EB Therapy

Dr. Ellen Balis

There are times when healing can’t be done alone. My work is essentially relational — healing in a therapeutic relationship. I help people overcome trauma, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, and substance abuse, bearing in mind that these issues can overlap or involve additional problems with eating, working, or social life. I am warm, engaged, active, and flexible, balancing exploratory work with directness. I see people who know what needs fixing, and those who don’t. It is a gift to witness people emerging into the center of their own lives and finding the courage to tell their own truth.

I have been in practice for over 40 years. My clientele is multicultural and sexually/gender diverse. I hold a faculty position at the Wright Institute in Berkeley and divide my time between clinical work, teaching, and writing fiction as well as articles on meditation and spiritual practice.

I am joined in my practice by Ananda Patterson, Psy.D.


Ananda Patterson, PsyD

Emotional healing happens within supportive relationships. I work to meet clients lovingly on their own terms to create lasting therapeutic relationships that foster healing through compassionate exploration of lifelong trauma, relationship concerns, identity intersections, life transitions, and issues stemming from aging, disability, and chronic pain. My clients and I engage deeply and authentically, while also using humor, metaphor, and imagery to bring creativity and playfulness to the healing process. I welcome children, adolescent, and adult clients who are wrestling with depression, anxiety, complex trauma/PTSD, and many other mental health challenges, as well as those who are doing well and feel ready to engage in deeper exploration of themselves. I work integratively, honoring the ways our past experiences shape each of us, while actively supporting your power to heal and change the course of your life and relationships. I am particularly invested in working with our LGBTQIA+ community, especially those who identify as genderqueer, nonbinary, trans, or polyamorous. Many of my clients are coping with chronic trauma, chronic pain, physical disability, or aging.

– Ananda Patterson, Psy.D.