About Larry Shapiro, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist | Trauma Specialist | Founder of Quantum Behavioral, LLC
I’m Dr. Larry Shapiro, a licensed clinical psychologist and founder of Quantum Behavioral, LLC.
For more than 30 years, I’ve worked with individuals facing some of the most difficult mental health challenges: combat trauma, childhood abuse, treatment-resistant depression, anxiety that never seems to lift, and the lingering effects of trauma that traditional therapy often overlooks.
My journey into this field wasn’t a straight line. I started college studying political science, but a low grade in my first psychology class challenged me in a new way and sparked my curiosity. I switched majors and never looked back. Studying abroad during that time also shaped my worldview and helped me understand that healing requires cultural awareness, human connection, and curiosity about what people carry beneath the surface.
While earning my Ph.D. in clinical psychology, I trained in the San Francisco Bay Area during the height of the AIDS epidemic and later at the St. Louis Behavioral Medicine Institute. There, I worked with severe anxiety, OCD, and phobias in a structured inpatient setting that allowed for meaningful outcomes. I learned early on that helping people requires more than insight and empathy. It takes strategy, commitment, and a willingness to confront discomfort.
Over time, I became frustrated with how the mental health system often pushed long, vague therapy with unclear outcomes. I wanted to help people actually get better, not just “cope.” When insurance companies began dictating how I practiced, I stepped away from clinical work for a while. That changed after a visit from my brother, who had recently returned from Afghanistan. Our conversation reminded me why I went into this field in the first place. I returned to practice with a renewed mission: to serve veterans and others impacted by trauma with care that actually makes a difference.
Today, I specialize in trauma therapy, particularly for veterans, first responders, and adults carrying long-standing emotional wounds. My work has expanded in recent years to include clients exploring psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy. While I do not endorse or recommend anything illegal, I help clients prepare for, integrate, or recover from psychedelic experiences in a safe and structured way. This work has deepened my understanding of how healing also involves the body, the environment, and often, a sense of something greater than ourselves.
My Approach
I believe therapy should help people move forward. It should be focused, structured, and tailored to what actually works. Most people who come to me have already been through multiple rounds of therapy without lasting relief. I don’t offer one-size-fits-all support. I offer clarity, direction, and a different path.
I am not a warm and fuzzy therapist, and I don’t pretend to be. What I offer is honesty, experience, and a commitment to helping you create real, lasting change. We don’t just talk about coping skills. We work toward eliminating the root of the problem.
What You Should Know Before We Work Together
My practice is fully virtual, and I am licensed to provide telehealth therapy in 43 states.
I am private pay only and do not accept insurance.
My fees reflect the level of experience and specialization I bring to this work.
I focus on efficiency, depth, and real change. If you are looking for meaningful transformation, you will feel at home here.
Why I Named It Quantum Behavioral
I chose the name Quantum Behavioral because I believe that even small shifts in how we think or behave can create powerful changes. I have seen that firsthand with clients who were ready to give up before we started working together.
In 2021, I survived a sudden cardiac arrest. Twice. That experience reinforced what I already knew—life is short, and what we do with our time matters. Since then, I’ve also begun supporting clients who are navigating end-of-life anxiety. After spending a career helping people live better, I now also help people face death with more peace and clarity.
“If you're on fire, the first step isn't figuring out why. It's putting the fire out. We can explore the why later, once you're safe.”
If you’re ready for a more focused, goal-oriented approach to healing, I’m here to help.
Let’s get to work.