Olga Balakova, Psychotherapist, LPC, LCADC, ACS, CCS, NBCCH
(She/Her)
About Me
Healing begins when we find the courage to face what we’ve been carrying. Living a fulfilling life often starts with acknowledging unspoken traumas, releasing quiet resentments, and moving through the discomfort that comes with lasting change. My role is to walk beside you on that journey — helping you find balance, clarity, and renewed purpose.
With over 15 years of clinical experience, I specialize in helping adults, couples, and families navigate the emotional challenges of trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. I have extensive experience working with the full spectrum of addictive disorders — including substance use, gambling, gaming, sex, and pornography — whether you’re seeking recovery for yourself or support in coping with a loved one’s addiction.
My therapeutic approach blends compassion with evidence-based methods such as EMDR, hypnotherapy, somatic therapy, CBT, DBT, and relapse prevention strategies. Together, we create a safe and collaborative space where you can explore what’s holding you back, strengthen resilience, and embrace meaningful change.
I also help clients through major life transitions — retirement, career change, marriage, parenting, or divorce — guiding them toward emotional stability and self-growth. Transitions, while challenging, can also be opportunities to redefine who we are and what we truly want from life. As an immigrant and multicultural therapist, I deeply understand the complexity of adapting to new environments, identities, and expectations. I take pride in providing culturally sensitive support to clients from all walks of life, offering warmth, respect, and understanding every step of the way.
My goal is simple: to help you heal, grow, and live fully — with confidence, connection, and peace of mind.
Education & Experience
Trainings
MA In Clinical Mental Health Counseling
– Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Advanced Certified Relapse Prevention Specialist
- Gorski-CENAPS, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Gambling Treatment Providers Training
– The Council On Compulsive Gambling Of NJ
International Certification Board Of Clinical Hypnotherapy (ICBCH)
Pre-Certification Training
Integrated Imagery: Regression Hypnosis.
Level 1 & 2. Atlantic University, Virginia Beach, VA.
Hypno-EMDR Training:
Hypnotc, London, UK
Somatic Therapy For Complex Trauma Certification Training: Body-Based, Polyvagal & Neurobiological Techniques For Mind-Body Healing
– PESI
Certified Clinical Supervisor Training
(Addictions) – NJPN, NJ
Approved Clinical Supervisor Training
(Mental Health) – NBCC
EMDR Training,
The EMDR Collective, NJ (EMRDIA)
Specialty Area
- Abuse/Neglect
- Addictions
- Alcohol/Substance Abuse
- Anxiety/Panic Attacks
- Bipolar Disorder
- Birth Trauma/Pregnancy Loss
- Chronic Illness/Medical Issues
- Chronic Pain
- Depression
- Dissociative Disorders
- Domestic Violence
- Eating Disorders
- Family Issues
- Gender Identity
- Grief/Loss/Mourning
- Headaches/Migraines
- Marriage/Relationship Issues
- Mood Disorders
- Moral Injury
- Motor Vehicle Accidents
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
- Performance Enhancement
- Personality Disorders
- Phobias
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Psychotic Disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Self-Harm
- Sexual Abuse
- Sexual Dysfunction
- Somatic Issues
- Spirituality
- Stress Management
- Traumatic Incident
Population Served
- Adults
- Community Mental Health Center
- Couples
- Families
- First Responders
- Group
- Immigrants
- LGBTQ+
- Residential Treatment Facility
- Seniors
- Underserved
- Veterans/Military
Language
- English
- Russian
Insurance
- Aetna
- BlueCross BlueShield
- Cigna
- Medicare
- UnitedHealth
1199 SEIU National Benefit Fund