About Me
My name is Racheal Nicholas
I am of Swedish, Norwegian, and British ancestry and the proud mother of a Ktunaxa son from ʔakisq̓nuk. I am also an auntie to many Ktunaxa nieces and nephews, all of whom remind me every day why this work matters. My commitment is to ensure that my son, nieces, nephews, and future generations can access health and wellness services that are safe, equitable, and culturally grounded.
With 17 years of experience across social work, Indigenous community program development and health system leadership, I bring both professional expertise and personal purpose to every partnership. My work is rooted in relationship - co-developing Indigenous mental wellness services alongside Nations and Indigenous organizations in ways that honour community voice, respect local knowledge, and build lasting impact.
My work is also informed by lived experience. I have openly shared my own mental health journey, which has deepened my understanding of vulnerability, resilience, and the importance of care that is compassionate, human, and non-judgmental. This perspective shapes how I support both communities and the people doing the work. My presentation on this can be found here.
I believe meaningful change happens when strategy and practice walk together. That’s why I focus on creating programs, policies, and partnerships that are culturally grounded, effective, sustainable and adaptable for the long term. Each project is an opportunity to strengthen connection, foster collaboration, and advance wellness in ways that truly reflect the communities being served.
Dedicated to Community Wellness
Mission
I support communities, organizations, and Nations in the design and development of mental health and substance use services, programs, and systems of care.
Grounded in relationship and informed by local knowledge, my work helps translate community priorities into practical, culturally responsive approaches that are clinically informed, sustainable, and adaptable to local needs.
Services
$150 per hour
$150 per hour
Testimonials
Racheal supported us with our supported recovery proposal that was on a significant time crunch and required detailed policies and program materials. She pulled everything together within a week and was always available to create or update whatever we needed. She was responsive, flexible, and willing to create or update any pieces needed along the way. Her support made the process so much smoother. She is a queen!
-Shawna Biron, PhD
Chief Operating Officer (Adams Lake Indian Band)
Racheal consistently brought calm, clear guidance to some very complex clinical situations. In supervision, she had a way of breaking things down so they felt manageable, while still holding strong clinical and ethical standards. What stood out most was how supportive she was of staff she genuinely cared about our wellbeing, not just the work. Her presence created trust, confidence, and a sense that you weren’t carrying things alone.
- Diane Whitehead, Ktunaxa/IH Collaborative Health Coordinator
