Based in Missoula, Montana, Rachel Gooen, MS, MSW, is an experienced facilitator in personal growth, leadership, team dynamics, and collaboration. Over the past 25 years, she has honed her knowledge and skills to master the process of engagement with the sole purpose of supporting individuals, organizations, and communities to effectively and inclusively achieve their goals. Rachel utilizes her deep skill set in facilitation, program development, leadership training, change management, and listening to assist you in achieving your outcomes.

She primarily works with mission-driven organizations that focus on developing healthy people, healthy ecosystems, and healthy communities.

Rachel engages in this work to create positive change, help organizations improve their outcomes, enable teams to work together more effectively, and empower individuals to discover their unique paths. It means she knows how to pose the right questions, listen actively, and guide you towards a stronger future. In the end, change is never easy, but through deep engagement, a touch of fun, and clarity, we can create better outcomes.

  • I grew up in rural NJ where the Appalachian mountains influenced my love of nature. My father took us hiking, swimming in lakes, fishing and taught us to garden. The woods in my backyard were my playground.

  • I have always loved people. My kindergarten teacher shared that I consistently made sure everyone felt like they belonged, was welcomed, and was never left out.

    I don’t think I’ve changed very much since then.

  • I combined my love of nature with my love of people and studied Anthropology at The George Washington University. I learned and confirmed what my youth had shown me: when people feel connected to their community and to the earth, they understand themselves better. They care for the earth better and make wiser altruistic decisions for the greater good.

  • I left college with a drive to teach environmental education, so I worked at the Fairview Lake Environmental Education Center in NJ, running around the woods with 5-15 year-olds on a weekly basis, sharing with them the lessons of ecology and the Lenape. This experience led me to pursue a Master’s of Science in Environmental Education and Ecology from Antioch New England Graduate School.

    I now live in Montana.

  • As I worked with people in communities and organizations, I became more aware of how rare it is for people to feel heard and understood. To me, this is the basis of true connection and relationship building—the heart of being human. To acquire these skills and understand how communities and individuals interact with each other and their environment, I earned my Master of Social Work, which led to my becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

  • The culmination of all my experiences, understanding of humanity, and skills is reflected in my utilization of The ProSocial Core Processes developed by Paul Atkins, Ph.D., and David Sloan Wilson, Ph.D. This process involves comprehending how the world operates, encompassing its political, economic, environmental, cultural, and spiritual aspects. It also takes into account the forces that maintain these structures in balance. People, how we interact, our ability to utilize psychological flexibility, and our ability to choose working together for the greater good.