“Dr. Rachel gets it. She knows exactly what it feels like to be stuck, overwhelmed, and burned out by the pressure to do everything. When Life Happens isn’t another self-help book ― it’s the reset that snaps you out of the spiral and gets you moving forward with confidence.”
―Mel Robbins, The New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast
“Dr. Rachel reminds us that resilience isn’t about avoiding challenges―it’s about how we meet them. This book will leave you feeling empowered, understood, and ready to take action, no matter what life throws your way.”
―Jessica Zucker, PhD, psychologist and award-winning author of Normalize It and I Had a Miscarriage
“Dr. Rachel blends science, compassion, and practical strategies to show us how to shift our mindset, regain focus, and keep moving forward―just like in running, the real growth comes in how we navigate the tough miles.”
―Shannon Rowbury, 3-time Olympian, Olympic Bronze Medalist, and author of Strong as a Mother
“When Life Happens is a compassionate and practical guide for anyone navigating stress, burnout, or major life transitions. Dr. Rachel provides us with a clear roadmap, giving strategies and tools along the way to help us skillfully navigate the peaks and valleys we face on the way to personal growth. This book is refreshing, relatable, and exactly what we all need when life gets messy.”
―Yung Pueblo, New York Times bestselling author of Lighter
“When Life Happens is the ultimate reset for anyone feeling stuck or stressed. Dr. Rachel Goldman combines science and heart to help readers reframe their thoughts, rebuild confidence, and move forward with purpose.”
―Meaghan B Murphy, author of Your Fully Charged Life and editor in chief of Woman’s Day
“Dr. Goldman had me at the first sentence: ‘Life is tough, but it doesn’t have to feel quite as tough.’ Such a beautiful, practical guide to replacing unproductive mindsets with greater wisdom and kindness as we face life’s inevitable challenges. A gift to all who read it!”
―Glenn R. Schiraldi, PhD., Lt. Colonel (U.S. Army, ret.), founder of Resilience Training International, and author
“Reading When Life Happens feels like having coffee with your smartest, kindest friend―one who also happens to be a brilliant psychologist armed with real, actionable tools. In a world full of self-help books, this one truly stands out for its realistic approach, genuinely helpful advice, and the way Dr. Rachel makes CBT feel both FUN and doable.”
―Terri Bacow, PhD, author of Goodbye, Anxiety: A Guided Journal for Overcoming Worry
“Both insightful and practical. Dr. Rachel not only inspires you to change―she shows you how.”
―Dr. Julie Smith, clinical psychologist; New York Times and Sunday Times million-copy bestselling author
“When Life Happens delivers what so many self-help books promise but fail to provide: a sustainable framework that balances cognitive tools with self-compassion, explicitly acknowledges the mental load women carry, and offers a path forward that doesn’t require perfection. Dr. Rachel Goldman meets you where you are―stuck, exhausted, overwhelmed―and shows you how to actually move through it.”
―Ellen Vora, MD, psychiatrist and author of The Anatomy of Anxiety
“This book is like having Dr. Rachel in your corner―calm, supportive, and reminding you how capable you really are. Her tools and mindset shifts make everything feel doable. When Life Happens is the reminder we all need that change is possible.”
―Laura Geller, founder of Laura Geller Beauty
“When Life Happens is an essential read for anyone seeking to make meaningful and lasting change in their lives. With empirically based, real-world tools, Dr. Rachel helps readers understand their behavior patterns, reframe their perspective, and feel confident in their abilities to take healthy action in their lives.”
―Jaime Zuckerman, PsyD, licensed clinical psychologist
“As a clinician, when I’m recommending books, I’m looking for evidence-based tools that we know work for the complexity of our lives. This is exactly what Dr. Goldman delivers, with genuine compassion, ease, and clarity. The practical strategies will leave readers knowing their next step for dealing with everyday stress and overwhelm.”
―Tracy Dalgleish, PhD, author, psychologist, and relationship expert
“When Life Happens is a must read for women struggling with burnout, balance, or identity shifts. Dr. Rachel uses her expertise as a clinical psychologist, grounded in her real-life experience as a working mom, to provide coping tools and realistic solutions that will help you to transform your life with grace and ease, and ultimately enable you to thrive.”
