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Jana Rupnow Counseling

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Jana Rupnow Counseling

Jana Rupnow Counseling offers tips to help non-traditional families thrive!

10/13/2025

What an incredible parents' weekend at Rhode Island School of Design! My heart swells with happiness to witness my daughter becoming the fullest version of herself.
Her "sauna" model was chosen for the RISD Archiect department's triennial exhibit, called Entanglements. There's a gorgeous description in a photo posted in the carousel and you must read.

I couldn't help but think of the current state of things. It brought tears to my eyes. Somehow this exhibit gave me comfort, hope, even beauty, in the chaos. It showed me how everything is interconnected. How we build and destroy things, how we reorganize and re-assemble. It's like spiral dynamics.

The second piece she created, is a chess board, handmade with concrete and sculpted pieces. The project was to create a model that represented an area they toured in Providence. The chess game board represents the way people in an underprivileged urban area make a space work for them. The uneven concrete, the obstacles they must work with. Some pieces were permanently affixed to the board, showing that the game they play is often unfair, putting them at a disadvantage from the start, changing the nature of the game. When you touch the board, the unfinished concrete irritates your hands, making it uncomfortable to play. Yet you find ways to play anyway because that's the human spirit. Creativity finds a way.

If it feels like there's nothing you can do right now, do the arts.

06/12/2025

Let’s move away from the “mini me” culture.

Our kids aren’t our carbon copies. They’re their own people, with their own inner world, wiring, and ways of being. When we expect them to reflect us too closely, even subtly, we risk missing the magic of who they actually are.

It’s natural to feel connected through shared traits. But when we project ourselves onto our kids, it can quietly become about us instead of them. This dynamic, though often unconscious, where parents shape their child's identity around our own unfinished story, can cause a child to reject themselves.

There is so much joy in watching our children become exactly who they are.

If you'd like to know how to do this in every day life, check out my course, "Foster Your Child's Identity" or comment Identity for a link.

05/18/2025

Big win!! ⭐️ 🏒 The Stars earned their way to the Western Conference Finals!

04/29/2025

It sounds like your daughter is starting to explore and make sense of her story in the way that young children often do—through imagination and emotional expression. When she said it was a secret or that her dad had died, it likely wasn’t about hiding anything, but more about trying to understand where she fits in the world and what it means to have a “dad.”

You did such a beautiful job by staying curious and open, asking her if she said that because it might feel nice to have a dad. That kind of response, gentle, non-judgmental, and validating, is exactly what helps kids feel safe to keep talking.

If you’re feeling unsure, you could ask her about "a secret dad" to explore her understanding further. If you want some extra support navigating these conversations, talking with a therapist who understands donor conception can be a really helpful next step. Not because anything is wrong, but because these moments matter and it’s okay to want guidance as your child’s understanding deepens.

More Q&A available as a subscriber of this account.

04/27/2025

What an incredible day at the Spring Conference!

I can’t believe it’s been seven years since , co-founder of the Donor Conception Network, reached out to me after reading my book. Her email meant so much at the time and gave me the encouragement I needed to keep going.

Today, on International Donor Conception Awareness Day, a day I founded in 2020, I had the honor of speaking at the Donor Conception Network conference in London and I finally got to hug Olivia in person!

And not just Olivia — Nina, Yael, Jo, and so many others who now feel like close friends. Thank you to Nina and Yael for the invitation, for your incredible hard work and professionalism, and for the warmest welcome from you, Kate, Francis, and Jo. You all are truly wonderful. ♥️

04/26/2025

April 27 is the 6th annual International Donor Conception Awareness Day!

I created this day because as a therapist in the field I knew the shame and secrecy surrounding donor conception would ultimately harm the people born through it the most.

They deserve honesty, dignity, and a culture that supports open, ethical conversations from the very beginning.

So today, I invite you to post. Share your story. Use your voice! Whether you’re a parent, donor, person born through donor conception, or a professional in this space. Your truth matters and helps others feel seen.

Thank you for being part of this growing movement for truth, love, and transparency.

03/27/2025

“I’m afraid my family won’t accept our child because they’re not biologically related.”
So many of my clients share this worry with me when choosing a different path to parenthood.

It’s a valid fear, and a painful one, because deep down, we all want our children to be welcomed, celebrated, and fully embraced by our families.

But here’s a gentle reminder you can share with loved ones:
We don’t share DNA with our spouses, and we love them deeply. Love isn’t built on blood. it’s built on connection, commitment, and care.

Families don’t have to match to belong together.

And if your family struggles to understand that, it’s not a reflection of your child’s worth. It’s something in them to unpack…and they can.

03/20/2025

I recently got this question: How do I share my child’s donor conception with friends and acquaintances?

Find natural moments to share, when the topic or something related comes up in conversation.

It might feel uncomfortable or clumsy at first, and that is okay. It gets easier with practice.

Also, be ready for awkward moments after you share. Sometimes people just need a minute to process. If they do not respond or even ignore your statement, just carry on as normal.

When you share with confidence, others will follow your lead.

Have you shared your child’s story? How did it feel? I would love to hear in the comments.

03/13/2025

Willie Nelson has a way of bringing people together. People who might think they’re too different to connect. He breaks down barriers, reminding us that in the end, labels are just illusions. They divide us while lining the pockets of those in power.

I believe all people deserve love and kindness, especially those who don’t fit the mold or fall outside the majority. Our differences should be embraced, not feared. Inclusion makes us stronger, and connection is what truly matters.

Willie’s motto? Don’t be an as***le. Simple, but powerful. More unity, less division. More kindness, more music, and a little more Willie energy in the world.

02/09/2025

Anonymous donation results in fears and unknowns for parents and kids born through donor conception. Opposed any legislation that attempts to codify anonymous donation.

Anonymous donation casts a shadow of uncertainty for families built through donor conception.

❓ What if our donor turns out to be a bad person?
❓ What if they don’t want contact with my child?
❓ What if they reject my child?
❓ What if there are too many half-siblings to navigate?

Parents can prepare for the emotional rollercoaster with Making Contact—a plan to navigate these challenges with confidence. Comment link for more.

Transparency matters.

02/06/2025

About Me
I’m Jana (JAH-nah) rhymes with 🍌) licensed professional counselor, author, and deep thinker on all things identity, family, and belonging. I specialize in fertility-related issues, particularly genetically diverse families, like adoption and donor conception, and guide individuals and families through the complexities of modern family building.

As an adoptee and an adoptive mom through transracial adoption, I know firsthand how layered identity and belonging can be. My personal and professional experiences shape my work, helping parents navigate these complexities with honesty and compassion.

I wrote Three Makes Baby to help parents hold the tension of opposites—because two things can be true at once. Welcome! My goal is to inspire, teach and grow with you in this space.

Address

Dallas, TX

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 7pm
Tuesday	9am - 7pm
Wednesday	9am - 7pm
Thursday	9am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 7pm
Saturday	9am - 7pm
Sunday	9am - 7pm

Website

http://janarupnowtherapy.com/

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