Ranae Van Roekel never imagined the word felon would be part of her identity. Yet after serving 36 months in federal prison for mail fraud, she refused to let that label define her. Instead, she used it as a turning point. A mother, grandmother, wife, and dog lover, Ranae is also the founder of Connecting to Cope, a platform designed to empower individuals with the tools, community, and support they need to heal from trauma and grow—no matter what’s in their past. Through her coaching, speaking, and advocacy for justice reform, Ranae has become a powerful voice for second chances.
Her journey to incarceration began long before the courtroom. When the weight of her choices became unbearable, Ranae reached a breaking point where she contemplated suicide. Instead, she chose to turn herself in, beginning a path toward accountability and healing.
Prison, rather than breaking her, became the place where Ranae finally confronted the pain she had buried for so long. With the help of therapy and a new dedication to self-care, she came to understand that everything in life is a choice—and that choosing to face trauma is the only way forward. Today, she channels those hard-won lessons into Connecting to Cope, encouraging others to uncover the roots of their pain and take small, consistent steps toward recovery.
The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway
“I think the biggest thing that I tell people when I'm speaking to them, and I guess I'm speaking to all your listeners today, right, is that do the work. Find what is causing you pain in your world, whether that be trauma, sexual abuse, drug addictions, spousal abuse. There's so many things in our world today…that can cause PTSD and trauma for so many people in our country. Do the work. Go out, find out what's wrong with you, get help, whether it's by calling somebody like me on my platform and having me help you find the people who can help you, or if I can help you, I'd be glad to help you. But we do both avenues. And again, do the work, put the work in, make yourself healthier, find some good coping skills, and dedicate some time to self-care.”
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Follow Ranae Van Roekel on Instagram: @connectingtocope
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