Bahar Amini

Bahar Amini is an Afghan-American woman and therapist committed to fostering healing and growth within marginalized communities. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from California State University, Fullerton, and an M.A. in Social Work, with a specialization in Children, Youth, and Families, from California State University, Dominguez Hills. CSUDH’s Master of Social Work Program is uniquely grounded in Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality, frameworks that Bahar skillfully integrates into her therapeutic approach. Over several years, Bahar has accumulated valuable experience working as a social worker for foster youth, focusing on transitional age youth (TAY), a medical social worker for patients on hospice, and a case management social worker in a senior community, where she was trained in a short-term cognitive behavioral therapy program for later life depression. She has also worked for the Foster Youth Ombudsman Office, advocating for the rights and well-being of foster youth. Additionally, Bahar has been involved in refugee evacuation projects with Uplift Afghanistan, demonstrating her dedication to humanitarian efforts. Bahar’s commitment extends internationally, illustrated by her volunteer work with the Enabled Children Initiative, a nonprofit organization supporting children with disabilities in Afghanistan. She has also been an active contributor to the Institute for State Effectiveness’s Afghanistan Support Program as an Interim Project Assistant. Bahar is guided by mentors both spiritual and professional, believing that the two are important to engage in practice in a holistic way. She also believes in inviting clients to bring in their own traditions and practices into the room, fostering an inclusive and supportive environment. In her free time, Bahar enjoys reading, taking nature walks, exploring energy work, building strong connections within her community, and learning about her ancestry and their original traditions.