About Dr. Ramani

Ramani Durvasula, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist in California, the founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training and Consulting, and professor emeritus. She is the New York Times Bestselling Author of It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People. She is also the author of multiple other books including “Don’t You Know Who I Am”: How to Stay Sane in the Era of Narcissism, Entitlement and Incivility and Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving a Relationship With a Narcissist. She has lectured and trained therapists around the world on best practices on working with clients experiencing narcissistic abuse and has developed a 36 hour virtual training and certification program in conjunction with PESI to train clinicians on how to use an Antagonism-Informed approach with clients experiencing narcissistic relationships. maintains a program offering support and education to thousands of survivors, and is a featured expert on the digital media platform MedCircle. She also maintains an engaged online network called the Dr. Ramani Network. She has also been widely involved in the governance of the American Psychological Association, including the APA Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology and the APA Minority Fellowship Program.   Dr. Durvasula received her M.A., and Ph.D. degrees in clinical psychology from UCLA, and completed her internship and post-doctoral training at the UCLA Neuropsychiatric Institute. She completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology, with a minor in sociology in 1988 at the University of Connecticut.   She resides in Los Angeles, CA. 

  • B.S. (magna cum laude), University of Connecticut, Psychology
  • M.A., University of California, Los Angeles, Psychology
  • Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, Clinical Psychology (Minor: Health Psychology)
  • Pre-doctoral Internship, UCLA Department of Psychiatry, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital
  • Clinical Licensure, State of California – Psychologist
  • 2015 Recognition of Exceptional Service to Students – California State University Los Angeles
  • 2012 California State University, Los Angeles Outstanding Professor Award
  • 2003 California State University, Los Angeles, Distinguished Woman Award
  • 2003 Golden Key Honor Society – Honorary Member (recognition by students)
  • 2002 Innovative Instruction Award – California State University Los Angeles (“A Classroom Based Program for Individualized Research Development”)
  • 2002 American Association of University Women (AAUW) Recognition Award for Emerging Scholars (awarded to one untenured woman nationally to recognize excellence in research, teaching, and mentorship)
  • 1996 Mabel Wilson Richards Scholarship (awarded in recognition of academic excellence)
  • 1993 American Psychological Association Science Directorate Award
  • 1992-1994 NIMH Health Psychology Pre-Doctoral Fellowship
  • Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Services for Transition Age Youth Program of the APA Minority Fellowship Program
  • APA Key Contact – to Congressman Xavier Becerra (34 th District)
  • Organizing Committee: From International to Transnational: Transforming the Psychology of Women Global Summit Satellite Meeting of the American Psychological Association Annual Convention
  • Former Coordinator, MA Program, California State University, Los Angeles
  • Former Chair of APA Committee on Psychology and AIDS
  • Former Vice Chair of the APA Committee on Psychology and Women
  • Former Chair of the APA Committee on Socioeconomic Status
  • Board Member – Ganley Foundation
  • Mentor – StepUp Women’s Foundation
  • APA Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology Association

Personality Disorders, Decision Making and Sexual Risk:
National Institute of General Medical Science
R. Durvasula, Ph.D. – P.I.
1SC1MH093181-01A1

Personality Disorder and Medication Adherence in HIV+Adults:
National Institutes of Health
R. Durvasula, Ph.D. – P.I.
MBRS-SCORE GM08101

Personality Disorders and Risk in HIV+ Adults.
National Institutes of Health
R .Durvasula – PI
3S06GM008101-36S1

  • American Psychological Association
  • Western Psychological Assocation
  • Association for Psychological Science
  • Society for Behavioral Medicine