Bita Ghafoori

Bita Ghafoori, Ph.D., is a Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Advanced Studies in Education and Counseling at California State University, Long Beach.

An internationally recognized clinical psychologist, Dr. Ghafoori is an expert in the understanding and treatment of traumatic distress reactions and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in underserved communities. She has been the recipient of a Fulbright Award and has served as a Fulbright Specialist in Greece and Portugal providing training, research consultation, and treatment consultation. She has published and presented more than 45 research papers on the dynamics of hate -based violence and exploring effective treatment protocols tailored specifically for low-income and ethnically/racially diverse victims of crime and violence.  

Professor Ghafoori completed post-doctoral training in posttraumatic stress and disaster mental health at Dartmouth University through a National Institute of Mental Health grant. In addition to serving as Department Chair, she is also the Director of the nationally recognized Long Beach Trauma Recovery Center (LBTRC). Her work, and the work of the Center, have been featured on NBC News, C-Span, the California Edition, the Orange County Register and numerous other outlets.