Variety of support
About Me
Elizabeth Wolfson, PhD., LCSW, is a licensed psychotherapist in Santa Barbara, California who has been in clinical practice for over three decades. In her private practice of psychotherapy in Santa Barbara California she provides individual couples and family counseling to people of all backgrounds presenting with a range of challenges including depression, anxiety, life transition, career and relationships. She also offers Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy within her practice and Psychedelic-Supportive therapy for individuals who want to optimize psychedelic medicines they may be using outside of therapy sessions. Dr. Wolfson has a passion for and expertise in helping others optimize creativity, gain self-awareness, improve relationships, and overcome personal and professional challenges. She has served as consultant to organizations, corporations, executive leaders and other individuals in career transition and in cultivating work-life balance. She also offeres Ketamine-Assisted Retreat experiences and retreats on “Creating the Life you Seek,” and “Optimizing your Creative Potential,” as tools for self-discovery towards designing one’s future to enhance well-being and life satisfaction.
Dr. Wolfson is also trained in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy and Research, Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy, MDMA Assisted-Psychotherapy, Integrative Somatic Trauma therapy and Embodied Leadership. Until March 2023 she served as Vice President of Clinical Services for Field Trip Health, a Ketamine Assisted Therapy company with clinics in Canada and the US, in supervising clinic practitioners in applying this cutting edge approach to psychotherapeutic change.
Prior to this she was as Faculty at Antioch University Santa Barbara in positions of Chair of the Master’s in Clinical Psychology Program, where she developed programs in Healthy Aging, Somatic Psychotherapy and, Women in Leadership. Prior to that Dr. Wolfson was a co-founder of Santa Barbara Village, a membership organization supporting elders and their families in their homes. Her academic career began at Columbia University School where she taught in the Graduate School of Social Work. Dr. Wolfson has also served as Clinical Director of family service agencies where she developed award winning projects focusing on creativity and resilience beyond trauma. Her career has been dedicated to empowering individuals and developing programs and access to services for marginalized populations. Dr. Wolfson was also project associate on two documentary films which screened at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival and, served as editor of the Psychotherapy section of allthingshealing.com.
Dr. Wolfson’s current focus is on addressing anxiety, depression, trauma and other life challenges through various treatment approaches within her private practice, working from a person-center integrative perspective including mind, body, spirit community and environment. She is active in contributing to community currently providing consultation to Ketamine-Assisted Therapy companies and other organizations. She previously served as Vice President of Professional Development on the Board of the National Association of Social Workers, Santa Barbara Chapter and on the Board of Directors of Santa Barbara CAMFT (California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists).
Dr. Wolfson’s publications and presentations have explored areas of practice including; perspectives on psychedelic-supportive psychotherapy, life transition, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, compulsions, relationships, career, and other issues. As a seasoned professional with years of experience in leadership, scholarship, teaching, facilitation, and clinical practice, Dr. Wolfson offers expertise to professional groups and leaders, while working closely with clients in her practice to access their inner potential towards healing, creativity and well-being.
Some of her views on a cutting edge approach to support client growth can be understood through her recent publication in the Journal of Psychedelic Studies:
“Psychedelic-supportive psychotherapy: A psychotherapeutic model for, before and beyond the medicine experience.”
https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2054/aop/article-10.1556-2054.2022.00192/article-10.1556-2054.2022.00192.xml
Other previous affiliations:
Field Trip Health
https://www.fieldtriphealth.com
/Dr. Wolfson Launches First Somatic Psychotherapy Field Study in Costa Rica
Client Testimonials
“The work we have done together changed my life. My career and all of my relationships including with my husband, have grown in so many positive ways, as a result.”
– N.L.
“As a creative (writer) I was immobilized in my process, procrastinating and avoiding while frustrated about what I wasn’t achieving. Working with Dr. Wolfson helped me identify where and why I was holding myself back. I am already seeing my success pay off.”
– R.A.
“When I came to therapy, I was in deep grief from a major relationship loss and could not find my way out. Dr. Wolfson’s support and understanding helped me work through this time of my life to emerge as a stronger, happier and more compassionate person.
– L.S.
“The retreat was a monumental experience for me. It helped me see where I was stuck and offered me the tools to make significant changes. I am a happier and healthier person for it with lifelong tools for whatever is ahead.”
– V.D.