The mental health field has seen rapid growth in recent years, bringing greater awareness of therapies that address trauma, developmental disorders, and brain-based conditions. Few professionals bridge these areas with the empathy and expertise of Rachel Zachery Wills, BA, LPC, BCN.
As a licensed professional counselor and board-certified neurofeedback therapist at Archway Outreach, Wills has spent 14 years helping clients heal through intentional, science-based care.
Finding Purpose in Personal Experience
Wills first felt called to mental health work in high school. “When I was in the 9th grade, my parents got divorced,” she recalls. “I wanted to help other children avoid the heartbreak and despair I went through.” That early determination guided her through college and into a career rooted in empathy.
Wills earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a master’s degree in professional counseling from Texas State University, where she made the Chancellor’s List.
A Career Built on Compassion
Wills’ training didn’t stop in the classroom. “I interned at a group home with foster children. It was sad, but I learned patience, compassion and how to step outside my comfort zone,” she explains. She later worked at a drug and alcohol center for women and then at a local rape crisis center. “That year, providing free counseling was intense, but it taught me so much about vulnerability.”
During Wills’ master’s program, a friend was struck by a drunk driver. “Watching him relearn how to walk and speak sparked my interest in the brain,” she states. Later, her own health struggles deepened that interest. “I had a respiratory illness and migraines that no one could diagnose. A neurologist sent me to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, where I started neurofeedback. It changed my world, and eventually, my career path.”
Commitment to Excellence
Today, Wills works with clients experiencing autism, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. “Neurofeedback and psychotherapy help them regulate and heal,” she explains. She holds board certification and neurofeedback and is also an EMDR-certified therapist. “Working with people’s brains requires me to be meticulous. My neurofeedback certification is the accomplishment I’m most proud of.”
Wills also stays connected with professional communities through groups such as the American Counseling Association, the EMDR International Association, and the International Society for Neuroregulation and Research. “It’s important to stay informed and grow with the times,” she adds.
The People Who Matter Most
Wills lives in Midland, Texas, and is a proud mother to one son. She acknowledges that family is everything to her: “My mom, dad, husband and brother have always been my biggest cheerleaders. I couldn’t do this without the love and space they give me.” She also credits her workplace. “My boss isn’t just a supervisor, she’s like family to me.”
Outside of work, Wills enjoys supporting her community through the Odessa Arts Council and the West Texas Symphony. She also finds joy in watching baseball and spending time with loved ones.
Looking Forward: Expanding Her Impact
Wills plans to become a licensed professional counselor supervisor in the next five to 10 years. “I want to guide new counselors and help them grow.” She’s also working toward an advanced neurofeedback certification related to qEEG. “This work is more than a job, it’s a calling,” she says. “My clients trust me with their deepest pain and I never take that for granted.”
Wills’ clients often refer others to her care, a gesture she considers the highest compliment: “That trust means everything. I work hard, I continue to learn and I lead with empathy. That’s what makes the difference.”
