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Mara Chiles, LCSW

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Mara is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

4.5 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Mara. View 40 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in New York

Recent reviews

Mara continues to do a great job helping me identify and address the root issues.

Reviewed June 2024

Mara is the sweetest and most understanding person, she listens, reiterates what you have said so you know she is listening, and offers great advice.

Reviewed May 2021

More about Mara

  • 22 years' experience
  • Female
  • LCSW

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who practices in New York . I am a graduate from Hunter School Of Social Work in New York City. I have counseled a variety of people within the past 20 years. I have worked with issues related to depression, anxiety, grief and loss, life transitions , parenting issues as well as relationship conflicts. I have also assisted many people dealing with aging parents. As a Social Worker I not only counsel to empower individuals but I connect people to systems and resources to provide ongoing support.

My counseling style combines active listening along with interactive compassion and empathy. I like to access an individuals strengths and then form goals that we agree on from there. I use cognitive behavioral therapy as well as a psycho -analytical approach. I have done Christian based therapy also. My focus is a holistic approach to empower the individual for long term success.

It is not easy making change but when we realize that we are "all work in progress" it sometimes makes it a little easier to seek help to assist us in being the best we can be!

I look forward to connecting with you.

Specialties

Stress Anxiety Relationship issues Grief Depression Addictions Family conflicts Trauma and abuse Parenting issues Self esteem Career difficulties Bipolar disorder Abandonment Aging and geriatric issues Autism and Asperger Syndrome Blended family issues Cancer Caregiver issues and stress Chronic pain, illness, and disability Codependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Divorce and separation Drug and alcohol addiction Family problems Fatherhood issues Forgiveness HIV / AIDS Hospice and end-of-life counseling Intellectual disability Life purpose Midlife crisis Veteran and Armed Forces Issues Multicultural concerns Narcissism Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Prejudice and discrimination Self-love Sexual assault and abuse Social anxiety and phobia Women's issues Young adult issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy

Licenses

Mara Chiles's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1134761034.

  • LCSW · New York · R055834-1 · Expires July 2026

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for Mara Chiles

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

4.5

40 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Great Helping Helped Understanding Amazing Caring Helpful Understand Listens Anxiety

Mara continues to do a great job helping me identify and address the root issues.

Reviewed June 2024

Mara is the sweetest and most understanding person, she listens, reiterates what you have said so you know she is listening, and offers great advice.

Reviewed May 2021

Mara has been a life changer for me. I’ve been struggling with grief and my own anxieties and fears. She is so compassionate and has been so wonderful

Reviewed May 2019

Mara has an amazing ability to understand and pinpoint the cause of my struggles. She is wise, patient and empathetic in guiding me towards healing. I’m so grateful that I met Mara.

Reviewed April 2019

Mara is amazing. I feel like she understands exactly what I am going through and empathizes with me. She has helped me see things from and different angle. She is always prompt and even shares more even when our session is done. She truly cares. So happy she was selected as my counselor.

Reviewed February 2019

Mara is very personable and caring. We have just started our sessions and I think there is a a lot to unfold but I also feel that Mara will help me through all that I need to get through.

Reviewed December 2018

She's awesome! Couldn't ask for a better person. She's wise and caring.

Reviewed December 2018

Mara has been very supportive in helping me deal with many challenges in my life. She has helped me see several issues affecting me from a more effective positive perspective.

Reviewed January 2024

Mara is a true blessing. She has helped me tremendously!

Reviewed September 2023

Mara Chiles has been very helpful in helping me move forward in my life thrigh difficlt health and emotional challenges. Also, dealing with difficult individuals in my life in a healthier manner and understanding myself better.

Reviewed July 2023

Mara has been extremely helpful in helping me understand and cope with my depression. She’s given me a lot of insight in how to better manage stressful situations in my life and move forward towards better mental health

Reviewed June 2023

Mara has been a great support and mentor for me. She exactly knew what I needed at what time. She never rushed our therapy sessions. She usually takes a logical break from our sessions rather than ending the call at exactly end time.

Reviewed February 2023

Mara is the Best therapist I have ever worked for. Better Health is lucky to have her. She is so knowledgable, kind and fun to be with. She exudes empathy. Thank you Mara.

Reviewed January 2023

I've made some really important strides in my mental health this year. Mara is patient and understanding.

Reviewed December 2022

Mara has helped guide me with her counseling through a challenging time in my life. She has been very supportive, genntle and understanding of my issues suggested answers and I am in a better place than when I first started therapy with her.

Reviewed December 2022

Mara has been a tremendous help in my journey towards healing.

Reviewed December 2022

Mara is amazing. She is so patient and kind, yet persistent and clear. I know what we are working on and what is holding me back. She is helping me to really do the hard work to be in a better place mentally and emotionally.

Reviewed August 2022

Mara has changed my life. She's gifted in so many ways...her superpower is connecting the dots for you while consistently having an empathetic ear. She's invaluable and I'm blessed to have found her! I'm no longer just surviving....I'm on my path to thriving!!

