Rachel Banen MSW, LGSW

she/her/hers

What is therapy like with me?
Starting therapy can feel scary and overwhelming, but we’ll move at the speed of trust so you can be yourself and talk about experiences and feelings that may seem unspeakable. My practice is centered on understanding your past and how it informs your current story, in addition to cultivating radical self-acceptance and leading a purposeful life. Let’s work together to understand the power structures that shape our experiences and how socio-economic class, education, gender, race, sexuality, and our other identities intersect within the world we live in.

I draw primarily from relational psychodynamic theory, polyvagal theory, acceptance and commitment therapy, narrative liberatory therapy, and emotion-focused therapy. I work best with clients who are experiencing: life adjustments, identity exploration, relationship challenges of all kinds, trauma, anxiety, depression, and dis/ability. I also enjoy working with clients who are navigating grief and loss, safer substance use, and self-esteem.

Experience and Education
I have a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College and a Master of Social Work from the University of St. Thomas. I have worked at the Interprofessional Center for Counseling and Legal Services and Hamm Clinic, where I received extensive psychodynamic psychotherapy training with diverse populations. I am continuing my training through the Minnesota Psychoanalytic Society and Institute (MPSI).