Some journeys begin with a question. For Michelle Staniland and Rachael Davies, that question was, “What if we could help others live fuller lives, starting from the inside out?” That spark turned into InsideOut Wellness Academy, a thriving space where wellness practitioners are trained in skills and heart-led practice.
Michelle brings decades of experience in personal development and business coaching, while Rachael transitioned from corporate training to healing work. Together, they’ve created a community that feels warm, personal, and transformational.
Rachael and Michelle, you’ve created something truly unique with InsideOut Wellness Academy. Can you share how your individual journeys converged to form a shared mission and what values anchored your decision to build this academy together?
Michelle Staniland and Rachael Davies: Our journey to founding InsideOut Wellness Academy was built on shared experience, mutual respect, and a deep desire to do things differently in the wellness space. Both of us had walked the long road of personal transformation; we weren’t just teaching healing; we’d both lived it. After years of supporting clients individually, we recognised a common thread: so many gifted practitioners were emerging from their own healing journeys ready to help others, but they lacked the confidence, structure, and support to turn that calling into a sustainable business. That’s when our paths aligned.
At the heart of the academy is our commitment to authenticity, trauma awareness, and leading with heart, not “hustle.” We’re not interested in surface-level success; we’re here for deep transformation, both personally and professionally, and for our students. The Academy is rooted in the values we live by: integrity, community, empowerment, and a fierce belief that you don’t have to choose between being a healer and being successful. You can be both without selling your soul.
Many wellness practitioners excel at their craft but struggle with visibility and client attraction. How do you help them shift from self-doubt and overwhelm into confident, strategic business owners without compromising their authenticity?
Michelle Staniland and Rachael Davies: We always start from the inside out because strategy without self-belief doesn’t get results. Our process is designed to first support practitioners in clearing internal blocks: imposter syndrome, fear of being seen, perfectionism, and those deeply conditioned beliefs around not being “enough.” Once we’ve done that work, we can move into practical visibility and marketing strategies that feel aligned, not forced.
We teach business as a soulful, values-driven practice. We’re not about formulas and funnels that feel disconnected; we support our students in building brands that reflect who they truly are. We help practitioners regulate their nervous systems while showing up, so visibility becomes an act of service, not self-sacrifice. As they begin to trust their voice and their value, confidence naturally rises, and client attraction becomes organic.
In a fast-growing coaching and therapy space, what outdated mindsets or industry myths are you most passionate about dismantling within your community of students?
Michelle Staniland and Rachael Davies: One of the biggest myths we challenge is the idea that you have to constantly hustle or work really hard to build a successful wellness business. That mindset is deeply rooted in old, patriarchal, productivity-driven models that simply don’t work for heart-led practitioners, especially those with a history of trauma, with caregiving responsibilities, or those who are neurodivergent.
We also dismantle the “expert syndrome,” the belief that you must have everything perfectly healed and figured out before you can help others. Healing is not a destination; it’s a practice. We teach that you can lead and serve while still evolving, as long as you’re doing your own work with integrity and support.
Another outdated idea we tackle is that business is separate from intuition. We believe that your intuition, your body, and your inner wisdom are powerful business tools. At InsideOut, it’s not either/or, it’s both: strategy and soul.
Your programs emphasize both inner transformation and practical business growth. What’s one internal breakthrough you often witness that tends to spark external success in a wellness practitioner’s journey?
Michelle Staniland and Rachael Davies: One of the most powerful internal shifts we witness is the moment a practitioner truly believes: “I can do this work.” That change, from looking outside for validation to owning their voice, their journey, and their gifts, is often the turning point. It unlocks clarity, confidence, and a new sense of responsibility, not from pressure, but from purpose.
When a practitioner understands that they don’t need to fix themselves before being of service, they stop hiding. They start creating. They show up consistently. And from that place, aligned clients are drawn to them, not because of clever marketing, but because of energetic congruence. That’s where business growth becomes a byproduct of self-trust.
Collaboration between two seasoned professionals can be powerful but also complex. How do you navigate creative differences or decision-making as co-founders while staying aligned in your purpose?
Michelle Staniland and Rachael Davies: Our collaboration works because it’s built on trust, transparency, and the same emotional intelligence we teach. We’re not afraid to have difficult conversations, communication is key to our success, and we both value clarity over comfort. We regularly check in not just on logistics, but on how we’re feeling, what’s coming up, and whether something’s feeling off for either of us.
We respect each other’s strengths and give space for individuality while anchoring everything in our shared mission. When we disagree, we approach it from curiosity, not conflict, and we trust that alignment will always guide the right path forward. We’ve done the inner work to make sure our egos don’t run the show; the mission always comes first.
Looking ahead, what’s your long-term vision for InsideOut Wellness Academy, and how do you see it evolving to meet the needs of a new generation of practitioners and clients alike?
Michelle Staniland and Rachael Davies: Our vision is to build a global community of trauma-aware, heart-led practitioners who are creating real, lasting change from the inside out. We want to expand our reach while keeping our integrity intact, continuing to offer intimate, high-touch experiences alongside new scalable resources that support different learning styles, life stages, and levels of experience.
We see InsideOut Wellness Academy evolving into a full ecosystem: accredited training, ethical business mentorship, personal development, and a network of practitioners who support and uplift each other. We’re also passionate about amplifying underrepresented voices in wellness and creating more inclusive, accessible pathways into this work.
Ultimately, we’re here to reimagine what it means to heal, lead, and thrive, and to support the next generation of practitioners in doing business and life differently.
Conclusion
The InsideOut Wellness Academy is built on care, depth, and lived experience. Michelle Staniland and Rachael Davies’ paths were not smooth or simple. They faced doubt, setbacks, and the long process of finding their own voices in a busy world. Yet through it all, they helped people become who they were meant to be. Now, through their academy, they support others who feel the same call. They depict how healing starts with ourselves, and that excellent teaching starts with deep listening. This interview might be the sign you were waiting for. It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being real, present, and ready.