Reviewed June 2022

I love how Mara listens to me and reminds me that I need to take care of myself. I feel heard and understood when I am with her. She also follows up periodically on how I am doing which is really valued.

Reviewed May 2022

Mara is an incredible therapist! She's easy to talk to and has given me hope for the future. I was in a really dark place for a very long time until I started talking to Mara. I can't thank her enough!

Reviewed March 2022

Mara is an amazing therapist. She is warm and caring, and extremely helpful. She even goes beyond the allotted time of sessions to make sure she is leaving me in a good state and that I am set until our next session. She provides a number of ways to help, including aromatherapy, anger management, anxiety relief, etc. I recommend her to anyone.

Reviewed January 2022

I am always so impressed by the things Mara remembers! Even the smallest details from many sessions ago she brings up and it makes me feel like she really listens and is so prepared for our time together. This says to me that she not only values my time, cares about my progress but also the investment I’m making. Lastly, the way she reframes my situation and the ideas she has stay with me and I use them regularly.

Reviewed December 2021

Mara is so patient and supportive with me. Even when it takes me awhile to understand how my challenges are showing up in my life. I really appreciate the way she asks questions to get me to think about how actions are connected. She is really good at what she does.

Reviewed December 2021

Mara Chiles has been very helpful in helping me to be more cognizant of my feelings as well as understanding others. I am not as depressed and anxious as I was before therapy sessions with her. She has been very supportive.

Reviewed November 2021

Mara has been essential in my recovery from depression. She is truly an amazing person who has helped me tremendously. Mara is extremely knowledgeable and has given me the tools to better cope with difficult times.

Reviewed September 2021

I have had only one session with Mara. She was very helpful and asked a lot of questions. She got to the bottom of my problem very quickly.

Reviewed April 2021

Mara is a great person to talk to. She has helped me develop mechanisms to cope with my stress and anxiety and, most importantly, she’s a great listener. After a couple of sessions with her, I was back in a good place emotionally.

Reviewed April 2021

Mara is caring. She listens to your concerns and is truly dedicated in helping her clients.

Reviewed March 2021

Mara is a very good listener and has a great memory/recall. She’s warm and helpful.

Reviewed March 2021

Mara is amazing! She's a great listener and incredibly insightful. I'm not someone who can easily open up, so I never thought I would be able to talk to someone so freely about my issues, like I do with Mara.

Reviewed December 2020

Mara has been helping me for about 3-4 months now. I have been through many therapists, and this is the first time I liked my therapist enough to stick with the same person for this long. I have come to trust her, and this is the first time that I feel I found a therapist that is right for me and I feel blessed to have met her. She has great energy.

Reviewed August 2020

I've been working with Mara for a little while now and we just had our last session. I gotta say, I'm kinda sad because I'm gonna miss her! I can't imagine having been paired with anyone better. Mara is so kind and willing to help, and she even taught me some things to cope with my anxiety that I will continue to do.

Reviewed July 2020

I feel very fortunate to have Mara Chiles as my therapist I have had 2 sessions with her and already I am seeing a difference in my understanding of past issues. By resolving my past issues I will be able to look forward with a new and positive view.

Reviewed May 2020

This was my first time doing counseling and I couldn’t imagine a better fit than with Mara. She was so attentive and caring. She helped open my eyes to new perspectives after just one session and has given me great tools to move forward with.

Reviewed May 2020

Miss Chile’s is a very patient and caring counselor. After two sessions, I started to understand the causes of my inner turmoil. I have clarity. I still have work to do and I am excited to begin my journey of healing with her by my side.

Reviewed January 2020

Mara Chile’s is an excellent counselor. I would recommend her to anyone who needs someone with expertise and a kind understanding way about them. She offers great help and strategies both verbally and written. She is helping me with my increased anxiety. Mara Chile’s offers great advice and techniques. I highly recommend her.

Reviewed December 2019

Mara was very attentive and personable. I could tell that she was really listening to my concerns and she helped me understand some of my life longing needs and how they have been revealed in my past and current relationships.

Reviewed November 2019

Mara is very warm and friendly. She really takes the time to listen and assess your issues to give you some positive and useful feedback.

Reviewed February 2019

Mara is wonderful counselor. She’s professional and truly cares. Her active listening skills facilitate the process of helping us find the solutions within ourselves. BetterHelp is lucky to have her as a counselor.

Reviewed January 2019

I think Mara is such a good counselor. Listens, helps and makes me understand myself so much better.

Reviewed December 2018

How was your experience with Mara?

Frequently asked questions

Does Mara Chiles offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Mara Chiles works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Mara Chiles speak?

Mara Chiles speaks English.

How many years of experience does Mara Chiles have?

Mara Chiles has 22 years of experience.

Where is Mara Chiles licensed to practice?

Mara Chiles is licensed to practice in New York.

Does Mara Chiles accept clients outside of the United States?

No, Mara Chiles does not accept clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Mara Chiles offer?

Mara Chiles offers clients Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Psychodynamic Therapy.

How can I communicate with Mara Chiles?

Mara Chiles can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Mara Chiles?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.