We were lucky to catch up with Rachel Wahba-Dunkley recently and have shared our conversation below.

Rachel, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you recount a time when the advice you provided to a client was really spot on? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)

I was speaking with a client about a decision she wanted to make – she was in a doctoral program and working full-time. She loved her program and her job – she was so happy and fulfilled! She was having a hard time allowing herself to be happy in these roles, by pressuring herself to find new jobs/promotions to justify her new degree. She would say “I’m sad because I love my job but I know I need to find a new one once I get my doctorate. I need something to justify the PhD.” I said “you have the right to be happy about something that is healthy for you and different than the expectations of people around you.” That light bulb changed her facial disposition, sitting posture, and tone immediately! She exhaled and felt validated in her decision to enjoy her roles and take away any pressure to “do” more. From there, her confidence and joy increased, allowing her to embrace her roles with no hesitation or any strings attached.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

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 Black & Indigenous woman 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!

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A message that I unlearned is that anything associated with my culture is healthy. I grew up learning that I couldn’t be different from what my family and community expected of me, and I couldn’t question any of the cultural values or traits I was raised with. Anything about life, faith, and relationships that I learned was unquestionably true – that is, until the times of hardship came about and the “truths” were insufficient and not bringing any answers or relief that I was promised. I started to notice a trend – when I listened to my family, community, or culture, the situation got worse. When I followed my discernment, gut, or wise counsel from unbiased people, the situation got better. I unpacked why it was hard for me to listen to my internal spirit and found that my true self was waiting there, under all the layers, waiting to be explored and celebrated.

From there, I started saying “no” and used wisdom in when/how to explain myself to others. I started pursuing hobbies that were healthy and enjoyable, even if it was “weird”. I left my stable job to pursue entrepreneurship, and stopped listening to the naysayers of my community and instead following my faith and gut intuition. Everything I learned from childhood was held up to a light and examined – I interrogated every thought, value, and stereotype. I asked myself what I actually think about it, and decided for myself what to keep and what to throw away. I love my culture, schooling, and upbringing, but it doesn’t decide how I want to live my life. I decide that, and the past is one of the many aspects that I take into consideration.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

In short, I’ve found that referrals have been the most effective way of growing my clientele. But it’s not the cookie-cutter approach I was told of strictly numbers and playing a marketing game. I coach from a place of compassionate curiosity that creates a healthy, safe, and transformative space for my clients. And because they experience this type of care in a world that’s dry and lacking, they’re refreshing revelations and ways of living that are healthy and in alignment with their values are even more impactful. This leads to my clients sharing with their friends and networks, and referring people to me. By creating this type of experience for my clients, they want to share it with others and naturally bring people in my direction.

I find that sharing parts of my life experience allows my clients to feel safe. They’re building rapport with someone who understands them, is relatable, and has some solutions to their presenting concerns. By taking some space myself and making lots of space for them, there’s a sense of ease and motivation that compels them forward.

Contact Info:

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