PuttingFamilyFirst

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SA Portrait of Shaela Amaya
Online therapist

Shaela Amaya

Practical support for parenting andfamily challenges

Book with Shaela
Credentials
LMHC
Experience
3 years
Licensed in
New York
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Shaela

Shaela Amaya is a licensed mental health counselor who focuses on family and parenting‑related concerns among other issues. She provides calm, practical support for parents and individuals facing stress, anxiety, low self esteem, relationship strain, and life changes. Shaela meets people where they are and aims to make conversations feel respectful and straightforward.

Her credential is LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, and she practices in New York. Shaela uses simple, active techniques in sessions.

Background and approach

She leans on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and habits. She also uses mindfulness practices so clients can pause and respond instead of react. Sessions are interactive and focused on skills people can use between meetings.

Her background includes three years working as a clinician supporting clients with depression, trauma and abuse, ADHD, OCD, and parenting or foster care challenges. Shaela also addresses anger, grief, workplace stress, and communication or commitment issues. She draws from motivational interviewing and emotionally focused ideas to help people find practical next steps.

Shaela aims to build a plan with each person that fits their life and goals. She encourages small, steady changes and practices that can reduce daily stress. If someone wants direct guidance and tools they can use at home, she offers that kind of hands‑on support.

Sessions are conversational and rooted in respect and sensitivity. Shaela emphasizes collaboration and short term strategies while remaining open to deeper emotional work when needed.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on understanding each person's experience without judgment and helps people feel heard so they can find their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns and reduce anxiety or low mood. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, combines skill teaching in emotion regulation and distress tolerance with a balanced focus on acceptance and change and can be useful for managing intense emotions.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to choose techniques that match their goals and preferences, and will adjust the plan over time based on what helps most. Clients and the therapist decide together which tools to prioritize.

Online therapy offers flexibility through multiple formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit sessions into busy family schedules and to continue momentum between meetings. For many people, remote sessions help maintain consistency and make it simpler to practice skills in day-to-day life.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Shaela commonly address?
She works with a wide range of issues including self esteem, stress, anxiety, relationships, family matters, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, coping with life changes, and ADHD. Additional focus areas include adoption and foster care, OCD, and workplace issues.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is comforting and interactive, using respectful, sensitive conversation. Sessions focus on practical skills and clear next steps rather than lengthy theory.
What is her clinical experience?
She has three years of experience working as a clinician with people facing mood disorders, trauma, parenting and foster care challenges, and related concerns.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor, licensed in New York with license number NY LMHC 010469 and practices in New York.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available online?
Sessions can be done by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin the process with this therapist?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule based on the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
3 years
Licensed
New York
Languages
English

Next step

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