Elizabeth Kita, PhD, LCSW

“And the day came when the risk to remain tight, in a bud, became more painful than the risk it took to blossom…” (Elizabeth Appell)

I am a clinical social worker in public/private practice in San Francisco. Over 15 years ago – by way of working in women’s health research, community organizing, adolescent residential treatment, and child welfare – I found my way into social work: I obtained an MSW from UC Berkeley and a PhD (in social work) from Smith College.  As a social worker, I adhere to a person-in-environment perspective, which means that I think of suffering and healing both as dependent on one’s environment and the people within in. Working from psychoanalytic and trauma-informed approaches means that I also adhere to an environment-in-person perspective, and attend to the ways in which we internalize our experiences and often unconsciously recreate them. I think a lot about the multitude of experiences that shape us – where and when we are born, by whom we are raised, how we were (or were not) understood by important others around us, how the world in which we live supports or undermines us, and how our social identities (race, gender, orientation, abledness) and positionalities shape us.

In addition to my clinical work, I advise and supervise clinicians at various levels of training, develop programs, and provide consultation to both individuals and organizations. I am affiliated with: American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, Coalition for Clinical Social Work, Reflective Spaces/Material Places
San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis.  I teach in the MSW program at UC Berkeley, am the chairperson of the Coalition for Clinical Social Work, and publish and present on a range of topics related to psychodynamic social work, trauma, and social justice. You can access my CV here.

“Wherever the bird with no feet flew, she found trees with no limbs.” (Audre Lorde) 

My private psychotherapy practice is primarily focused on helping people who are struggling with the effects of trauma, complex trauma, posttraumatic stress, vicarious traumatization, and compassion fatigue. In my public clinic practice, I work primarily with people who are contending with the effects of trauma as well as those related to incarceration and long-term confinement. I’m glad to answer any questions that you have about my approach to therapy, my theoretical orientation, and what you should expect from the first few sessions.

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up [people] to gather wood, divide the work, and give orders. Instead, teach them to yearn for the vast and endless sea”.   (Antoine de Saint-Exupry)

I provide supervision to pre-licensed and licensed social workers, MFTs and psychologists.  I am qualified to provide BBS-approved supervision for ASWs as well.  I have extensive experience providing consultation to clinicians, policy makers, researchers and organizations on a range of topics including direct practice, clinical work with people who are incarcerated and formerly incarcerated, the dynamics of correctional/carceral systems, psychodynamic thinking, and trauma theory/practice (including the effects of trauma exposure on professional helpers) .  You can view a list of my publications and previous presentations via my CV here.

If you are a prospective patient, the best way to reach me is by phone; you can leave me a confidential voicemail message at any time at (415) 890-2942. You can can also complete the form below, but because of the insecure nature of electronic communications, please do not include any other personal information. If you are contacting me for supervision or consultation, please call or use the form below. I generally respond to all messages within 24 hours.

My office is located at 423 Gough Street, in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of San Francisco. Regrettably, the building is not wheelchair accessible and requires that you be able to traverse a flight of stairs. Hayes Valley is easily accessible by BART and MUNI. Street parking is ample, though more difficult during evenings when the Opera House or Jazz Center (both a few blocks away) are hosting performances. The closest parking garage is on Grove Street, between Franklin and Gough.

Due to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, I am currently conducting all sessions by phone or video only. If you are interested in beginning therapy or consultation, please feel free to reach out and I can tell you more about doing so remotely.