In an age where the importance of mental health is globally acknowledged, the UAE has emerged as a proactive champion of well-being, extending its efforts beyond the workplace. This coastal nation has made substantial progress in fostering a supportive environment for those grappling with mental health challenges.
From shaping mental health policies to launching impactful initiatives and campaigns, the UAE government has elevated mental health to a paramount concern for public well-being. The rapid pace of modernization, urbanization, and evolving lifestyles has led to a noticeable uptick in mental health issues, prompting the UAE, much like many other countries, to recognize mental health as a significant public health matter.
With the active support of the UAE government and their dedicated campaigns, expatriates and local residents enjoy convenient access to top-tier therapy and support services. Below, you'll discover a compilation of five distinguished mental health support services in Dubai, each excelling in specific areas of expertise.
The Light House Arabia
Founded in 2011 with the mission of enhancing mental well-being in Dubai, this state-of-the-art facility offers a variety of services catering to individuals, families, and couples. It is particularly renowned for its specialization in family and couple psychology.
Here is a list of services they offer:
Raymee Grief Center
The Raymee Grief Center, operated by The LightHouse Arabia, offers free one-on-one consultations and support groups for those dealing with grief, emphasizing the importance of not facing grief alone.
Mental Health First Aid
The LightHouse Arabia is the sole accredited provider of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) in the UAE, offering training to help individuals and organizations recognize, comprehend, and respond to signs of someone experiencing mental health challenges.
Building Healthier Schools
The LightHouse Arabia possesses extensive insight into the challenges and stressors within the education sector. They actively collaborate with and provide support to numerous schools, offering expertise in addressing the difficulties encountered by teaching and administrative staff, students, and parents. Explore the holistic range of educational solutions.
Improving Workplace Resilience
In today's corporate world, we all face distinct challenges, including relentless demands for productivity, the "always-on" expectation, and a shift towards electronic communication over in-person interaction. Whether it's team building, therapy, or advanced training, their therapists are here to support your journey.
LightHouse Library
Discover a wealth of resources aimed at providing support, education, and inspiration. Their offerings include articles, vlogs, webinar recordings, and monthly themes rooted in research and positive psychology to assist you on your journey.
“It is hard to capture how a fantastic therapist can impact your life. This has been a process of transformation rather than development. I can comfortably say that many people in my life are grateful that I was blessed with such a talented psychologist. Thank you for showering me the beauty and the strength that lays within me.”
Thrive Wellbeing Centre
Situated in the vibrant community of Jumeirah Lake Towers, this wellness center boasts a team of professionals with diverse backgrounds in the field of mental health. They specialize in addressing issues such as addiction, loss, and trauma, with a particular focus on the well-being of children and mothers.
Here is a list of services they offer:
Couples therapy
Professional couples therapy can help you navigate the ups and downs of your relationship, offering a chance for recovery and growth. It's crucial to take action promptly to address any issues. Whether you aim to enhance a robust relationship or focus on recovery and healing.
Parenting Support
Their parenting services are customized to address your family's specific challenges. By combining research and aligning with your values, they empower you with effective tools. They also offer assistance for a wide range of family, relationship, and well-being issues, while also helping you develop skills for managing child development and behavior.
Corporate Services
They create and offer corporate training programs covering diverse subjects, such as stress management, improving productivity through well-being, and enhancing emotional intelligence.
Additionally, they engage in, publish, and present qualitative and quantitative research tailored for corporate clients, with a particular focus on cross-cultural matters, happiness, and interpersonal relationships.
Psychiatry
Psychiatry, a medical field, aids individuals in managing various mental health issues. Psychiatrists, being medical doctors specialized in mental health, have the authority to prescribe medications for treatment. They take a holistic approach, addressing both physical and psychological aspects, and collaborate with psychologists and counselors to offer comprehensive care.
