Headshot of Bilal Ghandour

Bilal Ghandour

Associate Professor of Psychology

Department: Psychology

Office and address: Psychology & Human Service Stu, Office 125A 2337 Campus Box Elon, NC 27244

Phone number: (336) 278-5764

Professional Expertise

Anxiety disorders and self-harm behaviors

Brief Biography

Bilal Ghandour is an Associate Professor of Psychology and a licensed clinician in the state of North Carolina. He joined Elon in 2015. His scholarly interests include self-harm behaviors, anxiety disorders, and individuals with personality disorders. He comes from a diverse cultural background and fluently speaks Arabic and French. He was born and raised in Lebanon and moved to the United States at the turn of the century to pursue his academic interests. He is actively involved with various mental health organizations on campus - particularly Active Minds - participates in wellness panels, delivers talks, and regularly shares his clinical expertise with the campus community to continuously work on improving the mental health and safety of all students. Ghandour also works with various athletic teams to improve their mental approach to their game of choice, with a particular focus on golf and track/Cross Country. He is also a member of the Lebanese national golf team. Ghandour maintains a private practice in North Carolina where he sees adolescents and adults who struggle with various psychological issues. 

News & Notes

Education

B.A. in Economics, American University of Beirut

B.A. in Communication Arts, Beirut University College

M.A. in Philosophy, American University of Beirut

M.A.in Personality and Social Psychology from University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Post-Doctoral Fellowship: Yale School of Medicine 

Licensed Clinical Psychologist (North Carolina)

Current Projects

My research focuses on two main interests: 1) the connection between anxiety disorders and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI); 2) the role of childhood and teenage experiences in the development of a dramatic spectrum personality disorder (narcissism, borderline and anti-social traits). In the first interest, my research is currently investigating the connection between an eating disorder (anorexia) and obsessive compulsive behavior. I am also looking at how such individuals’ ideal view of themselves is discrepant from their actual view of themselves. I am also investigating the role of social phobia in the development and maintenance of body dysmorphic disorder symptoms. With personality disorders, I explore the connection between narcissism and borderline traits and the extent to which such disorders are environmental triggered as opposed to being biological in origin.

My research method uses a combination of quantitative and qualitative data analysis and focuses on the philosophical approach that human beings are quite capable of expressing their view point directly, i.e. without experimental manipulation. To this effect, my data is analyzed using Q methodology, a powerful and sensible way to scientifically study subjectivity.