Dr. Anahita Kalianivala, Chronic Pain Therapist
I help people transform their relationship to chronic pain and rebuild trust in themselves.
Hi there, I’m Dr. Kalianivala
(but you can call me by my first name, Anahita. Hear how to pronounce my name.)
As a licensed psychologist with advanced training in chronic pain care, I help people reconnect with their bodies, reclaim ease, and reimagine what’s possible.
My work is grounded in science, rooted in compassion, and oriented to the possibility of what it means to heal.
Licensure
Nevada Licensed Psychologist (PY0991)
PSYPACT Authorization Holder (Mobility No. 21214)
Authority to Practice Interjurisdictional Telepsychology (APIT)
Education
Doctor of Philosophy - PhD, Clinical Psychology
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Pain Psychology
Stanford University School of Medicine
As a recovering perfectionist, professional overthinker, and deeply-feeling human,
I get where you’re at.
I’ve lived many of the same patterns that can keep chronic pain going: bracing for impact, overriding my wants and needs, powering through the “shoulds.”
For a long time, I looked functional on the outside while my nervous system was vibrating with overwhelm underneath.
Those experiences are part of what led me to this work.
As a chronic pain therapist, I’ll help you understand the neuroscience behind what you’re feeling, why nervous system tools work for chronic pain, and how to apply them in ways that actually stick.
But real healing doesn’t happen from following a protocol alone. It happens through presence, pattern recognition, and learning how to be in relationship with your whole system.
This work is a container to support that process:
structured, steady, and rooted in relational safety.
My Approach to Chronic Pain Therapy
Therapy should be a space where you feel seen—
Not just as a person in pain, but as a whole human with a unique identity, history, and set of needs. My work is grounded in empathy, respect for autonomy, and a deep commitment to each person’s inherent worth and dignity.
In therapy, I’ll help you learn how to listen to and work with your body, not against it.
Instead of forcing change or trying to “fix” you, we’ll focus on:
* understanding your body’s signals and needs
* regulating your nervous system
* creating sustainable relief.
I love working at the intersection of the medical, physical, emotional, and even the spiritual.
Because healing isn’t just about “symptom relief”—it’s about reconnecting with yourself in a way that feels authentic, intuitive, and empowering.
Clinical Experience You Can Trust
Click any section below to take a closer look at my professional journey.
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Across my career as a clinical psychologist, I have placed a strong emphasis in practice on collaborating with interdisciplinary teams in order to provide comprehensive care for patients. While my recent emphasis has been on chronic pain specifically, I have also supported patients in settings like primary care, medical weight loss, and inpatient rehabilitation.
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I’ve had the pleasure of working in the VA both as a trainee and as a staff psychologist. (Shout out to my health psychology pre-doctoral internship at the Memphis VA for showing me the ropes.)
As a staff psychologist at the Ioannis A. Lougaris VA (Reno, NV) and the VISN 12 Clinical Resource Hub (based out of Jesse Brown VA in Chicago, IL), I provided specialized psychological services to Veterans. In my roles, I was able to support both chronic pain management and associated mental health concerns while working alongside other treating providers to ensure comprehensive care.
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After earning my PhD, I completed a year-long clinical psychology fellowship at the Stanford Pain Clinic (Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine). My fellowship emphasized advanced training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and biofeedback for chronic pain.
I also had the unique experience of working from home for the 2nd half of my fellowship, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which began my journey with delivering telehealth services to individuals managing chronic pain.
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Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT): Completed Basic Training with the Pain Reprocessing Therapy Institute, enhancing skills in treating chronic pain through neuroplasticity-based methods.
Empowered Relief Instructor: Certified to deliver this evidence-based, single-session pain management class developed at Stanford University.
CBT-I Consultation and Training (VA): Participated in national training initiatives for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), a gold-standard, non-medication approach to improving sleep.
If any part of this resonates, I’d love to help.
You can keep exploring in the alcove (blog) or apply to work together and see if this might be the right fit.