around 8 to 16 sessions. If you have at least one day of continuous full-time ADF service, DVA pays for it in full under Non-Liability Health Care. You need a Veteran Card that covers mental health and a GP referral, and you pay nothing.

Checked against DVA's published rules on 25 October 2026. General information, not a diagnosis or treatment advice.

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What does anxiety look like after service?

The ADF trains you to stay alert, anticipate threats and keep going under pressure. Those skills kept you safe. In civilian life, the same alarm system can keep firing when there's nothing to respond to. It might look like:

  • Constant worry you can't switch off, about money, health, family or the future (generalised anxiety)
  • Panic attacks: sudden pounding heart, chest tightness, breathlessness, dizziness, a sense of doom
  • Avoiding crowds, shopping centres or social events, or needing to know where the exits are
  • Hypervigilance: scanning, startling easily, never fully relaxing
  • Physical tension: headaches, jaw clenching, stomach problems, poor sleep
  • Using alcohol to take the edge off

Hypervigilance and being on guard can also be part of PTSD. Anxiety often sits alongside depression or sleep problems. Your psychologist will work out what's driving it so the treatment fits.

Which treatments work for anxiety?

PresentationTreatment with the strongest evidenceWhat you'll do
Panic attacks and panic disorderCBT with interoceptive and situational exposureLearn what panic is (and isn't), then practise bringing on the sensations safely until they lose their grip.
Generalised anxietyCBT, including worry exposure and problem-solvingSeparate useful planning from looping worry and loosen its hold.
Social anxietyCBT with behavioural experimentsTest predictions about what others think, and drop safety behaviours step by step.
Hypervigilance and avoidanceGraded exposure, often within PTSD treatmentApproach avoided places gradually, with a plan you agree on together.
Anxiety in generalAcceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), mindfulness-based approachesMake room for anxious feelings while you get on with what matters.

Breathing and relaxation skills help many people feel more in control early on, but they work best as a support to exposure work, not a replacement for it. Medication prescribed by your GP or a psychiatrist can also help, and DVA covers prescribed mental health medication under Non-Liability Health Care.

What changes as therapy works?

Most people find the early sessions are about understanding: why your body reacts as it does, and what keeps the cycle going. Then come small, planned steps, such as a short trip to the supermarket at a quiet time, or sitting with your back to the room for five minutes. Each one teaches your nervous system something new. A few weeks in, you may notice you went somewhere without thinking about it first.

How DVA pays for anxiety treatment

  • Who: current and former ADF members with at least one day of continuous full-time service, including reservists with CFTS. No need to prove service caused it.
  • Card: Veteran Gold Card, or Veteran White Card with mental health listed (check "Conditions listed" in MyService or call 1800 VETERAN).
  • Referral: from your usual GP, covering up to 12 sessions or a year per treatment cycle, renewable as many times as clinically needed.
  • Cost: nothing. Providers who accept your Veteran Card must accept DVA's fee as full payment.
  • Telehealth: by video, or phone when video isn't available. The first session of each cycle must be in person or by video. Telehealth can be a helpful first step if travelling or waiting rooms are part of what makes you anxious.

Full details are in our guide to accessing DVA-funded psychology.

How to find a psychologist for anxiety who bills DVA

On ClearAccess Psychology, search for psychologists who bill DVA and treat anxiety, close to home or by telehealth. You can narrow to CBT, ACT or mindfulness, or to psychologists who work with veterans.

Sending an online inquiry instead of phoning is fine, and for many people with anxiety it's easier. You can write as much or as little as you like.

Frequently asked questions

Does DVA cover anxiety treatment?

Yes. Non-Liability Health Care covers treatment of all mental health conditions, including anxiety and panic, for anyone with at least one day of continuous full-time ADF service, without proving a link to service.

What is the best treatment for panic attacks?

Cognitive behavioural therapy that includes exposure to the feared sensations and situations has the strongest evidence. Most people improve within 8 to 16 sessions.

Is hypervigilance a sign of PTSD?

It can be, but hypervigilance also occurs with anxiety disorders and after long periods of high alert. A psychologist's assessment can tell the difference and guide treatment.

Do I need a referral to see a psychologist for anxiety under DVA?

Yes. You need a referral from your usual GP. For the first treatment cycle it can also come from a medical specialist, treating hospital doctor or hospital discharge planner.

Can I have anxiety treatment online?

Yes. DVA funds psychology by video, and by phone when video isn't available, as long as the first session of each treatment cycle is in person or by video.

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