3 therapists in California matching your needs

In the face of circumstances, our resilience is often tested. One thing for sure is that you do not have to face it all on your own. I’ve had the fortune to work in diverse communities. I’ve worked with all age groups and those affected by depression, trauma, substance abuse, homelessness, and so much more. As a Haitian American, I know and understand the struggles immigrants and families of immigrants face daily. I use a strength-based approach with a combination of therapeutic methods to fit your needs, such as DBT, narrative, CBT, solution-focused, play therapy, and art therapy. I use my creativity and your strengths to assist you in finding what works for you. Your experiences and your story are important. My goal as a therapist is to work collaboratively with you through a foundation of warmth, empathy, and trust in a non-judgmental, safe environment. Therapy with me will provide you with insight, self-understanding, and hope, as well as the skills to face circumstances and thrive. Let’s start this journey together!

Dr. Elena Balashova-Shamis is a highly experienced, licensed clinical psychologist who works with children, adults, and the elderly. She is trained as a psychoanalyst and provides integrative, personalized treatments. She teaches at five local universities, including UCLA’s medical school. She is known for her presentations, publications, and dissertation advising. She also works with family and criminal law courts as an expert witness.

If someone asked you not to think for 10 minutes how hard would that be? Is overthinking about the “What Ifs” driving you to relentlessly check things over and over again? Are you determined to find certainty in an uncertain world? Do you frequently ask others repeatedly if something or someone is going to be OK? No matter how much you do a task or say a particular thing does peace of mind elude you? Does the compulsion to handwash, re-read, double check, pray, or re-arrange items never provide lasting relief? Do you find yourself burdened by intrusive thoughts that strike against your will and preoccupy your mind for hours a day? OCD is characterized by unabating obsessions matched with intense mental or behavioral rituals to relieve the anxiety provoked. It is not treated by “talk therapy” but with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). Through customized gradual exposures, ERP is an evidence-based method of intervention to reduce the severity of OCD symptoms. ERP is a collaborative and creative approach to learning new skills and strategies to become comfortable with uncertainty and more confident in your ability to handle life’s unexpected challenges. My style is compassionate, client centered, and culturally sensitive. What to do if you’re nervous about sharing your thoughts with me in therapy? If you're too embarrassed to share something, you can write it down, you can use visuals, you can type it. We can work around this to find other ways that you can deliver the communication. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California, Hawaii, Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada and Virginia. Registered Out-of-State Telehealth Provider in Florida, South Carolina, and Vermont. My treatment focus is on neurodivergent issues, gifted learners, managing life transitions, women’s mental health issues around shifting roles in family and career, and immigration/re-entry adjustment stressors.