Biography
Nouriman Ghahary, Ph.D., LPC is a counseling psychologist. She is an associate professor of psychology and the director of clinical training for the Psy.D. Program in counseling psychology at Felician University. Dr. Ghahary earned her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the APA accredited counseling psychology doctoral program at Seton Hall University in 2003. She completed her APA accredited internship training at Monmouth Medical Center, and her post-doctorate clinical training, in child and adolescent psychology, at Jersey City Medical Center where she remained as the chief psychologist and the supervisor of the Child and Adolescent Outpatient Clinic for 8 years. During this time, in addition to clinical practice and overseeing the clinic, Dr. Ghahary created and directed a practicum, internship and postdoctoral training program.
Dr. Ghahary has completed myriad of research projects and has presented at regional, national and international conferences. Dr. Ghahary’s earlier research included investigation of the impact of traumatic events on memory, learning, and executive functioning of children and adolescents. Her dissertation, titled Sequelae of Political Torture: Narratives of Trauma and Resilience by Iranian Torture Survivors was a qualitative study of trauma and resilience, rooted in the participants’ historical, socio-cultural, and political context. The findings of this study pointed to the limitations of the diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder and pointed to psychosocial trauma as a construct most appropriate for understanding, diagnosing and treating the oppressed and marginalized individuals and communities effected by politically-based trauma. Dr. Ghahary continues to conduct, present and publish her research concerning trauma and resilience.
Dr. Ghahary has been a practicing mental health clinician for more than 28 years. She is licensed by the state of New Jersey as a psychologist, and prior to earning her Ph.D., Dr. Ghahary was licensed as a Professional Counselor (LPC) in the state of New Jersey since 1999. Dr. Ghahary has trained at a variety of mental health settings treating diverse populations across the life span. Her clinical work and training includes but is not limited to conducting skills-based workshops for parents of children with myriad of mental health diagnosis, summer camp for children on autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities, neuropsychological assessments of children and adults with seizure disorder, assessment and treatment of survivors of torture, university-based student counseling, individual and group substance abuse treatment, family treatment, intensive outpatient treatment for school refusal, hospital settings including inpatient, outpatient services, private practice and program consultation.
Dr. Ghahary has been involved with international relief projects, including working with children with developmental disabilities in the Caribbean, and adults suffering the effects of political unrest in the Middle East. Dr. Ghahary’s approach to therapy is from a developmental perspective where she uses the bio-psycho-social approach along with Cognitive-Behavioral orientation in working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. Dr. Ghahary is also intensively trained in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and incorporates the principals of DBT in her approach to treatment. Dr. Ghahary is a member of several professional organizations.
The NJPA Dr. Stanley Moldawsky Mentor Award for 2023 was presented to Dr. Nouriman Ghahary, director of clinical training and associate professor for the Counseling psychology doctoral program at Felician University.
Dr. Moldawsky was a true champion for the profession of psychology and a sought after mentor for psychologists. In honor of his amazing professional life, in 2018, NJPA created the NJPA Dr. Stanley Moldawsky Mentor Award, recognizing exceptional leadership of an NJPA member in the form of enduring and exemplary contributions to mentoring new psychologists and/or graduate doctoral level students, over a sustained period of time, which collectively, has significantly enhanced the association’s ability to positively impact the lives and careers of its new membership, as well as advancing the field of psychology in New Jersey, and beyond.
