Rachel Goldman, Ph.D., FTOS, FASMBS-IH (also known as Dr. Rachel) is a nationally recognized licensed psychologist, speaker, and media contributor with expertise in the mind-body connection. She takes a holistic approach to health, specializing in stress management, eating behaviors, the treatment of obesity, and health behavior change. As a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Dr. Rachel is an expert in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and frequently appears in the media, including on-camera segments and alongside Oprah.
Dr. Rachel served as a consultant for the film The Whale and is often quoted in major publications such as The New York Times, TIME, CNN, USA Today, and Women’s Health. She is also a member of the Wellness Board for Verywell, a peer reviewer for academic journals, and provides consulting services to professionals and corporations on topics like stress management, self-care (and preventing burnout), health behavior change, and eating behaviors. She leads corporate wellness programming and workshops , offering expert guidance in these areas.
In her role at NYU, Dr. Rachel supervises psychiatry residents and provides didactic training in CBT and obesity treatment. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ, and completed both a Pre-Doctoral Clinical Internship in Behavioral Medicine and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship specializing in Obesity and Bariatric Surgery at the Medical University of South Carolina.
From 2011 to 2016, Dr. Rachel served as Senior Psychologist at Bellevue Center for Obesity & Weight Management at Bellevue Hospital, conducting over 5,000 pre-surgical psychosocial evaluations and providing follow-up care to patients across a spectrum of needs, from immediate post-surgery care to long-term support. She has facilitated treatment groups on topics such as binge eating, emotional eating, stress reduction, general behavior change, relationship adjustments, and psychological well-being.
A sought-after speaker, Dr. Rachel is regularly featured as an expert in media outlets and on radio shows. She was an expert panelist with Oprah (3 times!) on the topics of obesity, body image, and CBT. She has appeared on SiriusXM’s Doctor Radio, discussing issues related to weight loss struggles, stress, disordered eating, and health behavior change. Her work was highlighted in the June 2016 APA Monitor on Psychology.
Dr. Rachel has also been a leader in various professional organizations. She served as Chair of The Obesity Society Early-Career Member Committee for three years and was a member of the Program Committee. She has been involved with the Integrated Health Executive Council of the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, currently serves as Co-Chair of the Communications Committee, and received the Distinguished Behavioral Health Provider Award in 2023.
With additional training in sport psychology, Dr. Rachel has volunteered with nonprofit organizations promoting healthy lifestyles for athletes and children. She was the Event Co-Leader for the NYC ASMBS Walk from Obesity in 2014, 2015, and 2019, and has participated in the 2007 and 2013 NYC marathons, several half marathons, and a sprint-distance triathlon. She continues to lead an active lifestyle in NYC with her husband and two children, focusing on helping others make positive behavioral changes to live healthier, happier lives.
photo: Robert Adam Mayer