PTSD & Trauma Therapy

When the past won't stay in the past, I'm here to help you find peace

Book an assessment call

Book an assessment call

Understanding Trauma

If you're here, you know what it's like when your body and mind react as if something dangerous is happening right now, even when you're safe. The flashbacks, nightmares, or that constant feeling of being on edge. The way certain sounds, smells, or situations can transport you right back to the worst moment.

But here's what might surprise you: trauma isn't just about what happened to you. It's about how your mind and body learned to protect you - and sometimes those protection systems get stuck "on" even when the danger is over.

What you'll discover:

  • Why your body reacts the way it does to triggers

  • How trauma affects your thoughts, not just your emotions

  • Why some memories feel more "present" than others

  • The difference between managing symptoms and actually healing

I'm comfortable working with trauma of all kinds - from single incidents to childhood experiences that shaped how you see the world. Every person teaches me something new, and I believe everyone deserves therapy that creates genuine safety.

Read detailed bio & publications

Read detailed bio & publications

Read detailed bio & publications

How my approach works

From insight to impact. My process makes it accurate, educational, and effective!

You'll learn to understand your patterns instead of just coping with them.

How my approach works

From insight to impact. My process makes it accurate, educational, and effective!

You'll learn to understand your patterns instead of just coping with them.

1

Map Your Patterns

We use a whiteboard to track your triggers, responses, and safety strategies. You'll see exactly how trauma shows up in your daily life.

2

3

1

Map Your Patterns

We use a whiteboard to track your triggers, responses, and safety strategies. You'll see exactly how trauma shows up in your daily life.

2

Understand the Why

I'll help you understand your mind like a therapist does. We'll explore how your brain learned to protect you and why those systems sometimes misfire.

3

Reclaim Safety

You'll learn to distinguish between real danger and trauma responses, building genuine safety in your body and mind, not just your environment.

1

Map Your Patterns

We use a whiteboard to track your triggers, responses, and safety strategies. You'll see exactly how trauma shows up in your daily life.

2

Understand the Why

I'll help you understand your mind like a therapist does. We'll explore how your brain learned to protect you and why those systems sometimes misfire.

3

Reclaim Safety

You'll learn to distinguish between real danger and trauma responses, building genuine safety in your body and mind, not just your environment.

Welcome, let me introduce myself!

Dr. Mark Balabanis PhD

I'm a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Psychologist in practice for over 20 years.

I like to teach the "why" and the "how it works" behind your difficulties. This allows you to feel empowered to join me as a co-therapist while being supported and coached by me.

Lectured at:
Welcome, let me introduce myself!

Dr. Mark Balabanis PhD

I'm a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Psychologist in practice for over 20 years.

I like to teach the "why" and the "how it works" behind your difficulties. This allows you to feel empowered to join me as a co-therapist while being supported and coached by me.

Lectured at:
Welcome, let me introduce myself!

Dr. Mark Balabanis PhD

I'm a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Psychologist in practice for over 20 years.

I like to teach the "why" and the "how it works" behind your difficulties. This allows you to feel empowered to join me as a co-therapist while being supported and coached by me.

Lectured at:

The benefits

Signs This Approach Could Help You

Most therapy teaches you to cope with symptoms. I teach you to understand why your mind creates them in the first place.

Book an assessment call

Previous therapy experiences:

  • Exposure therapy felt too overwhelming or retraumatizing

  • You've tried multiple approaches without feeling truly safe

  • Therapy focused only on the traumatic event, not how it affects you now

  • Therapists seemed uncomfortable with your specific trauma

Current struggles:

  • You feel like you're stuck in survival mode

  • Trauma is affecting your relationships or ability to function

  • You want to understand why your body reacts the way it does

  • You feel like the past is controlling your present

Readiness for change:

  • You're ready to understand your trauma responses, not just manage them

  • You want to feel genuinely safe, not just cope with triggers

  • You're willing to go at a pace that feels manageable

  • You're looking for a therapist who won't rush you through healing

The benefits

Signs This Approach Could Help You

Most therapy teaches you to cope with symptoms. I teach you to understand why your mind creates them in the first place.

Book an assessment call

Previous therapy experiences:

  • Exposure therapy felt too overwhelming or retraumatizing

  • You've tried multiple approaches without feeling truly safe

  • Therapy focused only on the traumatic event, not how it affects you now

  • Therapists seemed uncomfortable with your specific trauma

Current struggles:

  • You feel like you're stuck in survival mode

  • Trauma is affecting your relationships or ability to function

  • You want to understand why your body reacts the way it does

  • You feel like the past is controlling your present

Readiness for change:

  • You're ready to understand your trauma responses, not just manage them

  • You want to feel genuinely safe, not just cope with triggers

  • You're willing to go at a pace that feels manageable

  • You're looking for a therapist who won't rush you through healing

The benefits

Signs This Approach Could Help You

Most therapy teaches you to cope with symptoms. I teach you to understand why your mind creates them in the first place.

Book an assessment call

Previous therapy experiences:

  • Exposure therapy felt too overwhelming or retraumatizing

  • You've tried multiple approaches without feeling truly safe

  • Therapy focused only on the traumatic event, not how it affects you now

  • Therapists seemed uncomfortable with your specific trauma

Current struggles:

  • You feel like you're stuck in survival mode

  • Trauma is affecting your relationships or ability to function

  • You want to understand why your body reacts the way it does

  • You feel like the past is controlling your present

Readiness for change:

  • You're ready to understand your trauma responses, not just manage them

  • You want to feel genuinely safe, not just cope with triggers

  • You're willing to go at a pace that feels manageable

  • You're looking for a therapist who won't rush you through healing

The difference

Blending talk and interactivity for better success

The difference

Blending talk and interactivity for better success

Talk Therapy

Talk and epression for its own sake

Talk and epression for its own sake

Explores how you feel

Explores how you feel

You talk and your therapist listens

You talk and your therapist listens

Non-directive

Non-directive

My Approach

Personalized Plans

Personalized Plans

Learn how you can change how you feel

Learn how you can change how you feel

We actively work together

We actively work together

Goal-oriented

Goal-oriented

In-person and Remote

In-person and Remote

1 Hour session

1 Hour session

A blend of talk and active therapy

A blend of talk and active therapy

Continued ongoing support

Continued ongoing support

Book a session

Book a session

Book a session

Frequently asked Questions

Need some frequently asked questions here

Do I have to talk about the traumatic event in detail?
What if I don't remember everything that happened?
How is this different from EMDR or exposure therapy?
Do you take insurance?
Do you take insurance?
Do you take insurance?
Do I have to talk about the traumatic event in detail?
What if I don't remember everything that happened?
How is this different from EMDR or exposure therapy?
Do you take insurance?
Do you take insurance?
Do you take insurance?
Do I have to talk about the traumatic event in detail?
What if I don't remember everything that happened?
How is this different from EMDR or exposure therapy?
Do you take insurance?
Do you take insurance?
Do you take insurance?
CBT Oakland, CA

Dr. Mark Balabanis

© 2025. CBT Oakland, CA

CBT Oakland, CA

Dr. Mark Balabanis

© 2025. CBT Oakland, CA

CBT Oakland, CA

Dr. Mark Balabanis

© 2025. CBT Oakland, CA

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