Meet Rachel Seals of Movela

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Seals.

Hi Rachel, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! 😊 I’m a physical therapist, and my path to founding Movela began with a question I kept coming back to: Why is it so hard to access quality, specialized rehabilitation?

I grew up in Kentucky, earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at Mercer University, and completed a neurologic physical therapy residency at Emory. I’ve worked with people in the neuro ICU, inpatient rehab, outpatient clinics, and their homes. Across those settings, I saw how much thoughtful, consistent therapy could change someone’s daily life. I also saw how easily that care could become difficult to access. A person might need help getting stronger after a hospital stay, but the trip to a clinic could be exhausting. A caregiver might have questions between appointments and struggle to reach someone who knew their loved one.

I founded Movela Rehab & Wellness to make care feel more personal and accessible. We bring one-on-one physical and occupational therapy to people’s homes or another convenient location, giving them the time and attention to work toward goals that matter in their actual lives. We began with my passion for neurologic rehabilitation and helping older adults stay mobile and independent. As Movela has grown, our team has expanded to offer occupational therapy and orthopedic physical therapy, too.

Building a business has stretched me in ways clinical training never could, but the heart of it is still the same. I want people to feel seen, supported, and confident that improvement is possible—whether they’re recovering from an injury, adapting to a neurologic diagnosis, or taking steps to prevent a fall. Movela is my way of bringing that kind of care to people where they are.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road. I started Movela because I saw how often people needed more support than the traditional rehab model could give them. Building a practice that offers personalized care in someone’s home has meant figuring out every part of a business while continuing to care for patients. I’ve had to learn how to reach the right people, build trust with referral partners, and explain why this kind of care is valuable, especially when it looks different from what people are used to.

One of the biggest challenges has been balancing my roles as a physical therapist and a business owner. I love the clinical work, but running Movela also means making decisions about hiring, systems, outreach, and how to grow without losing the personal connection that inspired me to start it. There have definitely been moments when the learning curve felt steep.

Those challenges have also made our purpose clearer. Every time a patient tells me how much it means to have care that fits into their life, or to be able to reach their therapist with a question between visits, I’m reminded why I started. I’m still learning and building, but I’m proud that Movela is becoming the kind of practice I wished more patients had access to.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Movela Rehab & Wellness provides personalized concierge physical and occupational therapy in the comfort of our clients’ homes or another convenient location in the Metro Atlanta area. We work with people navigating neurologic conditions, balance problems, dizziness, orthopedic injuries, and surgery recovery. We also offer prehabilitation to help people build strength and prepare for surgery, along with proactive care for those who want to stay active and independent.

I founded Movela because I wanted people to experience rehab that truly fits their lives. Our visits are one-on-one, typically an hour long, and shaped around what matters most to each person—whether that’s feeling steady enough to walk outside, getting back to an activity they love, or feeling more confident at home. We can see the spaces where daily life happens and build a plan that works there. Clients can also reach out to their therapist with questions between visits, so they feel supported as they put that plan into practice.

I’m especially proud of the team we’re building. Movela began with my background in neurologic physical therapy and has grown to include occupational therapy and orthopedic physical therapy. We bring different specialties together around a shared belief: people deserve thoughtful care, genuine connection, and the chance to keep moving toward the life they want.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I am SO lucky to have the most supportive people in my life. I constantly lean on my friends and family, whether I need advice, encouragement, or someone to remind me why I started Movela on the harder days. Building a business has brought plenty of unexpected challenges, and having people who believe in me has made such a difference.

I also feel lucky to have met patients, colleagues, and community partners who believe in the kind of care we’re building. Some of those connections happened at just the right time. I’ve worked hard to create Movela, but I know I haven’t done it alone!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.movelarehabandwellness.com/
• Instagram: @movelawellness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1V8NjEXtH1/?mibextid=wwXIfr