―Heidi Kristoffer, founder of CrossFlow Yoga
“Dr. Goldman offers a rare blend of clinical skills, scientific creds, and clear, empathic, actionable communication, giving readers a powerful synergy for achieving life goals while valuing their life and self. Her recommendations are buttressed by scientifically accepted research and enriched by down-to-earth clinical wisdom that brings understanding, empathy, and evidence-based guidance to commonly encountered challenges. True to the book’s message, she reminds us that the bumps in the road are not your fault but your opportunity―and this book helps you seize that opportunity.”
―Patrick O’Neil, PhD, Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina and Director of the Weight Management Center
“Both substance and style!! Dr. Rachel gifts us with a scientifically sound but practical guide to managing life’s challenges!! It feels like a conversation with a wise and thoughtful friend, while integrating essential principles derived from cognitive behavioral and mindfulness therapy. A must read for all who seek to improve self-awareness, coping strategies and a boost in confidence in today’s demanding world.”
―Barbara J. Coffey, M.D. M.S., Professor and Chair, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Women are constantly told to “do it all”―and many of us really are doing it all. With so much on our plates, it can be hard to pause long enough to actually enjoy the lives we’ve worked so hard to create. When Life Happens is here to help ease that tension. This research-backed guide blends cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and wellness strategies to help readers reclaim joy, navigate life transitions, and build lasting resilience.
In this book, leading psychologist Dr. Rachel L. Goldman offers women a path to reclaiming their power. She explores how our habits and mindsets can hold us back, and she offers proven tools women can use to create positive change in their lives. Dr. Rachel understands that even when we appear put-together, our internal challenges can feel overwhelming. In When Life Happens, she guides readers as they navigate career pressures, identity shifts, hormonal changes, and life’s unexpected curveballs, offering practical tools to help them find fulfillment and make daily life feel more manageable.
After exploring how to reduce stress, shift unhelpful thinking patterns, and build a healthier relationship to our bodies, Dr. Rachel shows readers how to integrate these tools into their daily lives, without uprooting everything. These simple, practical tools help women create a structure that will allow them to achieve their goals and sustain their mental health. With this can-do focus, When Life Happens is a book that can really benefit readers over the long term.
Society asks a lot of today’s women, and we all face challenges and transitions that can lead to burnout. Career, motherhood (and the social pressure to have kids), empty nesting, perimenopause and menopause―these phases can be rewarding, but they can also lead to intense stress and self-doubt. The strategies and tools in this book help readers build self-acceptance and a growth mindset, so they can move past limiting beliefs and begin to create the lives they’re meant to live.
From the Back Cover
Praise for When Life Happens
“Dr. Rachel gets it. She knows exactly what it feels like to be stuck, overwhelmed, and burned out by the pressure to do everything. When Life Happens isn’t another self-help book―it’s the reset that snaps you out of the spiral and gets you moving forward with confidence.”
―MEL ROBBINS, New York Times bestselling author of The Let Them Theory and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast
“When Life Happens is a compassionate and practical guide for anyone navigating stress, burnout, or major life transitions. Dr. Rachel provides us with a clear roadmap, giving strategies and tools along the way to help us skillfully navigate the peaks and valleys we face on the way to personal growth. This book is refreshing, relatable, and exactly what we all need when life gets messy.”
―YUNG PUEBLO, New York Times bestselling author of Lighter
“Dr. Rachel reminds us that resilience isn’t about avoiding challenges―it’s about how we meet them. This book will leave you feeling empowered, understood, and ready to take action, no matter what life throws your way.”
―JESSICA ZUCKER, PhD, psychologist and award-winning author of Normalize It and I Had a Miscarriage
“Both insightful and practical. Dr. Rachel not only inspires you to change―she shows you how.”
―DR. JULIE SMITH, clinical psychologist; New York Times and Sunday Times million-copy bestselling author
About the Author
RACHEL L. GOLDMAN, PHD, FTOS, FASMBS-IH, is a renowned clinical psychologist specializing in women’s mental health and well-being. In addition to her private practice, she is a Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Her expertise has been featured in The New York Times, TIME magazine, CNN, and more. She has appeared on prominent stages and podcasts, including events with Oprah and Reese Witherspoon, as well as The Mel Robbins Podcast. Women’s Health magazine named her one of the most inspiring women to follow, and she has been recognized as a Top 100 Mental Health Influencer and a Top 40 CBT Influencer.
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