Resume

EDUCATION

Doctor of Psychology (2000)
Graduate School of Education and Psychology
Pepperdine University

Master of Science, Counseling and Guidance (1985)
Outstanding Graduate Student Award -1985
Graduate Dean’s List of University Scholars and Artists-1985

Pupil Personnel Services Clear Credential, CA.  1985-present
Graduate School of Educational Psychology
California State University Long Beach

Bachelor of Education (1981)
Bachelor of Science – Child Development (1980)
Lady Irwin College
University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.

Dr. Bhatia has extensive experience working with individuals, couples and families. She provides psychotherapy, parent training, mediation and collaborative law. Besides her private practice, she is an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Psychology at Pepperdine University.  She also enjoys teaching and has conducted trainings for therapists, teachers, and parents on several subjects related to human development. Dr. Bhatia is the Past President of Los Angeles Psychological Association 2016 and has been a passionate supporter of raising awareness regarding issues of diversity.

Dr. Bhatia has been trained as a divorce coach and child specialist. Having worked as a family mediator for the Superior Court of Los Angeles for over 10 years, Dr. Bhatia has worked passionately to make the process of divorce, for the children and families, as humane and as emotionally safe as possible. Dr. Bhatia has co-developed an app (Divorceworks) for people going through divorce and separation to navigate their emotional journey.

PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND

• August 2002 – Present: Private Practice
• October 2017 – Present: Clinical Instructor (Voluntary), David Geffen School of Medicine
  UCLA Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences
•  May 2003 – Present: Adjunct Faculty, Graduate School of Education & Psychology
  Pepperdine University, CA
• October 2000 – July 2002: Staff Psychologist
  Child and Family Guidance Center, Northridge, CA
• September 1999 – August 2000: Psychology Intern
  Child and Family Guidance Center, Northridge, CA
• September 1998 -August 1999:  Psychology Practicum Student
  St. John’s Hospital Child and Family Development Center
• September 1997 – August 1998:  Psychology Extern
  San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic
  Family Stress Center
• October 1996 – August 1998:  Doctoral Trainee
  Pepperdine University Clinic, West LA
• November 1996- January 1997: Headstart Program Consultation
  Graduate School of Education and Psychology
  Pepperdine University, West LA
•  September 1993 – June 1994: Peer Mediation Supervisor (Volunteer)
  Alternative Dispute Resolution, John Adams Middle School, Santa Monica, CA.
• January 1994 – January 1995: Resource Specialist -Parenting Groups
  Sunshine Preschool, Brentwood, CA
• June 1985 – August 1996:  Senior Family Mediator As-needed
  Family Mediation and Conciliation Service of Los Angeles
  Superior Court of Los Angeles
• September 1984 – May 1985: Family Mediator-Intern
  Family Mediation and Conciliation Service of Los Angeles
  Superior Court of Los Angeles

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

• Member of the California Psychological Association (CPA) Serves on the Executive Committee of CARE (Colleague Awareness Resource & Education).
• Past President of the Los Angeles County Psychological Association (LACPA) 2015. Served on the Board Of Directors of LACP (2010-2019).
• Association of Family Conciliation Courts (AFCC) Presented at National and California Conventions.
• American Psychological Association (APA)

PUBLICATIONS

Dr. Gitu Bhatia has co-authored a chapter in the book, \”Parenting Plan Evaluations: Applied Research for the Family Court, Second Edition. Edited by Leslie Drozd, Michael Saini, and Nancy Olesen\” published in March 2016 by Oxford University Press.

Co-Developed “DivorceWorks” app. It is a culturally sensitive and mindful tool to help people, going through divorce and separation, navigate their emotional journey. It is also a tool to help mental health and legal professionals working with divorcing families.

RECENT PRESENTATIONS

• Culture and Lockdown in Marginalized Populations, 8th Annual Seminar Cultural Competency in Family Law Practice, July 25, 2020.
• Therapist Heal Thyself: Moving target of self-care during COVID-19 Pandemic. Webinar for Steve Frankel Group, June 25, 2020.
• Understanding and Managing Implicit, Cognitive, and Cultural Biases in Integrating Research into Practice and Policy: The Impact on Families and Children Family Law 2019 AFCC Fall Conference
• In the Shadow of Culture: Making the Invisible Visible, Family Law Symposium LA County Bar Association, May 4, 2019.
• Are we really multiculturally competent? Best practices dissected. California Psychological Association Annual Convention, April 6, 2019.
• Implicit bias in the courtroom: Understanding how race, culture and ethnicity impact us.  AFCC-CA Annual Conference, February 24, 2019.
• Wildfires and Hurricanes: The Personal and Collective: Need for Self-Care, CPA Convention 2018
• Cultural competency in family law practice: Unpacking the invisible backpack,  Webinar for the CA State Bar Association, June 29, 2017.
• Complexities of emotion and culture in divorce: Effective tools and strategies to help manage the emotional journey. Los Angeles Collaborative Family Law Association and Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, September 25, 2015.
• Diverse tools for diverse families: Interface of technology and mental health.  AFCC- New Orleans, LA, 52^nd Annual Conference, April 30, 2015.
• Tools and Strategies for Families Going Through Divorce – LACPA 26th Annual Convention, October 18, 2014.
• Divorce- Lisa Zonder Style – Divorcetalkradio.com: Guest speaker on several episodes involving divorce discussions.
• Unpacking the Invisible Backpack of Culture, Cultural Competency in Family Law Practice, Iranian American Lawyers Association, Los Angeles, CA, July 26, 2014
• Cultural Competency In Family Practice: Piercing the Veil of Culture – University of West Los Angeles, School of Law, 2013.
• Self Care from Diverse Perspectives, Los Angeles County Psychological Association, Los Angeles, CA, October 13, 2012.
• Therapist Self-Care from Diverse Perspectives – Annual CPA convention 2012, Monterey, California.
• One size does not fit all: cultural complexities and sensitivity in working with children from different cultural backgrounds. Association of Family and Conciliation Courts – California Chapter. February 12, 2012.
• Cultural Complexities in Child Custody Decisions – The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts California Annual Conference, 2012 Los Angeles.
• Cultural Complexities in Family Law Matters – The Association of Family and Conciliation Courts California Annual Conference, February, 2011 San Fransisco.
• Cultural complexities in family law matters – roundtable presentation and discussion. Collaborative divorce solutions of Orange County, October 17, 2011.
• Cultural complexities in family law matters. Collaborative divorce solutions of Orange Country, October 11, 2011.
• Cultural complexities in family law matters. 2011 Family Dispute Resolution Statewide Educational Institute; Judicial Council of California, Administrative Office of the Courts. Los Angeles, April 15, 2011.
• Intercultural Couples. Los Angeles County Psychological Association – Couples Special Interest Group, February 4, 2011.
• Cultural Complexities in Family Law Matters – AFCC National annual conference in Orlando, Florida, 2011.
• Complexities of Culture in Dispute Resolution in Family Law matters LACFLA 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
• Cultural Diversity: Family Practice in a Culturally Diversified Society, Inns of the Court November 2010
• Complexities of Culture: 4 Hour Continuing Education workshop LACPA 2010.
• Annual Board of Directors LACPA Diversity Training 2007-present.