About Dr. Divya Kannan, Ph. D, Psychologist
Training and Background
Dr. Divya Kannan, Ph.D., completed her doctoral training at the University of Memphis, Tennessee and postdoctoral fellowship at the Vanderbilt University Psychological & Counseling Center in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Dr. Kannan has supervised doctoral trainees in Psychology and Psychiatry, established her clinical practice working with adults at the Vanderbilt Psychological & Counseling Center as the Lead Psychologist for the Acute Care Team, and served as Clinical Faculty at the Vanderbilt Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department.
Dr. Kannan writes in the area of psychotherapy and counselling research and her work has been published in journals such as the Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, The Humanistic Psychologist, The International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS), Psychotherapy Research, and more.
Approach to Therapy
My therapeutic approach combines emotion-focused, cognitive, and narrative approaches, creating an integrated and personalized path for each client’s growth. By integrating these methods, I help clients gain insight and awareness about their emotions and reshape their personal narratives. This approach allows for a deeper understanding and connection to their underlying challenges and supports clients in developing resilience, clarity, and self-compassion as they move forward.
I strongly believe that true growth emerges when we find the tools to tackle the mental barriers that hold us back. The most meaningful outcome of investing in our mental health is transformation. It’s about pushing past the emotional tension and stagnation we often feel when faced with life’s most difficult and painful experiences—whether it’s anxiety, stress, grief, a sense of failure, or a deeper sense of imbalance.
Therapy is a powerful catalyst for reshaping our orientation towards ourselves and others. Through a lens of self-awareness and emotional insight, therapy creates a lasting shift in how we relate to ourselves, our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and relationships. This process empowers us to move beyond survival and auto-pilot, into a space of thriving—where embracing self-determination and wellness can become a driving force in our lives.
With a clear focus on guiding my clients to redefine their inner narratives, I help my clients with the foundational support necessary for transformative personal growth, so that they can feel empowered to approach challenges in their lives.
