About
Dr. Jeannelle Perkins is an accomplished author, international speaker, psychotherapist, and licensed family therapist with over 20 years of experience in relationship and life coaching. Specializing in the intersection of mental health and relationships, Dr. Jeannelle is dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate emotional and relational challenges. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communications, a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision.
As the Founder & CEO of Haruki, a Gen-AI mental health company, Dr. Jeannelle leads initiatives to provide customized emotional and relational health solutions for first responders and military personnel, helping them build resilience and manage the unique stressors of their professions. Her leadership ensures that Haruki’s solutions are innovative, practical, and tailored to support high-pressure environments.
Dr. Jeannelle is also a board member of Charleston Hope, where she contributes to efforts aimed at improving access to mental and behavioral health programs in Title I schools, supporting student well-being and academic success.
In 2024, Dr. Jeannelle took the stage as a TEDx Charleston speaker, where she delivered a powerful talk exploring how racism impacts Black intimacy within America’s structural and institutional systems. Her latest book, Into-Me-See, delves into the unique challenges Black couples face in developing and maintaining intimacy, offering practical solutions to strengthen relationships. Her academic research focuses on anxiety, depression, emotional and relational intelligence, relationship satisfaction, military trauma, PTSD, and secondary trauma.
Dr. Jeannelle is known for her keynotes, panel discussions, podcasts, and workshops. She has presented at prestigious conferences such as the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT), the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC), the Lowcountry Mental Health Conference (LMHC), the People’s Climate Innovation Center, the Charleston Literary Festival, and the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF).
Beyond her speaking engagements, Dr. Jeannelle lends her expertise as a consultant for TVOne's show _Fatal Attraction_and has been featured in prominent publications including Essence Magazine, Newsweek, Vice Magazine, and more. She has made television appearances on AFRO News, Fox 24 Charleston, and Lowcountry Live, solidifying her role as a leading voice in mental health and relational wellness.
Dr. Jeannelle’s work is driven by her unwavering commitment to helping individuals, couples, and communities build resilience, foster meaningful connections, and prioritize mental and emotional well-being in all aspects of life.
Deepening Connection
Sustaining Relationships
Every encounter, engagement, or experience we have with another person is a relationship. Strategic emotional resilience is key to establishing healthy symbiosis around the intersectionality of our personal and professional lives. By understanding the specific cultural issues affecting Black relationships, we can learn how to connect with one another on a deeper level, begin to open our hearts, and build the rewarding relationships we all seek.
Into-Me-See
Intimacy is fundamental to sustaining a healthy, romantic relationship. With true intimacy, partners allow themselves to be open and vulnerable; to discuss emotions, experiences, and needs freely. They rely on each other for safety, both physically and emotionally.
In Into-Me-See, licensed therapist Dr. Jeannelle Perkins explores the cultural and personal factors that can make it challenging for Black couples to develop and maintain intimacy. The book's title comes from a cultural idiom that describes the ability to look beyond the physical and look deeper to see the greater connection to another person. Unique among books on intimacy, Into-Me-See explores specific cultural issues affecting Black couples, including how a history of slavery and the ongoing racism in America have created relationship expectations that often work against intimacy.