Shaela Amaya, LMHC

Shaela Amaya is a licensed mental health counselor in New York who helps people facing anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, stress, relationship and family concerns, trauma, anger, and life changes. She also supports people managing ADHD, adoption and foster care issues, OCD patterns, and workplace or caregiver strain. Shaela writes plainly and meets clients where they are, offering steady support while people sort out next steps.

Her style is warm and interactive. Sessions focus on clear problems and small, practical changes. Shaela listens first, then works with each person to set goals that matter to them. She leans on evidence-based strategies while keeping the conversation straightforward and respectful.

Shaela uses client-centered techniques to make space for each person’s experience. She draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to help spot and shift unhelpful thoughts and habits. Mindfulness skills and elements of emotion-focused and dialectical approaches help with intense feelings and relationship patterns.

With three years as a clinician, Shaela combines hands-on practice with an approach that emphasizes collaboration. She aims to help people build routines and ways of thinking that fit daily life. Progress is paced to the person’s needs and priorities.

People who want a direct, compassionate counselor often choose her when they want to change thinking patterns, manage emotions, and build better everyday habits. She encourages realistic steps toward a more manageable day-to-day life.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on understanding each person's view and building a respectful relationship so people feel heard and supported; it helps with motivation and feeling steadier in day-to-day life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and habits that keep problems going, then teaches concrete skills to test new ways of thinking and behaving; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and ADHD-related patterns. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers emotion regulation and coping skills to manage intense feelings and reduce reactive behavior, which can help with anger and relationship strain.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shaela will collaborate with each person to choose which methods match their goals and needs. She adjusts techniques over time, so the plan can change as progress is made or circumstances shift.

The practical benefits of online therapy include fitting sessions into a busy schedule and reducing travel time so therapy can be easier to keep up with. Some formats may be better for quick check-ins while others allow longer, in-depth conversations; please confirm current session options before booking. Online work can support learning and practicing new thinking and habit changes in everyday life, making it simpler to apply skills between sessions.