Today we’d like to introduce you to Emin Gharibian.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
The road to get to where I am started back in 2004 when I started going to college. My goal was to become a psychologist so I attended undergrad for four years and then had to go to graduate school for another four years. I also completed a fellowship in neuropsychology for two years and had to complete pre-doctoral and post-doctoral internships.
Starting my business was the next step after finishing my doctorate in psychology and getting licensed as a psychologist. My passions in graduate school were in the fields of neuropsychology and forensic psychology. Given my background and training, I started my business to be able to practice and work in these two areas. The work I do is mostly forensic in nature, meaning that I primarily conduct evaluations for legal cases and testify in court as an expert witness.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road was very long but it has been fairly smooth. It consisted of a bunch of small yet consistent steps that eventually got me to where I am today. I had a strong passion for the work I was doing so I was able to push and work through the various obstacles I had to face. Some of the obstacles early on included completing my graduate coursework, writing a dissertation, earning my supervised hours, and eventually getting licensed.
Like starting any new business, there was a lot to do in the beginning. I had to find office space, purchase supplies, and develop a marketing and business plan. I started planning for all this before I was licensed so I was able to hit the ground running as soon as I could practice independently. It was challenging and exhausting at first but as more time passed, it became more manageable. I’m four years into my practice and things are running fairly smoothly.
When I was getting into the field it was a challenge because I was new and inexperienced. At the same time, that’s true for anyone when they are just starting off. I found entry-level positions, built up my credentials, and got more experience until I was able to eventually get to where I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of Verdugo Psychological Associates. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
I started my practice with the goal of helping people. My practice areas (forensics and neuropsychology) are niche areas within psychology. I had a passion for these fields of study and I knew that there is a high demand for these services and not enough providers that provide them.
I’m on the expert witness panels for the L.A. County adult and juvenile court systems and over 90-95% of my work is legal in nature. I do a variety of evaluations for complex legal cases that are either related to criminal, civil, or employment-related matters. I’m either directly retained by attorneys and their clients or appointed by the court to complete various legal evaluations.
How do you define success?
I believe that success is all relative. Success for me is having a passion for what I do and being able to help people while also being able to financially support myself and my family.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.verdugopsych.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emingharibianpsyd/
