Hello and welcome! My name is Danielle, a graduate-level therapy intern and art therapist in training. Taking the first step toward therapy can feel exciting, overwhelming, or even a little uncertain, and I am honored you’re here. My hope is that this page gives you a sense of who I am, my therapeutic approach, and whether we might be a good fit. I aim toward creating a warm, collaborative, and creative space where you feel safe, supported, and empowered to explore your experiences at your own pace. I look forward to the opportunity to be part of your healing journey.
Dani McDaniel
Masters Intern Therapist (she/her)
- Work best with: Children, Adolescents, Young Adults, Adults, Neurodivergent Individuals
- Appointments: Both in-person and telehealth
- Manage Medications: Provides therapy and collaborates closely with our psychiatry team for medication management, available through internal referral if needed.
Hi! I’m so glad you’re here. My path to becoming a therapist has been shaped by both my personal experiences and my professional journey. As someone with ADHD, I understand that everyone’s brain works differently, and my own experiences have given me a deeper appreciation for the importance of self-understanding, self-compassion, and finding approaches that honor each person’s unique strengths. Before pursuing counseling, I spent seven years as an art educator, teaching preschool through elementary school. During that time, I discovered that the most meaningful part of my work was supporting students’ emotional well-being, helping them navigate challenges, and collaborating with families. As an art teacher, I also witnessed how creativity could help children express emotions that were difficult to put into words, and this led to my inspiration to pursue art therapy and counseling.
My therapeutic style is collaborative, person-centered, and trauma-informed. I believe therapy should be a space where you can show up exactly as you are, without judgement, and explore your experience at your own pace. I primarily integrate expressive and art therapy with Gestalt, somatic, mindfulness-based, and attachment-informed approaches to help patients build emotional awareness, strengthen coping skills, and develop a deeper understanding of themselves. I especially enjoy working with children, adolescents, young adults, and adults navigating emotional dysregulation, ADHD, autism, anxiety, self-esteem concerns, identity development, trauma, and life transitions.
Above all, my goal is to create a warm, authentic, and creative environment where patients feel safe, heard, and empowered throughout their healing journey. Whether we’re using art, conversation, mindfulness, or creative analogies to explore challenges, I strive to meet each patient where they are and help them recognize their strengths while building resilience, self-discovery, and meaningful personal growth. It is a privilege to walk alongside people as they learn more about themselves and create lasting, positive change in their lives.
Credentials
Education
Master of Arts, Art Therapy and Counseling, Southwestern College and New Earth Institute, expected graduation March 2027
Personal Interests
A little bit about me outside of the therapy room! I grew up in the border town of El Paso, Texas, and have proudly called Austin home for the past 11 years. I come from a close-knit family with my mom, dad, five siblings, and eight nieces and nephews ( with one more on the way!) who bring me so much joy in my life. I also share my home with my cat, Shandylox, who has a big personality and keeps me entertained.
Outside of my creative hobbies, I enjoy thrifting for unique finds, rock climbing, swimming, skateboarding, traveling, and experiencing new places, cultures, and foods. I am also always excited for a good roller coaster!
I believe creativity, curiosity, and connection are some of life’s greatest adventures! These values are a big part of who I am and are qualities I bring into my work with patients as I support them in exploring their own stories, strengths, and paths toward growth.
Specialties and Expertise
Top Specialities
ADHD, Emotional Dysregulation, Anxiety, Trauma, Identity Development/Self-Discovery
Expertise
- ADD / ADHD
- Aging
- Anxiety
- Autism
- Career Counseling / Professional Growth
- Codependency
- Conflict with Friends
- Fear of Rejection
- Impulse Control Issues
- Intellectual Disability
- Life Transitions
- Mood Swings
- Not Happy or Satisfied with life
- Panic Attacks
- Personal Growth
- Religious Trauma
- Self-Esteem / Negative Self-Talk
- Shame
- Shyness / High Sensitivity
- Social Anxiety
- Spiritual Growth
- Stress / Burnout
- Trauma / PTSD
- Traumatic Brain Injury
Treatment Approach
Types of Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Attachment-based
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
- Compassion Focused
- Culturally Sensitive
- Dance/Movement Therapy
- Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Gestalt
- Inner Relationship Focusing
- Interpersonal
- Journal Therapy
- Jungian
- Mindfulness-Based Interventions
- Person-Centered (Rogerian)
- Somatic
- Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
Locations
Client Focus
- Age Groups Served: 5 - 65+
- Services Type: Individual Therapy, Child or Teen Therapy
- Languages Spoken: English