About Rachel

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For most of my life, teaching was more than a profession — it was a calling. I poured my heart, energy, and soul into my students, my classroom, and my school community. I loved the work deeply. But somewhere along the way, the weight I was carrying grew heavier than I realized.

I didn’t see the signs at first. Or maybe I did — but like so many educators, I pushed through them.

I told myself I was fine. I told myself I could handle it. 

I told myself I just needed a good night’s sleep, a weekend to catch up, a moment to breathe.

But chronic stress has a way of quietly accumulating until one day, it doesn’t whisper anymore — it roars.

I remember the moment my body finally said “no more.”

I was sitting on the couch in the staff room, coffee in hand, knowing I had only a few minutes before the bell would ring. I barely took a sip. My eyes stared forward, unfocused. My body felt heavy, frozen. The world around me blurred.

The bell rang. Students were waiting. But I couldn’t move.

I couldn’t stand. I couldn’t speak. 

I couldn’t even cry.

I had disassociated — something I didn’t understand at the time. All I knew was that I had crashed. Completely.

My principal wrapped me in a blanket and gently guided me to my sister’s car. I will never forget her words: “You are going to be OK, Rachel.”

But in that moment, I didn’t believe her.

I was parenting two small children who had just lost their father. I was working full time. I was coaching. I was managing homework, sports, groceries, bills, a house, and the emotional needs of grieving kids — all while ignoring my own.

I wasn’t sleeping. I was having nightmares. I was exhausted, aching, disconnected, and barely eating. I wore a smile that hid everything.

My body had been whispering for months. 

I didn’t listen. 

And so it finally screamed.

That day in the staff room wasn’t just burnout — it was trauma. Chronic stress without care, without pause, without compassion, can lead us there.

As painful as that moment was, it became the beginning of something profound.

I realized something inside me was fraying — and if I didn’t change, I would lose myself completely. I knew I needed to heal, not just survive. I needed to find a way of being that could hold both my love for teaching and my human need for rest, rootedness, and renewal.

So I began a journey — one that would reshape my life.

 I immersed myself in teachings that cracked me open and stitched me back together:

• Wayne Dyer taught me how to align with purpose.
• Eckhart Tolle showed me how to live in the present moment.
• Abraham Hicks taught me ease, flow, and emotional guidance.
• Tony Robbins invited me into the power of mindset.
• Dr. Joe Dispenza opened the door to rewiring my brain.
• Dr. Gabor Maté grounded me in compassion, somatic healing, and radical self-acceptance.
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At the same time, I pursued a Master’s in Educational Counselling Psychology, weaving together spiritual wisdom, psychological insight, and lived experience.

Slowly, I began to rise.

Through this journey, I discovered what actually worked — not just for healing, but for living. 

I learned how to regulate my nervous system, set boundaries, reconnect with purpose, and rebuild my life from the inside out.

I noticed patterns and connections all my mentors had in their teachings. They were rooted in understanding our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours, and how we can either work in resistance or flow with ease and joy.

This became Living the Lotus Way — a transformative approach rooted in the symbolism of the lotus flower.

The lotus grows through murky water.-resistance.

It rises through darkness, heaviness, and difficulty.-letting go

 And it blooms-flow with ease and joy

I realized that educators are lotuses too. We rise through challenge, grief, stress, and exhaustion — and we can bloom into clarity, strength, and joy.

I have known Rachel and worked with her for 13 years. She has taught me so many lessons both professionally and personally. Her view of life and learning is hopeful, practical and transformative.Rachel strides the balance of empathy for her students and the necessity for action and accountability. Her humour is mingled with heartfelt truths that help her clients of all ages examine their unresolved questions.

Rachel is a lifelong learner who searches for a wellness that involves introspection, awareness, mindfulness and self acceptance . Join her on her journey with Waycare. As someone who has benefited from her wisdom, you will not be disappointed.

I’m not quite sure how she does it: the magical mix of mentor, friend, colleague, counsellor, mindfulness coach, breathing lead, and overall “safe space” that Rachel somehow manages to create with everyone she works with is a rare and precious find in the field of mental health support.  To know Rachel and to work alongside her is a gift: it can come in the form of an encouraging word, an unexpected giggle, a theoretical explanation, a quiet pause of reflection, or a questioning response - no matter the strategy, her tone is always one of compassion, hope, and empathy.  Your life will be better just by knowing her, that is a promise. 

Teaching is a calling. I have no doubt about that because every day, we teachers show up for work with students despite the fatigue, the violence, the lack of appreciation and even our own personal problems. Who else understands this better than a fellow teacher? But Rachel Way is not only a teacher, she is a trained therapist with years of experience and when you feel numb, confused, or overwhelmed, you need not even say a word and verbalizes exactly what you are feeling and explains why. Her sense of humor makes learning fun and what is more interesting that learning about yourself? Her knowledge of neuro-psychology is astounding and interesting and I have no doubt that she can guide us each on our own path of understanding ourselves better thereby becoming the best version of ourselves at home and in the school. Be the teacher you always dreamed of being!

 I have known Rachel Way for the past 10 years. Her personal and professional experiences have laid the foundation for her practice as a compassionate counsellor and driven advocate for mental health awareness and initiatives. Upon meeting Rachel, one quickly acknowledges her ability to make others feel safe an welcomed with her infectious laugh, optimism and candid transparency. She has provided countless youth and adults, with the knowledge, skills and tools needed to tackle the emotional and behavioural challenges we face in today’s complex and turbulent world. 

 I have known Rachel for a few years and I consider her to be a mentor. She has helped me grow in many ways as a school counsellor and as a teacher. A notable example is that she has helped me develop my ability to effectively adapt to unforeseen situations, which is quite important when working in a school environment. I have always noticed that whether we are working on a project together or discussing a tough case, her positivity/enthusiasm always comes through and it is both motivating and contagious. If I ever need any serious advice or even just help with a few ideas that I am thinking of implementing, she has always been there. 

Rachel has been an intricate part of my growth, both as an educator and as a human being. When I first transitioned from a classroom teacher to venture into the role of a school counsellor, I felt overwhelmed, underqualified, and under confident. Rachel helped me to identify the natural abilities and strengths I already had and helped nurture those qualities by providing guidance, wisdom, and the encouragement I needed to follow my intuition and build confidence in myself.

After those first professional encounters where I was at my lowest, I continued to seek support from her. Rachel has always made me feel heard, valued, acknowledged, and supported in a way that allowed me to be vulnerable enough to find true growth. There was never any fear of judgement but rather a gentle knowing that she was there to help guide me while simultaneously allowing me the space to listen to myself. Rachel brings a balance of warmth, laughter, truth, and safety to every situation she encounters whether it be work related or related to life. She is a positive, intelligent, kind hearted human, who has dedicated her life to help others thrive, professionally, and personally. Her positivity and laughter alone have made me a better person and the wisdom she shares has equipped me to be a better school counsellor