Health Psychology UAE

I am passionate about enhancing my clients' overall quality of life, as well as their long term adjustment to illness or disease. I also work closely with physicians, families and loved ones as needed.

Much of my work involves a preventive focus through health education and the provision of general stress management programmes, including a focus on self care and development (eg., self esteem, assertiveness, communication skills). I also help clients cope with: anxiety, panic attacks, depression, grief, sleep difficulties, pain, changes in body image, the initial shock of a disease or illness diagnosis, medical treatments (eg., fear of MRI scans, chemotherapy, surgery), and medical tests (eg., fear of test results, biopsies, and needle phobias). Helping improve and maintain treatment adherence is another important area of my work, as is training in relaxation and visualization.

I use principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (identifying and modifying irrational or unhelpful thoughts, beliefs, and behaviours to change your emotions / mood) and my methodology is Evidence Based Medicine.

I have a particular interest in major diseases affecting people in the UAE, such as breast and prostate cancer, and I am keen to do anything I can to raise awareness. I am also interested in psychoneuroimmunology (the effect of the mind / brain on the immune system), and emotional control (a coping strategy involving the suppression of negative emotions).