About

Elena Balashova-Shamis is a licensed clinical psychologist (CA Psychologist PSY20104) with 23 years of professional work. She is trained as a psychoanalyst and offers integrative, personalized treatment that draws on long-term training and clinical scholarship. Her background includes teaching at five local universities, including UCLA's medical school and NPI, as well as presentations, publications, and dissertation advising.

Elena works with people facing stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, and depression. She also addresses related challenges such as attachment and abandonment issues, body image, caregiver stress, and eating or food-related concerns. Her approach blends depth-oriented thinking with practical attention to each person’s immediate needs, creating a tailored path forward for those seeking thoughtful, evidence-minded care in California and beyond.
Location:
California, United States
Years Experience:
23
Gender:
Female
Languages Spoken:
English, Russian
Therapist of Color:
No
Communication Options:
Phone • Video • Live Chat • Messaging

Specialties

Primary area of focus:Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse, Grief, Depression
Other areas of experience: Abandonment, Attachment issues, Body image, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Dependent personality, Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Eating and food-related issues, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Gender dysphoria, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Personality disorders, Phobias, Postpartum depression, Post-traumatic stress, Self-harm, Self-love, Sex addiction, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexual dysfunction, Sexuality, Somatization, Workplace issues, Young adult issues

Credentials & Verification

  • Credentials: CA Psychologist PSY20104
  • NPI Number: 1740705367
  • License: Psychologist (California)

Remote care and therapeutic focus



Elena offers remote sessions that reflect her training as a psychoanalyst and her integrative approach to care. In video or phone sessions she attends to recurring relational patterns, underlying attachment concerns, and the emotional themes that surface in a person’s life. Live chat and text-based messaging provide additional ways to maintain contact and continue therapeutic work between synchronous sessions.

Her integrative framework combines long-term depth-oriented exploration with tailored strategies for managing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and trauma-related concerns. Prospective clients who seek a collaborative process centered on understanding persistent patterns and creating individualized steps forward may find this approach a good fit. Communication options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, allowing flexibility in how people connect and maintain momentum in their work together.

What is Elena Balashova-Shamis's clinical background?

She has 23 years of professional experience and training as a psychoanalyst, combined with a practice of integrative, personalized treatment approaches.

What credentials does she hold?

She is a licensed psychologist in California: CA Psychologist PSY20104.

Which languages does she use in sessions?

Elena conducts work in English and Russian.

Where is she based?

Her practice and teaching activities are based in California.

How can clients work together with her?

She meets with people through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

Is Elena available to international clients?

The profile indicates she does not accept international clients.

What does it cost to work with her?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I get started?

Use the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire to begin the process.