Kay Saakvitne

Kay Saakvitne is an Adjunct Professor at Smith College School for Social Work and a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma. She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. from the University of Michigan and a B.A. magna cum laude from Yale University.

Saakvitne's clinical and research focus centers on trauma-related disorders, vicarious traumatization in therapists, and relational approaches to treating childhood trauma. She co-authored foundational texts including Trauma and the Therapist: Countertransference and Vicarious Traumatization and developed the Risking Connection training curriculum for trauma professionals.

With over 30 years of clinical experience, Saakvitne has received prestigious awards from the American Psychological Association's Division of Trauma Psychology and the Connecticut Psychological Association for her contributions to trauma psychology practice. She maintains a private practice in Northampton, Massachusetts, offering psychotherapy and clinical consultation.