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RAYA BALABANOVA
Clinical Intern, M.A. Candidate in Mental Health Counseling she/her/hers
SPECIALTIES + EXPERTISE
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MESSAGE TO CLIENTS
Hi, I’m Raya. I care deeply about helping people understand and address anxiety, depression, ADHD, and the thoughts and behaviors that may be contributing to their distress. My own experience with anxiety taught me how profoundly mental health can impact quality of life. Having lived with health anxiety and panic attacks for many years, I spent much of my time fearing mild bodily sensations, researching physical symptoms online, and even ending up in emergency rooms, only to be told that I was perfectly healthy. I finally experienced relief from my anxiety symptoms through Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and regained a sense of freedom in my life. My positive experience with CBT made me want to help people who similarly feel consumed by overwhelming emotions and unhelpful behaviors so that they are able to live a life that aligns with their values and aspirations. My work also includes helping individuals with ADHD who may feel overwhelmed by difficulties with organization, time management, or following through on goals. I help my clients gain greater insight into their patterns and develop practical strategies to navigate their education, career, or relationships with greater confidence. MY APPROACH My approach is warm, collaborative, and goal-oriented. Together, we will decide how our sessions can best meet your needs, whether it is learning a new skill, solving a problem from the week, or addressing a long-standing pattern. At the same time, I will keep track of your goals so that our time together remains focused and effective. I mainly use a cognitive-behavioral approach, which is based on the idea that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are closely linked to each other. By developing more balanced and helpful ways of responding, you can gain greater control over overwhelming emotions, experience greater peace, and engage in a life that aligns with your goals. I look forward to working with you! EDUCATION
LICENSES + CERTIFICATIONS
LANGUAGES English Russian |