Hi, I’m Chad Stiles, PhD, LMFT. I’m a Marriage and Family Therapist who works with adolescents, adults, couples, and families navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges. I have a particular focus on supporting those impacted by military sexual trauma and the ways it can affect both individuals and their relationships. My approach to therapy is collaborative, strength-based, and solution-focused. I believe you are the expert in your own life, and my role is to help you identify your strengths and use them to move forward in a way that feels meaningful and manageable. Rather than staying stuck in what’s not working, we focus on what is working and how to build on it. Clients often come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of what the next step should be. In our work together, we create a safe, respectful space where you can explore your experiences at your own pace. There’s no pressure to have everything figured out—just a place to start. Whether you’re seeking support individually or as a couple, therapy can help you gain clarity, improve communication, rebuild trust, and feel more grounded and in control of your life. My goal is to help you make real, practical progress so you can move forward with greater confidence, connection, and a clearer sense of direction.
Starting therapy can feel like a big step. It’s completely normal to feel unsure, nervous, or even overwhelmed before your first session. You might be wondering what to say, how much to share, or whether therapy will really help. My goal is to make that first experience feel as comfortable, supportive, and straightforward as possible. When you begin your first session with me, you can expect a safe, respectful, and nonjudgmental space. There is no pressure to have everything figured out or to explain your entire story right away. You are welcome to share as much or as little as you feel ready to in that moment. Therapy is a process, and we will move at a pace that feels right for you. We typically start by talking about what brought you to therapy. This might include current challenges such as anxiety, depression, relationship concerns, or the impact of trauma—including military sexual trauma. You may have a clear idea of what you want to work on, or you may simply know that something doesn’t feel right. Both are completely okay. Part of our work together is helping you gain clarity about what’s going on and what you would like to be different. In this first session, I’ll also ask some questions to better understand your background, experiences, and current situation. This helps me get a fuller picture of who you are and how I can best support you. These questions are not meant to feel intrusive—they’re simply a way to guide our work and ensure that therapy is tailored to your needs. If anything feels uncomfortable to answer, you always have the option to say so or revisit it later. If you are coming in as a couple, the first session will focus on understanding your relationship as a whole. Each partner will have space to share their perspective, and we’ll begin identifying patterns in communication, connection, and conflict. The goal is not to determine who is right or wrong, but to better understand what’s happening between you and how we can begin improving it together. One of the most important parts of the first session is beginning to identify your goals for therapy. What would you like to be different in your life or your relationship? What would progress look like for you? These goals don’t need to be perfect or fully formed. We’ll refine them together over time, but having a general direction helps guide the process and ensures that our work is meaningful and focused. My approach is **collaborative, strength-based, and solution-focused**. That means I won’t position myself as someone who has all the answers about your life. Instead, I see you as the expert in your own experiences. My role is to support you in identifying your strengths, understanding what’s working, and building on those things to create change. Even in difficult situations, there are often small areas of strength or resilience we can use as a starting point. You can also expect that our conversation will feel natural and interactive. Therapy is not just you talking while I listen silently. I will ask questions, offer observations, and help guide the discussion in a way that keeps us focused and productive. At times, I may offer a different perspective or gently challenge certain patterns—but always in a way that is respectful and supportive. For clients who have experienced trauma, including military sexual trauma, it’s especially important that the first session feels safe and grounded. There is no expectation that you will go into detail about traumatic experiences right away. In fact, much of the early work often focuses on creating a sense of stability, control, and safety before exploring deeper material. You are always in control of what you share and when you share it. By the end of the first session, we will typically have: * A clearer understanding of what brought you to therapy * An initial sense of your goals * A general direction for how we can work together * An opportunity for you to ask questions and get a feel for the process You may also begin to notice small shifts—such as feeling heard, gaining a bit of clarity, or simply experiencing relief from talking things through. At the same time, it’s normal if everything doesn’t feel fully resolved right away. Therapy is a process, and meaningful change happens over time. It’s also important to consider the fit between you and your therapist. The first session is not just about me getting to know you—it’s also an opportunity for you to get a sense of whether you feel comfortable working with me. Feeling safe, respected, and understood is essential for therapy to be effective. If you have questions about my approach or the process, you are always encouraged to ask. After the session, we can discuss next steps, including scheduling future sessions or determining what frequency might be most helpful. Some clients choose to continue with traditional weekly therapy, while others may be interested in more focused options like intensive sessions. We can talk through what makes the most sense for your situation and goals. Ultimately, the first session is about starting the process. You don’t need to have the right words, a perfect plan, or complete clarity. You just need a willingness to show up. From there, we begin building a path forward—one that is grounded in your strengths, aligned with your goals, and paced in a way that feels right for you.
