معرفی
Dr. Rachael D. Goodman serves as Associate Professor and Academic Program Co-Coordinator in the Counseling Program at George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD). Her work centers on trauma-informed care through a social justice lens, with expertise in historical/transgenerational trauma, systemic oppression, immigrant/refugee mental health, and disaster response outreach.
Her educational background includes a Ph.D. in Counselor Education (2009), M.Ed., and Ed.S. in Mental Health Counseling from the University of Florida, and a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She maintains licensure as a Professional Counselor in Washington, DC, and private practice specializing in EMDR therapy.
Dr. Goodman's research examines trauma and resilience among marginalized communities, particularly undocumented immigrants and refugees, using community-based participatory action research (CBPAR). Her work integrates decolonizing frameworks, mindfulness practices, and liberatory approaches to counseling education. Recent publications reveal strong trends in Central American immigrant mental health, structural stressors of illegality, parenting adaptations across cultures, and decolonizing counseling practices through social justice advocacy.
Her scientific awards include:
- Outstanding Research Award from Chi Sigma Iota (2009)
- Daya Sandhu Multicultural Counseling Student Research Award (2009)
- Emerging Leaders Fellowship from SACES (2010)
- Anselm Strauss Award for Qualitative Family Research (2020)
Dr. Goodman advises graduate students through practicum and internship courses while providing professional consultation to schools and agencies on trauma-informed systems, compassion fatigue mitigation, and immigrant family support. She co-facilitates community parenting groups with immigrant mothers and partners with Amigas de la Comunidad on housing and early education initiatives. Her grant work focuses on community-based participatory research addressing systemic barriers for undocumented populations.
She leads initiatives through Mason's Diversity Research and Action Consortium and Coordinated Educational and Wellness Services Center, developing culturally responsive models for disaster response counseling and community resilience building.
