Howard Goodman has a degree in psychology from the University of Cape Town. From 1971-75 he trained and practiced as a remedial educational psychologist in the UK and Canada. He supervised a functional-illiteracy research project at a North London high school and, while principal of a small elementary school in Ontario, lived and worked with socially and psychologically challenged students. He received his basic training in Attunement, an energy healing spiritual practice, while attending a three-month leadership course at Sunrise Ranch.

In October 2018, he became a Trustee for Emissaries of Divine Light.