Hayley Kast is a licensed professional counselor, clinical supervisor, evaluator, and specialist in the assessment and treatment of problematic sexual behaviors. With more than 25 years of experience in behavioral health and specialized sexual behavior treatment, she has built her career around understanding complex behavioral concerns, evaluating risk, developing effective treatment approaches, and helping individuals and families move toward safer, healthier outcomes.

​

Dr. Kast earned her Doctor of Education in Professional Counseling and Supervision and her Specialist in Education in Community Counseling from the University of West Georgia, along with a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University. She also holds bachelor's degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice from the University of Georgia. Her interdisciplinary educational background informs her work at the intersection of mental health, behavioral intervention, forensic assessment, and public safety.

​

Through Response and Prevention Counseling, Dr. Kast provides psychosexual evaluations and risk assessments for adolescents and adults, individualized and group treatment for problematic sexual behaviors, and general mental health counseling. Her evaluation experience includes assessing sexual reoffense risk, developing treatment recommendations, and providing expert testimony in legal proceedings. She also supervises associate counselors pursuing licensure and supports the development of clinical professionals.

​

Throughout her career, Dr. Kast has held positions in residential treatment, community mental health, forensic assessment, and clinical leadership. She served for more than eight years as a Clinical Evaluator with Georgia's Sexual Offender Risk Review Board, conducting research-informed risk assessments, determining risk classifications under the Board's statutory framework, and providing expert testimony. As Clinical Director of Haralson Behavioral Health Services, she supervised clinicians, supported regulatory and accreditation reviews, and oversaw clinical services in a community behavioral health setting.

​

More recently, Dr. Kast was contracted by KidsPeace to substantially redesign the programming and clinical protocols for its sexualized behavior unit. This work involved reworking the unit's programming and protocols to strengthen the clinical framework guiding treatment and care. Her role reflects experience not only in direct clinical services, but also in program development, clinical systems, staff consultation, and the implementation of structured treatment approaches in residential settings.

Dr. Kast's clinical work draws on cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, risk-needs-responsivity principles, and the Good Lives Model. She approaches problematic sexual behaviors through a framework that recognizes the importance of accountability, individualized intervention, risk reduction, and the development of healthier behavioral patterns.

​

An important part of her work is making specialized treatment accessible to adults who recognize concerns about their own sexual thoughts or behaviors and want professional help. Individuals do not have to wait for an arrest or legal involvement to begin addressing problematic patterns. Dr. Kast provides a professional setting in which clients can explore concerns, understand contributing factors, develop practical strategies for change, and work toward responsible, safer behavior.

​

Dr. Kast has maintained longstanding involvement in professional organizations dedicated to sexual abuse treatment and prevention. She has been a clinical member of the Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse (ATSA) since 2006 and is an ATSA Fellow. She has also served on the board of the Georgia Association for the Treatment and Prevention of Sexual Abuse, including as its president from 2018 to 2019. Her professional contributions include presentations and trainings on adolescent sexual behavior problems, risk assessment, treatment, family systems, reunification, and sexual abuse prevention.

​

Through her work at Response and Prevention Counseling, Dr. Kast brings together decades of clinical experience, specialized forensic knowledge, and a commitment to thoughtful, individualized assessment and treatment. Her goal is to provide meaningful clinical guidance, support behavioral change, and help individuals, families, and professionals make informed decisions about treatment, safety, and long-term well-being.