Dr. Chimai Var, Ph.D.
School of Behavioral Sciences
Dr. Var is a licensed psychologist in Alabama who joined California Southern University as a faculty mentor in 2023. She has been a full-time educator since earning her doctorate in 2016, with academic interests that range from psychopathology to positive psychology. Prior to joining the faculty at CalSouthern, Dr. Var worked as an associate professor of psychology; a counselor at a college counseling center; an academic/career counselor at a public housing authority; and a case manager at a child/adolescent psychiatric hospital.
Outside of her professional work, she has lived in her hometown on the Gulf Coast for most of her life, living about 10 minutes away from the hospital where she was born. She has served as a board member for numerous leadership organizations in her hometown, including one organization that she has worked with since 1999 when she joined as a youth leader. She enjoys spending time with her family, playing with her two young daughters, attending local arts and culture events, traveling, and engaging in creative endeavors such as her longstanding weekly rehearsals in two community choirs (she is a second alto).
Areas of Expertise: Clinical skills in therapy; assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of mental health disorders; personality disorders; complex trauma; chronic trauma and adverse childhood experiences (e.g. generational poverty); resilience and post-traumatic growth; positive psychology; wellness
Educational Experience: Ph.D. in Combined-Integrated Clinical/Counseling Psychology, University of South Alabama (2016) — M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, University of South Alabama (2008) — B.S. in Psychology, University of Alabama at Birmingham (2004)
