Dr. Katie E. Hale

Background

I was born and raised in Georgia, so I have a strong connection to the Peach State and its diverse people. During and after college, I travelled internationally to study, teach, research, and work in non-profit. When I returned to the Atlanta area to start a family, I worked in immigration law for several years before beginning a career in psychology.

At Georgia State University, I earned a dual doctoral degree in clinical and community psychology. I often think about the complimentary nature of these fields with a gardening metaphor: a thriving garden needs strong, healthy individual plants (clinical psychology/therapy) and rich, fertile soil (community psychology/program development). Each has a profound effect on the other just like individual people affect and are affected by their environment. I enjoy working with individuals, families, and organizations who are willing to address problems and strengthen assets at the individual and environmental levels.

Outside of work, I love to spend time with my children, husband, and our large extended family. We garden, hike, and find any reason to celebrate. I also enjoy reading, running, and volunteering with OCD Georgia, Atlanta Behavioral Health Advocates, Georgia Psychological Association, and other community organizations.

Ready for a free telephone consultation?

phone: 770-415-5446
email: katie@lumenguidance.com

Contact Dr. Hale

What is it like working with me in psychotherapy?

The core components to successful therapy are  open communication and a warm, trusting relationship. I will prioritize this relationship from our very first call where alliance, insight, and hope can begin to emerge. At the beginning of therapy, we’ll talk all about you as a person, your social networks, and your current challenges and strengths, which will help us understand the biological, psychological, and sociological factors we will address. I practice from an integrated therapy orientation, which includes Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). I also draw from multicultural and family systems theories, which focus on the contributions of individuals’ social identities and realities to their current functioning. If there is a particular orientation or theory within which you prefer to work, I am happy to accommodate your preferences as long as they fall within the bounds of effective and ethical practice. My goal is to help empower you with  autonomy, wholeheartedness, and meaningful connection to guide you toward a value driven life.

Who do I work with in therapy?

I work with adolescents (at least 13 years old), adults, couples, and families in Georgia and several other states. I specialize in treating obsessive compulsive, trauma, and anxiety-related disorders with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), and treating parental mental health issues (e.g., perinatal OCD, depression, and anxiety, infertility, traumatic birth); but, I really enjoy working with people with a variety of concerns, including:

  • Social, identity, and relationship difficulties
  • Depression
  • Anxiety (e.g., specific phobia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder)
  • Trauma-related disorders (e.g., PTSD)
  • Obsessive compulsive and related disorders
  • Grief and loss
  • Chronic pain
  • Addiction

What is it like working with me in program evaluation and development?

Similar to my approach to therapy, I believe that building a strong, collaborative relationship with organizations is the foundation to successful program evaluation and development. Regardless of whether we’re evaluating a long standing-program or helping develop a brand new one, I will prioritize a respectful, open, and equitable relationship. I acknowledge that you along with your partners and stakeholders are the experts in your specific communities. My goal is to help you translate your vision and expertise into effective programming and develop a plan to overcome challenges that arise along the way.  This includes partnering to understand the goals of the program, the desired community impact, and the precise mechanisms of change driving outcomes.  I value the role that quantitative data plays in the scientific process of evaluation, and I believe the numbers have to be communicated in the context of lived experience to be meaningful. Therefore, I often prefer to use a mixed-methods approach (i.e. quantitative and qualitative data). My hope is that you will gain the information and tools you need for an effective, efficient, and impactful program through our partnership.

What are my professional credentials?

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Service Psychology, Emory University
PhD in Clinical and Community Psychology, Georgia State University
Predoctoral Clinical Internship in Health Service Psychology, Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center
MA in Clinical and Community Psychology, Georgia State University
BS in Psychology, University of Georgia Honors Program

If you’d like to learn more, review my Curriculum Vitae.