Kate (Kethaki) Karunathilake, Psy.D., is a postdoctoral resident who provides compassionate, individualized care to children, adolescents, adults, and families. She earned her Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology from Nova Southeastern University, her Master of Science in Psychology from Saint Leo University, and her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of Florida. Her training spans school, hospital, and community settings, with experience in psychological assessment, therapy, and behavioral intervention.

Dr. Karunathilake completed her clinical internship at The Renfrew Center through the APA-accredited South Florida Consortium Internship Program. There, she specialized in supporting adolescents and adults with eating disorders and co-occurring emotional and mental health concerns. She provided individual, group, and family therapy in residential and partial hospitalization settings, working closely with a multidisciplinary team to support recovery.

During her doctoral training, Dr. Karunathilake also completed clinical rotations at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, providing care in inpatient settings and an outpatient dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) program. Her additional clinical experiences include comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations, school-based counseling, parent training, and behavioral interventions for children with autism and other developmental and behavioral needs.

While completing her master’s degree, Dr. Karunathilake worked in Pasco County Schools, serving as an exceptional student education teacher and later as a behavior intervention specialist. She provided intensive behavioral support in both specialized and general education classrooms, collaborating with families and educators to develop practical strategies that supported students’ emotional, behavioral, and academic growth.

Dr. Karunathilake values a warm, collaborative therapeutic relationship and seeks to help clients and families feel understood and supported. She draws on evidence-based approaches to build coping skills, strengthen emotional regulation, and translate assessment findings into meaningful recommendations for home and school. Fluent in English and Sinhalese, she brings an appreciation for cultural context and each family’s unique experiences to her work.