At Thrive, their psychiatrists are specialized in supporting people experiencing:
- Depression
- Burnout syndrome
- Bipolar disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (ADD/ADHD/ASD)
- Eating disorders
- Depression
- Burnout syndrome
- Bipolar disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Neurodevelopmental disorders (ADD/ADHD/ASD)
- Eating disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Phobias
- Schizophrenia spectrum
- Dyslexia and learning disabilities
- Addiction
“I visited the Thrive Wellbeing Center for a number of sessions with Dr Sarah who was very professional and courteous; helping me a lot to cope with some difficulties and who was able to quickly build a climate of trust that made the sessions flow very easily. I'm very appreciative of the work Dr Sarah and her team do in making it easy to go through this process. ”
American Wellness Centre
Located in Dubai Healthcare City, American Wellness Centre started as a mental health-focused clinic in 2013. Since then, their team has grown to include over 40 clinicians specializing in 17 different fields. Their mission is to promote optimal health and well-being, offering comprehensive and confidential care for patients of all ages, guided by their dedicated international team of experienced clinicians. They also provide top-tier outpatient services with Western-trained physicians.
Here is a list of services they offer:
For Adults
- Psychiatry/ Psychology
- Women’s Mental Health
- Parents Skills Training
- Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
- ADHD Management
- Adoption Support
- Mindfulness
- Grief Management and more..
For Children and Adolescents
- Psychiatry/ Psychology
- Eating Disorder
- School Readiness Program
- Autism Support
- Speech and Language Therapy
- Social Skills Training and more
For Schools
- Psychiatric Evaluations
- Grief Management Awareness
- Performance Assistance and more
For Couples
- Adoption Support
- Parenting Skills
- Family Therapy
- Relationship Awareness Program and more
For Corporates
- Employee Assistance Program
- Recruitment Training
- Long-Term Contractual Services
- Transformational Executive Coaching
- Customized Resilience Building Program and more..
Camali Clinic
Camali Clinic, a leading psychiatry and psychology clinic in Dubai, prioritizes accessible mental health treatment for all ages. Their expert team, including clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, and skilled doctors, specializes in addressing issues like depression, anxiety, stress, and eating disorders. Book an appointment at Dubai or Abu Dhabi clinics for exceptional care, improving your overall well-being.
Here is a list of services they offer:
Holistic Approach For Adults
At Camali Clinic, they offer a patient-centered holistic approach for adults dealing with well-being challenges or couples seeking relationship advice. Their team comprises understanding, empathic, and non-judgmental staff and clinicians, chosen for their passion in their field. They also deliver a range of therapies after thorough assessments, working collaboratively to create a meaningful care plan with clear, attainable goals.
For Children and Adolescents
Camali Clinic takes a holistic approach to supporting children and adolescents in addressing well-being challenges. Their dedicated team, comprising psychiatrists, psychologists, therapists, and more, collaborates to create tailored care plans with clear goals. They serve diverse families and are well-versed in multicultural approaches, offering services in various languages.
For Corporates
Camali Clinic offers on-site and online workshops and awareness sessions for office employees. They provide practical tools to promote a supportive environment, raise mental well-being awareness, and equip employees to offer valuable first aid for mental distress.
“I wanted to drop you a note with regards to my recent sessions with Carolyn. She has been a superb therapist and her sessions have been hugely helpful to me in my personal life, which I also feel has impacted my professional life too. Over the years I've worked on and off with therapists for different support with the aim of becoming the best person I can be.”
Reverse Psychology
Reverse Psychology is a community mental health clinic in Dubai, that offers quality treatment through a team of international psychologists. They provide evidence-based therapies and maintain a commitment to community support and mental health awareness through training and supervision.
Here is a list of services they offer:
CFT (Compassion Focused Therapy)
Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), developed by Paul Gilbert, promotes mental well-being by fostering self-compassion and compassion for others. It addresses issues related to the inner critic, social relationships, mood, behavior, shame, and self-criticism.
DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) combines various approaches to balance logical and emotional thinking. It's effective for individuals with concerns like borderline personality disorder, self-harm, and anxiety. DBT includes individual sessions and group modules on distress tolerance, emotional regulation, mindfulness, and interpersonal skills. Reverse Psychology provides the full DBT program for adolescents and adults.
Family Therapy
Family therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach that treats the family as a system. It addresses interaction patterns and dynamics to strengthen relationships, enhance communication, and manage conflicts. The goal is to create a better home environment, resolve family issues, and understand the unique challenges the family may face.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a valuable therapy approach, particularly for children, aiming to help them express emotions, develop communication skills, build relationships, boost self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and understand their identity. It incorporates various methods like art, music, and role-playing, allowing children to express concerns in a less direct manner than talking.
Play therapy often involves talking as well and is guided by trained clinicians. It's a child-focused approach designed to address a range of challenges and improve overall well-being.
Corporate
Reverse Psychology offers business consultancy services suitable for companies of all sizes. Their experienced clinicians provide presentations, mental health awareness training, workshops, and therapy workshops to enhance employee well-being and mental health practitioners' skills. The team can customize their approach to meet your specific needs. If you're interested in their corporate services, please use the Contact Us form for inquiries.
Living in Dubai's fast-paced and competitive business environment highlights the importance of prioritizing your overall well-being. As the world becomes increasingly complex and demanding, it's essential to secure insurance plans that encompass mental health coverage. This proactive step ensures that you're equipped to manage the mental strains of a rapidly evolving world. Your mental health is a valuable asset, and investing in it through comprehensive insurance coverage is a wise decision in this modern age.
FAQs
Psychiatry or Psychology?
Psychiatry is a branch of medicine dedicated to the treatment of mental health issues. It is practiced by medical doctors known as psychiatrists who have received specialized training to understand, diagnose, and treat these conditions. Psychiatrists can offer therapeutic interventions and prescribe medications.
Psychology, on the other hand, is the scientific study of the human psyche. Psychologists undergo at least five years of education and receive specialized training in understanding human behavior, encompassing both normal and abnormal aspects. While psychologists can provide therapeutic interventions, they do not have the authority to prescribe medications.
Who is a Therapist?
Psychologist
Psychologists help individuals manage life challenges and mental health issues, often holding advanced degrees and using various therapeutic methods. They also conduct assessments to identify concerns like ADHD.
Counseling psychologists focus on mild to moderate distress in social, occupational, or academic functioning, while clinical psychologists handle more severe conditions, such as psychosis and major depression.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in psychiatry after completing their medical training. They assess medical and psychological information to diagnose conditions and recommend medication when needed. Psychiatrists use a combination of medication and psychotherapy to treat various mental health issues, whether short-term or chronic.
Coach
Personal coaches may have qualifications in psychology, psychiatry, or counseling. Coaching typically benefits individuals who are already achieving success and aim to excel further. Psychologists often adhere to structured methods and clinical models, while coaching is less rule-bound and emphasizes empowering high-functioning individuals.
How long does therapy take?
The amount of therapy required depends on several factors:
- The nature, severity, and duration of the issue at hand.
- Your personal resilience and coping style.
- The level of social support available.
- Current life stressors.
While some concerns can be addressed with brief therapy, others may necessitate more extended and intensive treatment for effective relief, healing, and change. Your therapist will assess this during your initial appointment and discuss the appropriate approach with you.
How will therapy make me feel?
Therapy can be emotionally demanding, and it's normal for things to seem more challenging initially. It may lead to anxiety in the short term and changes in your relationships as you make personal adjustments. In the long run, therapy can effectively address mental and emotional issues, boost self-awareness, and restore balance. However, therapy is not a quick fix and lasting change is introduced gradually by our expert therapists.
What about my Privacy?
They prioritize your confidentiality with the following commitments:
- Only your therapist and office staff have direct access to your file.
- External access is restricted unless you provide written permission.
- All their team members and therapists are trained to safeguard your privacy and have signed agreements not to share information beyond their clinic.