Meet Dr. Rahmani, a 2020 graduate of the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (ISPP), currently making waves as a postdoctoral fellow at Benedict Psychological Services in downtown Chicago.

Dr. Rahmani’s approach is grounded in multicultural and liberation psychology, utilizing a strengths-based, multiculturally sensitive lens to comprehend individuals holistically. Her postdoctoral journey follows a diverse path, including a transformative internship at Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center in Hawaii.

Immersed in the local and indigenous community, Dr. Rahmani engaged in outreach work among Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and Asian populations. Integrating indigenous knowledge practices into individual therapy sessions, she emphasizes cultural humility, fostering effective therapy and decolonizing therapeutic approaches.

In 2020, Dr. Rahmani clinched the Outstanding Clinical Research Project award at ISPP for her dissertation, “Women’s Experience of Internalized Sexism.” Addressing the #MeToo movement’s impact, her work resonated with the experiences of women whose voices often go unheard in mainstream discourse.

Dr. Rahmani candidly highlights challenges in the field, emphasizing the need to dismantle oppressive ideas woven into psychology’s historical fabric. Advocating for a comprehensive understanding of sociopolitical contexts, she addresses the impact of politics on both clients and clinicians. She calls for clinicians to scrutinize their biases and stereotypes to be effective and unoppressive practitioners.

As Dr. Rahmani continues to integrate her award-winning research into clinical practice, she stands at the forefront of pushing psychology towards a more inclusive, culturally aware, and socially conscious future. Follow her journey as she navigates the intersection of psychology, culture, and social justice, leaving an indelible mark on the profession.