Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Wahba-Dunkley

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?

As a Black & Indigenous woman, and child of immigrants, my dreams and aspirations have never been well received for straying too far from acceptable paths. It’s made me feel alone, misunderstood, and frustrated with myself and others. While navigating cultural and familial expectations, I’ve also had to grapple with issues of identity, wellness, and faith. With my clients, I specifically work on things like: addressing generational messages/trauma/wealth, navigating family dynamics, cultural identity and belonging, self-awareness, self-compassion, spirituality and faith, communication skills and advocacy, boundaries, navigating friendship and dating relationships, processing and healing the past, and planning for the future.

I wanted to be able to offer to other women what I wanted so badly—a safe space and support from someone like me. So I got my degree in Human Development from Binghamton University, then a Master of Education and Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Columbia University. After several years working with students at NYU and local community colleges, I began developing holistic mindset and wellness programs built specifically for women of color, supported by my certification in Spiritual Life Coaching from Transformation Academy. I provide one-on-one coaching support, group coaching membership support, and digital resources to support women in showing up authentically without fear in any space they’re in.

I feel strongly that breakthrough and growth only come when we feel safe to be open and vulnerable with someone who understands us. By pairing my lived experiences as a woman of color and child of immigrants with specialized training in multicultural, client-centered, and solution-creation counseling, I aim to create a coaching environment where each person feels uniquely known and heard.

In this judgment-free zone, we’ll laugh, cry, and never think twice about impressing each other. I invite each client to come as they are— no makeup or code-switching required!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

I wish I could say it was a smooth road, ha! There were many bumps along the way – some big, some small, but all manageable. A big struggle was showing up confidently in spaces where I knew people wouldn’t understand or would judge my profession. As I mentioned, being a child of immigrants means that I had three career options – doctor, lawyer, engineer. Not only was life coach not any of those options, it was also to people in my cultural community because working with people and wellness journeys isn’t considered important to them. I’ve learned to stop trying to change their minds, to accept that they will misunderstand, and to prioritize spaces with people who uplift me and my business. As I started doing that, I noticed that I felt less stressed about my business, less worried about other people’s perception of me, and more confident and joyful in my career choice. That has been one of the biggest game changers for me!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Rachel Ann Coaching?

In Rachel Ann Coaching, I specialize in working with Christian women of color in guiding them through incorporating God and faith into their wellness journey, in a trauma-informed, welcoming way. There aren’t many spaces to unpack and process your self-discovery journey as Christian women of color, so I aim to provide that space where there’s no shame in asking “weird” questions about faith, identity, and life. And that is what I’m so proud of – that my coaching practice is a place where no assumptions are made and there’s lots of freedom to wonder, question, and explore those “big” life questions about purpose! I offer a few different ways for folks to work with me. For people interested in long-term, intensive support I have one-on-one coaching sessions where we can dive deep into everything that’s going on in your life. For people who want long-term support, community, and have a DIY attitude, then I have my Journal Club group membership program, where members learn how to incorporate their faith into their journaling time with weekly journaling kits sent to their email inboxes and bi-weekly journaling calls. I also lead and host workshops on a variety of topics related to wellness, such as: communication and boundaries, self-care and self-discovery, dating and romantic relationships, processing and healing the past, planning for the future, navigating familial relationships, identity and belonging, and spirituality.

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?

Getting started is truly the hardest part, but once you push play, you’ll be amazed at how everything comes together! In due time, with the right support and care, you are able to navigate those difficult situations and accomplish your goals. You can trust yourself to overcome obstacles and learn from your mistakes. Befriending discomfort and mistakes is a constant as an entrepreneur; that is how you grow and create services for people that actually make a difference. I wish I knew that earlier on – instead of feeling shame or pressure to be perfect from the first day, I wish I allowed myself to befriend hard and unsuccessful moments. That would’ve helped me to learn and apply many more things in the beginning.

Pricing:

• 1-1 sessions start at $99/session
• Journal Club Membership is $16/month

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.rachelanncoaching.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realwithrachelann
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rachelanncoaching