Darla McAdams , LPC

Darla McAdams is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Missouri with eight years of clinical experience. She works with people across the lifespan and addresses a wide range of concerns, including LGBTQ individuals and people of color. Much of her earlier work focused on young women ages 17 to 30 who experienced substance use, eating disorders, and struggles with self-esteem. She has also spent over three years supporting adults and older adults coping with substance use, anxiety, depression, homelessness, trauma, emotional abuse, family and relationship challenges, codependency, and grief.

She believes every person deserves warmth, respect, and value, and she approaches sessions without judgment. Her methods are tailored to each individual’s needs and goals; she commonly draws on mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), alongside Solution-Focused techniques. She also strongly values Person-Centered Therapy - an approach that trusts a person’s own capacity to make meaningful change - and aims to listen carefully and help guide clients through their process of growth.

Recognizing the added strains many people have faced since COVID, she acknowledges that daily life can feel more difficult and commends those who reach out for support. She would be honored to work with individuals seeking change and a clearer path toward their goals.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, empathic environment where the client's goals and insights lead the work. This approach supports people who want to build self-esteem, navigate life transitions, or strengthen relationships by emphasizing the individual's own capacity for change.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and adjust thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to distress. It is often used to address anxiety, depression, difficulties with sleep or eating, and patterns related to substance use by teaching practical coping strategies.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skill-based tools for regulating intense emotions, tolerating distress, and improving interpersonal effectiveness. These techniques can be helpful for individuals facing overwhelming feelings, conflict in relationships, or recurring impulsive behaviors.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Darla collaborates with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adjusts strategies as progress is made.

Online therapy options such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging increase flexibility and accessibility. These formats make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving, mobility, or other life demands, and they allow licensed professionals to adapt core therapeutic tools to different communication styles so therapy can continue even during life changes.