Real Talk, Real Tools, and Real Life
We’re excited to kick off our 2026 Moms We ❤️ series with our client, Dr. Rachel Goldman, a nationally recognized clinical psychologist, speaker, author, and media contributor. Dr. Rachel takes a holistic approach to health, specializing in the mind-body connection, and is also a mom of two navigating the (beautiful!) chaos of everyday life.
Her new book, When Life Happens, brings her practical, actionable tools to a wider audience, something she’s always been passionate about.
We recently caught up with Dr. Rachel to talk about motherhood, mindset, and managing life’s biggest transitions. Her perspective feels especially relevant for anyone navigating change (or just trying to keep up with it all).
From Therapy Sessions to a Bigger Mission
For years, Dr. Rachel worked with patients in hospitals and private practice, noticing a pattern: people weren’t lacking awareness. They were lacking a starting point.
“They knew what to do,” she says, “but they didn’t know how to begin.”
Over time, Dr. Rachel found herself returning to the same core tools again and again, helping patients break through that initial feeling of being stuck. Over time, that repetition turned into something bigger: a way to reach people beyond one-on-one sessions.
That’s what ultimately led to her book, When Life Happens, a resource designed to help people move from feeling stuck to taking action.
We’re Human First
It’s easy to look at someone with Dr. Rachel’s credentials – psychologist, professor, author – and assume she has it all figured out. But she’s the first to tell you that’s not the case.
“Even though I’m a psychologist, I’m also a mom, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and all of those other fun things,” she says. And the tools she shares? They’re the same ones she uses in her own life. “I might have the skills and the training and the education, I’m also struggling with a lot of the things that everybody else is struggling with just because life is happening.”
That’s what makes her perspective resonate. It’s not about perfection. It’s about having a framework for moving through real life as it happens.
Why Change Feels So Overwhelming
If you’ve ever felt anxious about a big life change – like, moving, for example – there’s a reason for that.
“Our brains are wired for routine, familiarity and for safety,” Dr. Rachel explains. “Anything new that is thrown our way is going to scare our brain.”
When that happens, she says, your brain goes into protection mode, scanning for threats, latching onto uncertainty, and often jumping straight to worst-case scenarios. That’s why it can feel so intense, even when the change is something you want.
In these moments, it’s important to remind yourself that, “Not all thoughts are facts,” Dr. Rachel says. “Thoughts are just thoughts.” Sometimes they’re just noise, even. And learning to separate the two is often the first real step in quieting the overwhelm.
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Reframing the Unknown: From Fear to Possibility
This, she adds, is why big transitions, like moving from the city to the suburbs, can feel equal parts exciting and terrifying. That’s when you need to check in with yourself, working towards a critical mindset shift.
“Instead of ‘This is scary,’” she says, “try ‘I don’t know what this will be like, and that’s OK.’”
It’s a subtle change, Dr. Rachel notes, but it matters. Uncertainty doesn’t automatically mean something bad is about to happen. It just means you’re in unfamiliar territory. And when you start to see it that way, it becomes a little easier to trade panic for curiosity.
Staying Grounded in Your “Why”
When you’re making a big decision, there’s always a reason behind it. More space. A better lifestyle. A new chapter.
But stress has a way of burying that “why.” Dr. Rachel’s advice: come back to it. Reconnecting with your motivation can bring clarity, reduce the feeling of being overwhelmed, and help guide your next steps, especially when everything starts to feel like too much.
It’s Not Just About the House
Part of the reason for the overwhelm? When you’re making a move, it’s easy to focus on the checklist: bedrooms, yard size, commute. But what actually shapes your day-to-day life? Connection, support, and belonging, first and foremost.
“We need community to thrive,” Dr. Rachel explains. And during times of change, that need becomes even more important. Because while a move can feel isolating at first, it’s also an opportunity to build something new, often in ways that feel more intentional than before.
That’s where one of Dr. Rachel’s favorite reframes comes in: you don’t have it…yet.
You don’t know people yet.
You don’t feel settled yet.
You haven’t found your spots yet.
“That ‘yet’ is really important,” she says. Because connection doesn’t usually happen all at once. Instead, it builds in the background of everyday life – school drop-offs, coffee runs, and impromptu conversations at the park. And more often than not, the people around you are looking for the exact same thing.
Breaking Down the Overwhelm
These big decisions, then, can feel paralyzing when you focus on the end goal — the move, the adjustment, the “what ifs.” Instead, Dr. Rachel suggests zooming in.
“What is one small thing I can do today?” Not the whole plan. Just the next step. Because action – even in small doses – creates momentum. As that momentum builds, the anxiety that once felt overwhelming starts to quiet down.
“We can’t do it all at once,” she says. Trying to, she notes, only adds to the mental load. Whether it’s asking for help, delegating, or simply taking one thing off your plate, creating space matters. Even small shifts can bring a sense of clarity and calm back into the picture.
Why We ❤️ Dr. Rachel
Dr. Rachel reminds us that navigating change isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about having the tools, the mindset, and the support to move forward anyway. Whether you’re considering a move, balancing motherhood, or simply feeling overwhelmed by what’s next, her message is refreshingly simple:
Take it one step at a time.
Stay connected to your “why.”
And don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Because sometimes, the biggest changes lead to the most meaningful growth — and that’s exactly why she’s a mom we ❤️!
Inspired by Dr. Rachel’s story? Follow @drrachelnyc for more inspiration and helpful resources.
For more client stories, visit Suburban Jungle’s blog page on our website.
If a move is on your mind, but you’re not sure where to start, schedule a free strategy call with Suburban Jungle. We’ll help you take the first step and focus on what really matters to you and your family.