Chronic pain that doesn’t add up?
Pain doesn’t always mean something is broken.
Sometimes it means your system is trying to communicate…
Let me guess…
You’ve been in go-mode for years…
powering through,
brushing off pain,
outrunning the alarm,
Meanwhile, your body is screaming and your mind is running in circles to fix it.
You’ve already tried everything to help…
Consults with every -ologist in town
Talk therapy, physical therapy, scream therapy
Self-help books, YouTube success stories, Reddit rabbit holes
And nothing sticks.
I know you aren’t here for lack of effort… but your system doesn’t need more management.
It needs something that actually breaks the pattern.
This is the place to finally unlearn your pain.
You’ve already tried pain management: medications, injections, surgeries, coping strategies, support groups, exercise routines.
The list goes on.
But the real work isn’t in chasing symptoms.
It’s in tracing patterns:
The physical ones that run between the body and brain and “fire off” danger signals when you move
The mental ones that anticipate discomfort, tell you what you can’t do, and try to outthink the pain cycle
The self-beliefs and stories you’ve rehearsed since childhood
The survival programs your system has been running long after the threat has passed
The hard truth about chronic pain (that I think you already know)
It isn’t solved by doing more. It shifts when your system feels safe enough to slow down.
What We Work on in Chronic Pain Therapy
You’ll learn how to:
Stop overriding and start acknowledging discomfort
Decode your body’s “alarm signals” and translate that into cues you can actually respond to
Recognize when you’re bracing, chasing, or avoiding
Learn what you can do to feel safe and at ease, instead
So you can:
Wake up without fear of moving your body
Think about making plans without a pit in your stomach
Take on the day and finish what you start, like you used to
Move your body, without worrying that one wrong turn will cause a flare
My Approach to Healing Chronic Pain
Hey there, I’m Dr. Anahita Kalianivala, PhD.
I don’t approach chronic pain as something to fix or manage. I approach it as a pattern your system has learned… and that it can unlearn.
Yes, I’m a psychologist with extensive advanced training (including a Stanford fellowship in pain psychology).
But my job isn’t to give you textbook explanations or generic coping tools.
My job is to use my expertise to create a tailored process that helps you:
understand your patterns
rewires survival responses
and build lasting change in both mind & body
Because if you’re system learned these patterns in the first place, it can learn something new.
This isn’t never-ending weekly therapy
This is a specialized and focused pathway designed to help you understand your pain patterns and start shifting them in a way your system can actually track.
It all starts with an orientation phase…
The first phase usually includes:
A 2-hour onboarding session where we map your pain patterns, history, and how your nervous system has learned them
A small series of focused weekly sessions to begin shifting how you relate to what you’re experiencing
Space to observe how your system responds, so we can determine what level of support will actually move things forward
After the first phase, we collaborate on next steps…
Because I’m not here to keep you in a type of work that isn’t actually helpful to you.
Not every approach works for every person, and I take “fit” seriously.
You deserve care that aligns with your values, your vibe, and your nervous system.
Phases of Chronic Pain Therapy
Orientation
We begin with a focused onboarding process to understand your pain patterns, nervous system responses, and what level of care will help most.
Ex: 1 session per week (60min) for 4 weeks.
Intensive
For clients needing deeper support, we meet more frequently to interrupt patterns in real time and build momentum while your system is ready for change.
Ex: 1 session per week (90min each) for 8 weeks
Consolidation
As progress builds, we focus on stabilizing what is working and helping new patterns become more sustainable.
Ex: 1 session per week (60min each) for 4 weeks.
Expansion
Support becomes lighter and more spacious as you build confidence practicing these changes in daily life.
Ex: 1 session per month (60min each) for 6 months.
While Orientation is always the first step, this work is not intended to be a prescribed or linear path.
We’ll adjust the level of support you need based on what’s happening for you, not on some predetermined course.
Clicking the button above will take you to an application page on my website that will allow you to share your interest in working together. Read more about who this work is for.
Why Nervous System-Based Chronic Pain Therapy Works
Sometimes the issue isn’t a missing tool or insight, but the way the work is held.
If you’ve tried therapy, coaching, physical treatments, or mindset work before — and pain still feels like it’s running (and ruining) your life — you don’t need more willpower.
You need a different kind of support.
This is therapy for your whole system:
your nervous system conditioning
your coping strategies
your beliefs
your emotional reflexes
Here’s what I believe:
Lasting change isn’t about doing more.
It’s about working at the right level, in the right way, at the right time.
This Work Is For You If…
You want support that works with your nervous system and your emotional functioning, not just with your thoughts
You’ve tried everything from PT to CBT, and nothing has really shifted
You’re tired of managing symptoms alone and want help getting to the root of the pattern
You feel like something deeper is running the show, and you’re over trying to work through it alone
You’re tired of “seeming fine” on the outside and feeling depleted on the inside
You don’t want to have to explain or justify your pain to be taken seriously
You’re willing to slow down and be curious, even if you’re skeptical
You want support that’s both body-aware and emotionally intelligent
You’re ready to stop overriding your body’s signals and start responding differently
This May Not Be the Best Fit If…
You’re in acute emotional or physical crisis and need stabilization before doing deeper pattern work
You’re not comfortable using Zoom or learning a few simple tech tools like Google Drive or WhatsApp
You’re looking for a quick technique to eliminate pain without exploring the patterns underneath it
You’re committed to a biomedical view of pain and not open to exploring mind-body work
You want primarily cognitive insight work without engaging your nervous system or behavior
You’re only looking for short-term symptom control
Take the first step toward relief.
Start a conversation with me by submitting a quick form.
The next step is completing a short form (just 3–5 minutes) to give me a snapshot of what you’re experiencing, so when we connect, we can focus on what matters most to you.
I review each inquiry personally to be thoughtful about fit and timing. If it seems like a potential match, I may reach out with next steps or with a few additional questions.
If you’d rather reach out directly, you can call or text (775) 235-2406.
Therapy services are fully virtual.
All sessions are held over secure video so you can access care from wherever you are—even on hard days.
*Dr. Kalianivala is a licensed psychologist in Nevada and eligible to provide online teletherapy to residents of PSYPACT states. Check your state for eligibility here.
You don’t have to keep doing this alone.
If something in you knows it’s time for a different path—or if you just took the deepest exhale you’ve had in a while,
I’m here.
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