What stands out about my therapeutic approach is the way it balances depth with practicality. Many people come to therapy feeling stuck—caught between understanding their struggles and not knowing how to actually move forward. My work is designed to bridge that gap. I use a collaborative, strength-based, and solution-focused approach that helps clients not only gain insight, but also create meaningful, tangible change in their lives and relationships. At the core of my approach is the belief that you are the expert in your own life. Rather than taking a directive or one-size-fits-all stance, I work alongside you to understand your experiences, your goals, and what matters most to you. This creates a sense of ownership in the process and allows therapy to feel more empowering and relevant. You’re not being “told what to do”—you’re actively shaping the direction of your growth. I also place a strong emphasis on identifying and building on your existing strengths. Even in the midst of anxiety, depression, or trauma, there are often parts of your life that are working or have worked in the past. By recognizing and expanding those areas, we create momentum and help you experience progress more quickly. This is especially important for clients who may feel discouraged or uncertain about whether change is possible. My work is also trauma-informed, with particular experience supporting individuals and couples impacted by military sexual trauma. I understand that trauma can affect not only how you feel internally, but also how you connect with others. Because of this, I prioritize creating a space that feels safe, respectful, and paced according to your comfort level. There is never pressure to share more than you’re ready for, and we focus first on building stability and trust before moving into deeper work. For couples, this approach extends into helping partners move away from blame and toward understanding. We work on identifying patterns, improving communication, and rebuilding emotional safety so that both people feel heard and supported. The goal is not just to resolve conflict, but to strengthen the overall foundation of the relationship. Clients often notice that therapy with me feels both supportive and focused. Sessions are not just about talking—they are about creating direction. Together, we clarify what you want to be different and take practical, manageable steps toward that outcome. As a result, clients frequently experience increased clarity, improved communication, reduced emotional distress, and a stronger sense of confidence and control in their lives. Ultimately, what sets my approach apart is the combination of compassion, collaboration, and forward movement. Therapy becomes a space where you feel understood—but also one where real change begins to take shape.
Adolescents, adults, and couples who feels stuck but are open to growth will find a safe space with me. They may be struggling with anxiety, depression, or ongoing relationship challenges that leave them feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, or uncertain about what to do next. While they may not have all the answers, they have a sense that something needs to change and are willing to take steps toward that change. These clients often come in feeling frustrated or discouraged. They may have tried to “figure things out” on their own but find themselves repeating the same patterns—whether that’s negative thinking, emotional disconnection, or ineffective communication in relationships. At the same time, they tend to have an underlying motivation for improvement. They are not looking to stay stuck in the problem; they want practical ways to feel better and create meaningful progress in their lives. My ideal clients value collaboration and want to be active participants in their therapy. They appreciate a space where they feel respected, heard, and understood, rather than judged or directed. They are open to identifying their strengths and using those strengths as tools for change. Whether individually or as a couple, they are willing to reflect, try new approaches, and take small, manageable steps forward. In therapy, their goals often include reducing symptoms of anxiety or depression, improving communication and connection in relationships, and gaining a clearer sense of direction. Ultimately, they want to feel more confident, capable, and aligned with the life they are building, and they are ready to begin that process.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
I use a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy approach, which means we focus on what’s working and how to build on it rather than staying stuck in problems. Together, we identify your strengths, clarify your goals, and explore small, realistic steps that move you forward. This approach is practical, goal-oriented, and designed to help you create meaningful change in a shorter amount of time while empowering you as the expert in your own life.
Couples Counseling
In couples counseling, I use a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy approach to help partners move away from cycles of conflict and toward meaningful connection. Rather than focusing solely on what’s going wrong, we identify what’s already working in your relationship and build on those strengths. Together, we clarify shared goals, improve communication, and develop practical, achievable steps that help you reconnect and move forward as a team.