Elena Balashova-Shamis, CA Psychologist PSY20104
- Licensed psychologist
- Psychoanalytic training
- Works with all ages
About Elena Balashova-Shamis
Her practice emphasizes an integrative, personalized approach, tailoring interventions to each person’s history, current concerns, and goals. She has particular experience addressing stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression, and she attends to related areas such as attachment and body image when relevant to treatment.
In addition to clinical practice, Elena contributes to professional education through teaching at five local universities, including UCLA’s medical school and NPI. She is also active in scholarly work and mentoring, with a record of presentations, publications, and dissertation advising. Elena offers services in English and Russian and practices in California as a licensed psychologist.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Additional Focus Areas
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Elena Balashova-Shamis have?
Elena Balashova-Shamis has 23 years of experience.
Is Elena Balashova-Shamis a licensed therapist?
Yes. She is a California licensed psychologist and holds the credential CA Psychologist PSY20104.
In which languages does Elena Balashova-Shamis provide therapy?
She provides therapy in English and Russian.
Where is Elena Balashova-Shamis located?
She is located in California.
How can I work with Elena Balashova-Shamis as my therapist?
You can work with Elena Balashova-Shamis through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Elena Balashova-Shamis work with international clients?
Elena Balashova-Shamis does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Elena Balashova-Shamis cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, just click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Just click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Integrative Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care
Elena blends psychoanalytic-informed work with contemporary evidence-based techniques to address a range of concerns. Psychoanalytic-informed therapy focuses on identifying repeated patterns in relationships, attachment dynamics, and unconscious influences that contribute to anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma responses, and identity questions. This approach supports deeper self-understanding and long-term shifts in how someone relates to themselves and others.Alongside that foundation, she uses integrative evidence-based techniques tailored to specific symptoms such as stress, depressive moods, and grief reactions. These practical methods help clients build coping skills, manage symptoms, and practice new ways of thinking and relating while remaining consistent with a broader, individualized treatment plan.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Elena works with each person to determine which combination of strategies best matches their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan over time as progress and priorities evolve. Online sessions by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging make it easier to access regular care from wherever clients are located within California. These options provide flexibility in scheduling and allow therapists and clients to maintain continuity of care when in-person visits are not practical.
Ready to start therapy with Elena Balashova-Shamis?
Take the first step toward a better you.