Mara Chiles, LCSW

Mara Chiles is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New York who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship conflict, addiction, and parenting concerns. She also supports those navigating career strain, self-esteem struggles, bipolar mood challenges, and issues tied to aging or caregiving. Her first priority is making the start of therapy feel manageable for people who are worried or overwhelmed.

She listens actively and responds with empathy and practical feedback. Mara looks for a person’s strengths and works with them to set clear, realistic goals. Sessions focus on small, doable steps that build toward longer-term change.

Her approach blends client-centered care with cognitive behavioral techniques and psychodynamic ideas. She also draws on narrative therapy to help people reframe difficult stories, and mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity. These methods are used to address symptoms and to create day-to-day coping strategies.

With 22 years of experience, Mara pairs direct counseling with connections to community resources and services when those supports are helpful. This reflects her social work background and her effort to support both emotional needs and practical life demands.

Her style is straightforward and compassionate. She encourages clients to see change as gradual and to build skills at a sustainable pace. People who prefer a collaborative, goal-focused therapist often find this approach useful.

How her approaches shape online work

Client-centered therapy focuses on the person’s experience and priorities. It involves listening closely, reflecting what matters to the client, and shaping goals together to make sessions feel collaborative and relevant. This approach is helpful for people who want a supportive, nonjudgmental space to sort through problems.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It uses practical exercises and small behavior changes to reduce symptoms like anxiety and depression. CBT can be useful for setting clear homework and tracking progress between sessions.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and Mara will work with each person to figure out what fits best. She aims to match methods to a client's goals, daily life, and what feels most useful in session. That collaboration helps shape a plan that changes as needs change.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make therapy easier to fit into busy schedules, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports people who want to use mindfulness practice or CBT exercises from home while applying new skills in daily routines.