Meenaxi Palaniappan, PhDAssociate Partner
Licensed Psychologist, Georgia License No. PSY 004291 Contact: 415-320-7183
Welcome to My Psychotherapy Practice
In today’s world of tik tok therapy (no shade, I value the easy access to information), it can be easy to self-diagnose mental health concerns. And then, there are so many opinions about what is the best therapeutic modality for your particular concern - how do you choose? Several mental health concerns (e.g. anxiety, depression, PTSD, OCD, disordered eating, sexual functioning challenges, personality disorders) can often be distilled down to relational injuries. As such, I believe (and this is supported by research - look up “common factors in therapy”) that healing comes from the authentic, mutual, growthful connection between the therapist and client.
Said another way - the antidote to acute or chronic disconnection, grief, trauma, pain or isolation may lie in building meaningful relationships that are different from the ones that have brought you suffering. I see my role as your therapist to get down in the mud and get messy with you as we figure out how to co-create a relationship that is open, genuine, mutual, and different; and to support you in deconstructing and reconstructing your world in a way that is aligned with your identities, values, and needs.
About Meenaxi Palaniappan
Dr. Meenaxi earned her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Florida, where her research focused on sex therapy and women’s sexual pleasure. She trained at an anxiety and OCD clinic, several university counseling centers, and a community crisis response center. She spent 6 years as a staff psychologist at Dartmouth College and Emory University prior to transitioning full time to private practice.
As a millennial, immigrant, woman of color, Dr. Meenaxi deeply values social justice in her personal and professional life. She is passionate about RCT (Relational Cultural Therapy), and is involved in training and supervision for other clinicians interested in RCT. She also draws from Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) and somatic practices.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Counseling Psychology, University of Florida - Gainesville, 2017
M.S. Counseling Psychology, University of Florida - Gainesville, 2014
B.A. Psychology, University of San Francisco, 2012
Growing in Connection
Relationships have always been my most cherished investments - even before I was a therapist who could articulate why. In fact, I invested in my relationships to a fault, struggling to let go when they were past their expiry date. RCT (Relational Cultural Therapy) was a natural fit for me, in that I believe that we grow in and towards connection and interdependence, rather than growing through independence and separation. In fact, growing towards connection increases our sense of autonomy. As I grew as an RCT therapist, I realized that the quality of the relationships that consumed most of my mental space was an important predictor of my well-being. This helped me evaluate, set expectations, and do something different in my draining relationships (*cough* Instagram *cough*). I learned that the magic is in nurturing growth-fostering relationships - characterized by mutual empathy, with room to get hurt and repair, and to share joy, energy and creativity. This sounds lovely, but negotiating these relationships have often been messy and complex, and I've found that building relational safety is the foundation. For me, relational safety means feeling seen in my identities, and aligning in values around conflict, equity and access.
Why am I sharing this little piece of my relational journey with you? My hope is that you will see that I am a relational being, just like you, and that together we can establish an authentic, growth-fostering connection that gives your brain the safety it needs for us to co-create an authentic therapeutic space, and the dopamine it needs to motivate the growth you are seeking.
Relationship and Sex Therapy
My positionality as a relational cultural therapist (i.e. a person who values the complexity in relationships) translates to my passion for working with relational concerns. Often, we are hurt in relationships, but try to heal ourselves alone. Isn't this counterintuitive? I believe that healing relational hurt within relationships can be transformative, and what better relationships to practice relational healing than the intimate ones that you value deeply? I trained in and practice relationship therapy from Emotion Focused Therapy (EFT) lens, in part because this was the modality that transformed the quality of my own marriage.
I offer sex therapy within relationship therapy (i.e. with partners), or for individuals. When thinking about our sexual selves, I love Emily Nagoski’s garden metaphor (look it up!). Our sexual selves are influenced by so many things - our families, trauma, porn, body image, partners, etc. - and yet, she/they/he is often hidden away, even from ourselves and our intimate partners. I am a strong advocate for sexual pleasure (and finding out what this means for you or your relationship), and I tend to question societal metrics and messages around orgasm, frequency, and spontaneous desire. I know talking about sex with a therapist can be vulnerable and strange, and while there is no rush to get there, I truly believe that your sexual self deserves to thrive!