I bring to my work a steady belief in the wisdom people carry in their own minds and bodies, especially those navigating complex systems and layered identities. I aim to offer space for reflection, healing, and change.

Hi, I’m Rana.

My Story and Philosophy

I earned my counseling degree in 2010, drawn early to the emotional terrain of living in a world that wasn’t built for all of us in mind. I knew I wanted to support the inner lives of people navigating systems that didn’t fully recognize their humanity.

I didn’t enter the field incredibly self-aware or emotionally-fluent. I grew up in this work. Through clinical practice, teaching, and especially my own long-term therapy, I’ve come to understand myself in deeper, more honest ways.

Much of that growth happened in relationship, with a therapist attuned to power, oppression, and the subtle messages carried through the body, dreams, and human interaction. Her steadiness and patience shaped how I now show up for others.

I return to my own work often — not just as a therapist or client, but as someone still asking big questions. What makes life meaningful? Why do we grow, and for whom?

For me, healing isn’t just an individual act — It’s relational, spiritual, and tied to something larger than personal contentment. I believe we do this work to become more rooted, more clear, and more able to show up for both ourselves and others — for those in our personal circles, for those in our outer periphery, and for humanity as a whole. In my view, the point of therapy isn’t to become perfect or whole (we already are), but to become more honest and connected so we can live in deeper service to ourselves, to those we care for, and to the collective.

I aim to be the kind of therapist I needed: someone who holds complexity, meets you without judgment, and stays present as you find your way. If you’re ready to go there, I’d be honored to work alongside you.

learn more about my approach to therapy

  • I earned both my Ph.D. and M.S. in Rehabilitation Psychology, with a minor in Counseling Psychology, from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. My training included a strong focus on disability, identity development, and systemic barriers to care, foundations that continue to inform how I think, teach, and practice.

    Over the past decade, I’ve taught and mentored hundreds of emerging therapists in a CACREP-accredited counselor education program, where I’m a tenured Full Professor. My teaching has included courses like:

    • Multicultural Counseling

    • Psychosocial Aspects of Disability

    • Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling

    • Introduction to Diagnosis

    • Practicum in a Community Counseling Clinic

    • Internship Supervision

    I’ve also held leadership roles, including Department Chair of a high-demand graduate program and Program Coordinator of a top-ranked rehabilitation counseling program, and secured over $3 million in external grant funding to support program development, student access, and research.

  • In my faculty role, I’ve worked with over 200 counselors-in-training through a community-based clinic and have supported students in navigating the emotional, ethical, and interpersonal complexities of becoming a therapist.

    Earlier in my career, I worked directly with clients in Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) programs in both Minneapolis, MN and Madison, WI, providing intensive, community-based care for individuals navigating severe and persistent mental health challenges. That experience continues to shape my understanding of systems, human dignity, and what it means to meet people where they are.

    I am also a Level 1 practitioner in Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP).

I show up with curiosity, warmth, and a commitment to creating genuine connection.

I pay close attention to how systems shape who feels safe, supported, or seen, and I work to create spaces where people don’t have to carry their struggles alone. My hope is that in these spaces, there is room not only for what feels hard, but also for the resilience, growth, and possibility that emerge when we are truly met.

I offer free consultations to see if we’re a good fit. I’d love to hear from you.

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