Rachel E. Goetze, Ph.D.

Dr Rachel GoetzePsychologist

Dr. Goetze is a licensed clinical health psychologist specializing in the evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic health challenges. She emphasizes the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and evidence-based treatments for behavioral weight loss, insomnia, chronic pain, and health management. Mindfulness and acceptance-based strategies from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) compliment her work with CBT approaches, and Dr. Goetze adapts these treatments to create an individualized fit for each person’s needs.

Dr. Goetze earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from an APA-accredited doctoral program at the University of Maine. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at VA Boston Healthcare System providing evaluation and treatment to individuals with spinal cord and vascular injuries, receiving palliative care, and undergoing bariatric and metabolic surgery. She completed two-year postdoctoral training at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, where she provided evaluation and treatment across medical populations including those engaged in pain rehabilitation, transplant service, sleep medicine, and integrated behavioral health. During Mayo Clinic training, Dr. Goetze specialized in assessing and serving people with medically complicated obesity and those preparing for, or with a history of, bariatric surgery.

Dr. Goetze has co-authored peer-reviewed articles and presented her health psychology research at over thirty national and international conferences. With the long-term goal of returning to her home state of Maine, she was thrilled to join VA Maine Healthcare System, Togus in Augusta before transitioning to the Health Psych Maine team where she is able to provide health psychology services to communities across the state.