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 (licensed to practice in both California and New York). As a social worker, I adhere to a person-in-environment perspective, which means that I think of suffering and healing both as depending on the experiences we have internally/intrapsychically and those we have in the world/interpersonally. I work from a psychoanalytic and trauma-informed approach and take into account the multitude of experiences that shape being human  – 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, ableness) and position us – when trying to best understand how to work with any given individual.

In addition to my clinical work, I teach, write, supervise, present, and consult. 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.

You can leave me a confidential voicemail message at any time at (415) 890-2942 or complete 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. The closest parking garage is on Grove Street, between Franklin and Gough. I also conduct session via telehealth.