About Kate
Dr. Kate Avinger provides play therapy for children and adolescents, including parenting guidance when needed, and uses a variety of therapeutic approaches with adolescents and adult trauma survivors. She conducts individual and family therapy with children, adolescents, and adults. Her areas of specialty include the treatment of emotional and behavioral disorders of childhood and adolescence, trauma and childhood sexual abuse, depression, anxiety disorders, stress management, behavior modification, adjusting to life changes, coping with sexual minority status, and assisting with the parenting of neurodivergent people. She celebrates diversity, and welcomes clients of any race, background, belief, gender and orientation. She also makes use of additional community resources to enhance treatment.
If you’re considering therapy for yourself or your child, life is already challenging enough without having to worry about being judged by your therapist! In Dr Avinger’s office you will find a safe space to be real about what’s going on, and to hear down-to-earth and proven strategies, without any harsh judgment.
If you’re dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, or feelings of rejection, coping can be an ongoing struggle, and the therapy room can be your safe place to be real about your pain and your problems, so that you can heal.
Parenting isn’t one size fits all, so Dr. Avinger routinely customizes parenting strategies to fit each particular client and household.
For children and the young at heart, play therapy provides a “language” for working through big feelings when you just can’t find the words.
Dr Avinger often acts as a sort of ambassador to school systems, translating the meaning or causes behind a child’s patterns of behavior and recommending just the right accommodations to let each child shine.
Originally from the suburban foothills of North Carolina, Dr. Avinger obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in psychology from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During graduate school, she completed two part-time internships (practica): One at what is now the Children’s Center for Hope and Healing, conducting individual and group therapy with child and adolescent victims of sexual abuse, and the other was conducting, scoring, interpreting and writing psychological evaluations under the supervision of Dr. Robyn Hans (now Pichler) in Gainesville, Georgia. Before obtaining her doctorate, Dr. Avinger completed a full-time APA accredited internship in clinical psychology at Morrison Child and Family Services in Portland, Oregon. This internship included therapy with children, adolescents and their families, conducting psychological evaluations, and work with incarcerated youth. She obtained both her Master of Arts degree and Doctorate of Clinical Psychology (PsyD) degree, with a Child and Family specialty, from Argosy University in Atlanta.
Dr. Avinger then completed her 1500-plus hour postdoctoral training with Harvey Gayer, Ph.D. of Positive Outcomes Psychological Services in Athens, Georgia. She became a licensed psychologist in Georgia in 2006. Dr. Avinger’s practice was located in the offices of Positive Outcomes for over 18 wonderful years, from 2006 to 2025. In 2025, the consortium associated with Positive Outcomes disbanded amicably, and Dr. Avinger joined Dr. Jon Harvey, Dr. Whitney Calhoun, and Ms. Gina Defalco, LCSW, at the offices of Olive Branch Counseling and Consulting, which is also in Athens, Georgia. She is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and Georgia Psychological Association (GPA).
To schedule an appointment on an encrypted phone line, it is best to contact Dr. Avinger at 706-445-3761. Please only call between 8AM and 8PM, EST.