Larry McDaniel
I help people who feel overwhelmed by anger, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, shame, grief, or difficult seasons of life. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling stuck in patterns they do not like: saying things they regret, replaying conversations, avoiding people, feeling like they are failing, or carrying pain that they have tried hard to keep hidden. Before opening my private practice, I founded Coyote Hill and spent more than 33 years working with foster children, families, and people in crisis. That experience shaped the way I work now: calm, practical, honest, and compassionate. I do not believe therapy should feel mysterious or judgmental. My goal is to help you understand what is happening, why it keeps happening, and what you can begin doing differently.
With over three decades of experience working with individuals and families—many of them facing trauma, transitions, or behavioral struggles—I’ve learned to meet clients exactly where they are.
One line that has stayed with me is, “We are all just walking each other home.” To me, that is part of what therapy can be: a steady place where you do not have to carry everything alone, and where we move toward clarity, healing, and the next right step. We cannot change the past, but we can work on how you respond in the present and how you move forward with more steadiness, self-respect, and hope.
First session
In our first session, we will slow things down and get a clear picture of what has been going on. I will ask about what brought you to therapy, what has felt hardest lately, what you have already tried, and what you most want to be different. You do not have to come in knowing exactly what to say. Many people start therapy feeling embarrassed, guarded, angry, anxious, or unsure whether therapy will help. That is okay. We will take it at a pace that feels manageable. By the end of the first session, my hope is that you feel heard, understood, and less alone with what you are carrying. We will also begin identifying practical next steps so therapy feels useful, not just supportive.
Strengths
The biggest strength I bring to therapy is a calm, grounded presence with people who feel emotionally overwhelmed, ashamed, misunderstood, or stuck. I am comfortable sitting with painful stories, strong emotions, and complicated life situations without judgment. I also try to make therapy practical. Insight matters, but most people also need tools they can use in real life: how to pause before anger takes over, how to respond to intrusive thoughts, how to face anxiety without letting it run their life, how to work through shame, and how to take the next right step when life feels heavy. My approach is compassionate, but also honest. I will listen carefully, help you see patterns more clearly, and work with you toward meaningful change.
Ideal clients
I am best positioned to serve adults who are dealing with anger, anxiety, intrusive thoughts, shame, grief, trauma, or major life transitions. Many of my clients are people who look like they are functioning on the outside but feel worn down, reactive, disconnected, or discouraged on the inside. You may be a good fit for my approach if you are tired of repeating the same patterns, tired of carrying things alone, or ready to understand yourself more honestly and compassionately. You do not need to have everything figured out before starting. You only need enough willingness to take the first step. Together, we will work toward helping you feel more steady, more clear, and more able to respond to life in a way that fits the person you want to become.
Treatment methods
Integrative
My approach is integrative, which means I draw from several evidence-based therapy methods depending on what each client needs. I do not believe therapy should be one-size-fits-all. Some clients need practical tools for anxiety, anger, or intrusive thoughts. Some need help understanding painful patterns. Some need a steady place to work through grief, shame, trauma, or a difficult season of life. My goal is to use the methods that best fit the person in front of me, while keeping therapy practical, compassionate, and focused on meaningful change.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I draw from CBT to help clients understand the connection between thoughts, emotions, body reactions, and behavior. When you are anxious, angry, ashamed, or discouraged, your mind can start telling you things that feel true but may not be fully accurate or helpful. Together, we work on noticing those patterns, testing them, and finding more balanced ways to respond.
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I incorporate ACT to help clients relate differently to painful thoughts and feelings instead of getting trapped in the struggle to make them disappear. We focus on acceptance, mindfulness, values, and meaningful action. This can be especially helpful for anxiety, intrusive thoughts, shame, grief, and major life transitions.
Cognitive Processing (CPT)
When appropriate, I use CPT to help clients work through trauma-related beliefs, guilt, shame, self-blame, and painful “stuck points.” Trauma can change the way a person sees themselves, others, and the world. CPT helps us examine those beliefs with honesty and compassion so clients can move toward greater safety, trust, self-respect, and healing.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I incorporate DBT-informed skills when clients need practical tools for strong emotions, anger, stress, impulsive reactions, or relationship conflict. These skills can help you pause before reacting, tolerate distress without making things worse, communicate more effectively, and stay grounded when life feels overwhelming.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Man
Top specialties
Anger Management
Anxiety
Life Transitions
Other specialties
Coping Skills
Depression
Grief
Self Esteem
Trauma and PTSD
Serves
Adults (18 to 64)
Elders (65 and above)
Licensed in
MissouriLicense 2011015195