Get To Know Your Therapist: Miles Chinnachart Poola-or

Get To Know Your Therapist: Miles Chinnachart
Poola-or

Q: Who are you and what brought you to this field?

A: My name is Chinnachart Poola-or, but I go by Miles. I’m originally from Thailand and I’m a mental health counselor. There are several things that brought me to the field. Part of it was my own experience with mental health professionals. Another reason was linguistics (which I will get into), as well as my desire to help and hold space for other people.

Q: What is your background and training?

A: It took me a while to get to where I am now. My educational background is in linguistics; I was originally interested in the relationship between language and mind, and how we as humans perceive and understand the world through the use of language. I received my first master’s degree in applied linguistics from Teachers College Columbia University, and my final paper was on how medical institutions, media, and mental health patients/clients use language to construct mental health and mental illness ideology. I received my second master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Rollins College. I've also completed EMDR training and am certified in Gottman Couples Therapy Method Level 1.

Q: What kind of clients are you passionate about working with?

A: I'm passionate about working with any trauma-related problems. As an immigrant, I have a special interest in working with international students and those dealing with immigration-related issues. I value intersectionality, and as a gay Asian man, I am very passionate about working with the LGBTQIA+ community, same sex relationships, and interracial relationships as well. I also have experience working with survivors of sexual assault and crime.

Q: What are four books you often recommend to clients?

A: 1) The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
2) You Just Don't Understand by Deborah Tannen
3) The Art of Possibility by Rosamund Stone Zander
4) Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel

Q: What can a client expect from a typical session with you?

A: In a typical session with me, clients can expect to come into the session and be encouraged to be themselves without receiving any judgment. I firmly believe in collaborating with my clients throughout the process and that therapy doesn't have to feel heavy all the time. Clients can expect to laugh and experience my humor when it’s appropriate, but they can also expect to be gently challenged for their healing and growth.

Q: What do you think is the most important ingredient for a
successful therapeutic relationship?

This will sound like I’m quoting Carl Rogers’ textbook, but I believe that genuineness, active listening, and unconditional positive regard are some of the most important ingredients in a successful therapeutic relationship. Having worked with clients with a lot of trauma, I've learned that those three components are at the core of my approach to therapy. The therapeutic relationship is unique, and it requires a lot of vulnerability and trust – maybe even more than other types of relationships. In order to create trust that allows vulnerability to show, those three ingredients are essential.

Q: What are your favorite ways to de-stress?

A: For me, there is no better way to de-stress than horseback riding. I’m a passionate equestrian, so a couple hours at a stable really helps me to de-stress. I'm fascinated by the way animals, especially horses, are able to release their energy to return to homeostasis. This is something I can deeply relate to when I'm horseback riding. When I can't do that, I'll grab tickets to a broadway show or wander around art museums. I also cook, bake, binge-watch my favorite shows, and meditate before bed.

Q: What should people know about working with you?

A: I am very eclectic and integrative. Even though I do have certain approaches that I tend to gravitate towards, at the end of the day, I am able to prioritize what my clients need and adapt my work to accommodate what they'll benefit from in session.

Q: What’s your favorite part about being a therapist?

A: Apart from being able to hold space for my clients and witness them grow and heal, I find myself learning new things and developing new perspectives everytime I work with clients. My favorite part of doing this relational work is that, not only do I get to help others, but it also serves as a constant reminder to keep working on myself. This pushes me to become the person and helper I aspire to be.

Services Offered At Repose Therapy

At Repose Therapy, our goal is to provide the best HOLISTIC PSYCHOTHERAPY services among other evidence-based therapy services to you. We enjoy working with college students, mothers, parents, couples, and individuals who are seeking better mental wellness in their life. If you’re struggling or trying to find a way to move forward, then our DIVERSE TEAM OF THERAPISTS would be thrilled to work with you. If grief counseling isn’t the service you’re seeking, no worries. We offer other services at our ONLINE THERAPY OFFICE IN NEW YORK, CONNECTICUT, AND NEW JERSEY. Other services include EMDR THERAPY, ANXIETY TREATMENT, PTSD TREATMENT, AND TRAUMA THERAPY, THERAPY FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS, MATERNAL MENTAL HEALTH, MARRIAGE COUNSELING AND COUPLES THERAPY, THERAPY FOR TEENS, LGBTQIA+ THERAPY, ART THERAPY, DANCE MOVEMENT THERAPY. 

Additionally, we offer many GROUPS at our practice including an adult DBT skills group MANAGING EMOTIONS WITH DBT and Art Therapy, MINDFULNESS-BASED COGNITIVE THERAPY, EMBRACING YOUR BODY, and a Ramadan group. If you’re interested in any of our other services, please reach out, we cannot wait to work with you as you improve your well-being and begin your journey towards healing.