About Rachel

Rachel Rao, LPC-Associate, CPA

Founder, Mindful Ascent 

Rachel is the founder of Mindful Ascent, a workplace workshop initiative focused on helping professionals and teams maintain clarity, resilience, and effectiveness in high-pressure work environments. 

Rachel’s work and background bridge professional services and applied psychology. 

Rachel began her career as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), working in public accounting and taxation. During those years, she gained valuable experience working with dedicated professionals and collaborative teams, and developed a deep appreciation for the complexity and responsibility involved in professional service environments.

Rachel is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A) and has been practicing in a group setting for the past three years, working with hundreds of high-functioning professionals navigating stress, workplace burnout, and the demands of work and life roles. 

Her work draws on insights from psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral science, with a focus on how the nervous system, cognitive processes, and multicultural dynamics influence focus, decision-making, and communication in high-pressure work environments.

Through Mindful Ascent, Rachel translates these insights into practical tools that professionals and teams can apply in real workplace settings.

Education

• Master of Education in Counseling, University of Houston, TX

• Master of Science in Accountancy, University of Houston, TX

• Bachelor of Science in Accountancy, Winthrop University, SC

Licensure

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in Texas

• Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-Associate), Texas 

Outside of her professional work, Rachel enjoys family life with her husband, their three children, and two German Shepherds. She also spends her personal time practicing meditation, reading, and traveling.