CS Portrait of Chad Starrak

Chad Starrak, LCSW

Calm, practical therapy for anxiety and stress

5 years in practice · based in Texas · sessions in English · online sessions

Explore online therapy options

We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.

About Chad

Chad Starrak is a licensed clinical social worker who focuses on anxiety, stress, trauma, and burnout. He frames therapy as a collaborative process that helps people find direction and regain momentum when life feels overwhelming. Chad draws on straightforward, evidence-informed approaches.

Sessions aim to make sense of what’s causing distress, reduce intense reactions, and build practical skills for day-to-day life. He uses methods that help people process difficult memories, change unhelpful thinking patterns, and strengthen emotional regulation.

Explore online therapy options See what online therapy involves and what your next steps would be.

Background and approach

People come for many reasons - panic or chronic worry, anger, depression, or the strain of caregiving and chronic illness. Chad also supports those dealing with obsessional thoughts, dissociation, feelings of emptiness, and identity questions that get in the way of living fully. He pays attention to how life circumstances like immigration, intellectual disability, or first responder stress shape mental health.

Sessions are offered in English and delivered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Chad works from a practical stance that blends calm listening with hands-on strategies you can use between meetings. His five years of experience inform a direct but empathetic approach.

Therapy begins by understanding what matters to the person in front of him. From there he helps set clear goals, tests what works, and adjusts the plan so progress is steady and meaningful.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on being heard and understood first. It emphasizes empathy and the person's own goals, which helps when anxiety or stress make it hard to decide what to do next. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, targets patterns of thinking and behavior that keep anxiety and panic going. It teaches practical techniques for noticing thoughts, testing them, and changing unhelpful habits. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, helps people process distressing memories and upsetting experiences so those memories weigh less over time.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the person about current problems, personal goals, and how they prefer to work. Together they will decide whether to emphasize skills practice, memory processing, or a listening-centered approach and will adjust the plan as needed.

Online therapy offers several practical benefits. Video calls allow for face-to-face conversation when seeing body language matters. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to use video. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, homework support, or days when a shorter interaction fits a busy schedule. These options make it easier to keep regular contact and apply new skills between sessions.
Explore online therapy options See what online therapy involves and what your next steps would be.

Questions people ask

What kinds of problems does he help with?
He assists people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, and coaching around life direction. Additional focuses include OCD, panic, chronic pain and illness, codependency, dissociation, and feelings of emptiness.
What is his therapy style like?
His style is collaborative and practical. He blends listening with skills-based work so people leave sessions with concrete steps to try.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has five years of professional experience providing mental health support and counseling services.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds the credential LCSW, listed as TX LCSW, and is located in Texas.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
He offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.
How do I get started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
5 years
Licensed
Texas
Languages
English

We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you.