Adult Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis
About My Practice:
For over 35 years I’ve helped people address emotional suffering through psychotherapy and/or medication, with the aim of clarifying the sources of problems and facilitating freer solutions. Often people come in with a sense of something not working well or with general unhappiness they find challenging to define or understand. My style is direct, open and collaborative. I strive with warmth and empathy to foster a discussion where feelings and thoughts may be explored, better understood and practically managed so they’re less likely to cause symptoms like sadness, anxiety, loneliness, strained relationships, insomnia or physical illness. I also specialize in addressing problems with creativity, low self esteem, emptiness, lack of meaning and sexual concerns and have an interest in treating people with Autism for whom neurodivergence comes with both challenges and strengths.
In psychotherapy and when I consult about medication I create an empathic, collaborative atmosphere where private experiences may be explored and better understood with the practical goals of fostering growth and meaning, feeling better and feeling more successful in your life endeavors. Medications and/or supplements may be helpful and may also be problematic, causing side effects, so when medicine is under consideration I make sure we examine other potential solutions, weigh the risks and potential benefits carefully and follow up thoughtfully on the effects. I also believe it’s important to consider when is the right time to think about stopping medications that may no longer be helpful or are causing unwanted effects and what is the safest way to do so.
Education and Licensure:
- BA in Biology, Princeton University (Summa Cum Laude)
- MD, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons (Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society)
- Internship, Cornell University, New York Hospital
- Residency, University of California San Francisco (UCSF)
- Graduate Psychoanalyst, San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis (SFCP)
- Licensed by the California Medical Board
- Diplomate, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Board Certified in Psychiatry
Professional Affiliations:
- Clinical Faculty, California Pacific Medical Center
- Member, Northern California Psychiatric Society
- Member, American Psychiatric Association
- Member and faculty, San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis
- Member, International Psychoanalytic Association
Contact
Elizabeth Mayer, MD
Adult Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis
35 Vicente Street
San Francisco, CA 94127
Ph (415) 885-6681
Fx (951) 260-2780
