About Shaela
Shaela Amaya is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in New York. She supports people who are struggling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, trauma, anger, relationship and family concerns, and ADHD. Shaela aims to offer a calm presence and practical tools in each session.
Her style is warm and interactive. She listens first, then helps people set small, clear goals. Sessions focus on skills that can be used between meetings, like breathing, thought reframing, and communication practice.
How Shaela works
Shaela uses Client-Centered Therapy to meet people where they are and build trust. She integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques to address patterns of thinking and to teach emotion regulation skills. Mindfulness practices are used to reduce reactivity and improve focus.
She also offers support for concerns related to adoption and foster care, attachment issues, body image, caregiver stress, workplace problems, OCD symptoms, immigration-related stress, and women's issues. Shaela adapts the approach to each person's background and goals rather than relying on one fixed method. After short assessments she works with clients to create personalized plans.
Progress is reviewed regularly and goals are adjusted as needed. The aim is practical change - better coping, clearer choices, and more satisfying relationships. Shaela brings three years of clinical experience as an LMHC.
People who choose her can expect straightforward guidance, steady support, and tools they can use between sessions.
Shaela lists 9 ways of working on the entry:
What Shaela works with
The areas below are the ones Shaela selected when setting up a profile. The first one is listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- ADHD
- Adoption and foster care
- Anger management
- Antisocial personality
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Domestic violence
- Family conflicts
- Forgiveness
- Immigration issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Relationship issues
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Training and background
| Register | LMHC |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 3 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | New York |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Therapeutic approaches that work online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a trusting relationship. It helps people feel heard and encourages self-directed change by following the client's lead and priorities.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) examines unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical techniques to change them. It is useful for anxiety, depression, OCD patterns, and problems with focus and stress.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills. These tools help when emotions feel overwhelming or relationships are tense.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shaela collaborates with each person to choose methods that match goals and preferences, and she adjusts the plan as needs change.
Online formats make regular work easier to fit into a busy life. Video calls let people use visual cues for deeper conversation. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging allow brief, flexible contact between sessions for practice and support. These options aim to increase access and keep therapeutic progress consistent.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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