Rana Nashashibi

Director at Palestine Counselling Centre

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Director, Palestine Counselling Centre

Rana Nashashibi was born in Jerusalem and continues to reside there. After completing her BA in Birziet University, Rana received a Fulbright Award to continue her Masters in the United States. While in the US, Rana completed a Masters in Counseling Psychology. Upon her return, Rana started working with the Palestinian Counseling Center. In 1995 she spent a year in the United States of America with a Hubert Humphrey Fellowship program for research and career development. Upon her return Rana was promoted as a Director of the Center. Since then, and in her capacity as the director of PCC, Rana has introduced and developed new directions in the provision of mental health and counseling services in the Palestinian community. In addition, she played a pioneer role in the formation and supervision of Women’s support groups in various areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In her capacity as the PCC’s director and her contribution to the development of the mental health field in Palestine, Rana stands on many national and regional boards and steering committees such as the Palestinian National steering committee on mental health, the Arab Resource Collective whose headquarters is in Lebanon, Mehwar Center for Women violence survivors and the Popular Arts Center. Moreover, she provides supervision to several governmental and non- governmental mental health staffs. Additionally, Rana provides consultancies to the child protection Department at Palestinian Ministry of Social Affairs.

In 1997, Rana began teaching in the Psychology Department at Birzeit University and continues to be a part time lecturer at the same University. Rana has played an historic role in the Palestinian Women’s movement. She was one of the founding members of the Palestinian Women’s Working Committees, which continues to be among the active women’s organizations in Palestine. In 1996, Rana ran for the Palestinian Legislative Council elections, where she won preliminary elections for the Jerusalem area. Rana was among very few women who nominated themselves for the first-ever Palestinian elections. Rana continues to play an active role in the Social and political movement in Palestine.

Presently she is working on her Phd. degree in the use of expressive arts in therapy at the European Graduate School (EGS) in Switzerland and Lesley University in Boston USA. She has several publications both in Arabic and English.