Director and Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Dr. Kahler (she/her) earned her Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from The George Washington University and her bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at Cambridge Hospital/Harvard Medical School and her post-doctoral fellowship in the Trauma Services Program at Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Baltimore.
Before joining Mason, Dr. Kahler served as Director of Psychology and Training at a psychiatric hospital in Washington, DC. Her clinical leadership experience also includes roles as a psychologist and clinical supervisor in an inpatient trauma treatment program; psychologist supervisor at the Washington, DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where she worked on the inpatient unit and in the trauma program; and Associate Director of Counseling at New York University in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. In Abu Dhabi, she developed and managed a comprehensive counseling center for a four-year residential campus.
Dr. Kahler’s primary areas of clinical expertise include complex trauma and dissociative disorders, as well as the assessment and management of suicidality and self-injurious behaviors. Drawing on her diverse clinical background, she also maintains a strong interest in working with international students and veterans. She has extensive experience supervising and training doctoral students in psychology. At Mason, she provides group supervision to pre-doctoral psychology interns and teaches seminars on trauma treatment.
In her current role, Dr. Kahler serves as the primary administrator responsible for developing, maintaining, and evaluating Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). She oversees recruitment and supervision of CAPS staff and works closely with campus partners to promote the mental health and well-being of Mason students. She is particularly committed to improving access to care for underrepresented students who may face real or perceived barriers to seeking mental health services. Additionally, she leads CAPS’ ongoing efforts to maintain full accreditation through the International Association of Counseling Services (IACS).