Kaela Ason Duarte, LMHC, is a warm, honest, and emotionally present therapist based in New York City. She holds a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. As a Latina and a high-achieving woman herself, Kaela brings lived experience and deep insight into the pressures of perfectionism, burnout, and generational trauma—especially within communities of color. These realities are at the heart of her trauma-informed, relational approach to therapy.

Kaela specializes in working with high-achieving women of color who’ve been told they’re too much—too emotional, too ambitious, too sensitive. She supports clients in unlearning people-pleasing, setting boundaries without guilt, and naming their needs out loud, often for the first time. Her work is grounded in compassion, curiosity, and cultural awareness, creating a space where clients feel fully seen—not just as who they’ve had to become, but as who they truly are underneath the pressure.

Kaela helps women build the confidence to live the life they’ve always dreamed of—one that’s rooted in emotional honesty, autonomy, and self-trust. Together, you’ll challenge the internalized beliefs that say you have to earn your rest or prove your worth through overgiving. You’ll learn how to put yourself first without guilt, and how to prioritize your needs without apology.

As the founder of She Heals Within Therapy, Kaela’s mission is to break the stigma that says women have to choose between success and emotional depth. Here, healing isn’t about fixing what’s broken—it’s about reclaiming what’s been buried under shame, silence, and survival. It’s about showing up fully, taking up space unapologetically, and rewriting the internalized narratives that tell women they’re only valuable when they’re productive or selfless.

Kaela helps women come home to themselves—not by shrinking, but by expanding into who they were always meant to be.

What we don’t say in outloud — but we carry every day.