I received my MA degree in 2014 in Counselling Psychology from McGill University in Montreal, Canada. I completed my BA in Psychology at the American University in Cairo in 2009 and have been working in the field of mental health since then. In addition, I completed the required 200 hours of teacher training through the Multi Style Yoga Institute and am a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator through the Positive Discipline Association. My initial training began at the Behman Hospital, after which I have accumulated experience working in university and school settings and private practice. I am currently a school counselor in addition to providing therapy at Exist Counselling Center. Throughout my practice, I have had the opportunity to work with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, eating disorders, interpersonal and relational problems, in addition to issues as they relate to sexual orientation and gender identity. During psychotherapy I focus on creating a safe, accepting, and holding environment for the clients by applying a client-centered approach. From a constructivist stance, I work with clients to allow their stories to unfold and support them in their meaning-making process in order for them to gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and emotions, paying close attention to the context in which their stories developed. When necessary I may borrow from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Based Therapy certain strategies and techniques as well to focus on change. Through self-reflection and expanding on potential perspectives, I work collaboratively with clients in order for them to become aware of their obstacles, their strengths, and potential. Supported with their self-knowledge and the set of skills developed throughout the therapeutic process, I believe clients can become more independent and empowered as they move forward and progress towards their desired direction. I mainly works with young adults and adults within a one-on-one setting within private practice. I have also received training and practice in conducting group therapy sessions. I am capable of conducting a wide range of psychometric assessments to address personality, cognitive, and career issues. I am also well-versed in giving presentations and holding workshops.

Dr. Thoraiya Kanafani is a Ph.D. graduate in the department of Clinical Psychology from Walden University in the United States. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor degree in Psychology from Concordia University, her first master's degree in Educational Psychology from McGill University, and second Masters in Counseling Psychology from the University of Ottawa. After completing her education in Canada and working in many different settings, she moved to the Middle East and has worked in countries such as Bahrain, Lebanon, and Saudi Arabia. She is a Canadian licensed psychotherapist and a Canadian licensed suicide interventionist. She has been featured in magazines and newspapers as well as presents different psychological topics on radio shows and TV channels. She has conducted many workshops and presented seminars on various topics pertaining to psychology and mental health. She currently has over twelve years of experience in the field of psychology and mental health. She has worked with a diverse client base including women with eating disorders, children with learning disabilities and those more clinically based (bipolar, clinically depressed, schizophrenics, anger management, suicide, etc). Her main expertise lies in working with adolescents (10-18) and early adults, however, she has much experience working with older adults as well. She moved to Lebanon to collect data for her Ph.D. dissertation examining the relationship between alcohol consumption and motivational factors as well as personality traits among Lebanese university students while concurrently working at the St. Georges Hospital with MIND clinic as a clinical psychologist. After its completion, she moved to Dubai to work as a clinical psychologist at the Human Relations Institute and Clinics. Dr. Thoraiya is also a lecturer at Middlesex University and Heriot-Watt University where she teaches undergraduate and graduate level psychology courses.

My research interests are in the areas of attachment and mentalization. My current research aims at validating the Arabic versions of questionnaires and interviews tapping into the two concepts in order to investigate the parent-child attachment relationship in Lebanon as well as the role played by mentalization in our culture in promoting healthy development from infancy through to adolescence. Main topics of investigation include: reflective functioning, attachment security, theory of mind, empathy, emotion regulation, identity development and psychopathology.

Educational Psychologist

I have a background in Biological Sciences and Counselling Psychology. I have worked in the community counselling setting, and in private practice in Canada and the UK. I have been in the middle east for the past 3 years, in both Kuwait and Qatar, working as a psychologist in a school setting. I plan to start my doctorate this year in Clinical Psychology from the USA.

A Neuropsychologist to be

An aspiring Omani woman aiming to spread the work of counselors and psychologists in Oman and in the Middle East. I enjoy working with adolescents, women who have gone through Divorce, victims of violence and trauma as well as career guidance.

I have been living in Dubai, UAE for the past 15 years, and am currently working as a school counsellor and beginning a doctoral program in Counselor Education and Supervision. I am very interested in the needs of adolescents who are living cross culturally.

I'm Michelle, I hold a Maters in Clinical Psychology, and am also a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) practitioner. I work in the capacity of a school counselor. I enjoy working with children and adolescents, its my passion about working with this age group that constantly pushes me to learn and grow as a professional. I was instrumental in planning and organizing different psycho-educational programs at the school. My biggest achievement in the last 3 years as school counselor would be to establishing a strong department and creating a "safe space" for kids, teachers and parents to come to.

I'm a US-based psychologist specializing in children, wtih subspecialities in the most disruptive and the most anxious cases. I am a Certified Master Trainer in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) and developed empirically-supported treatments for selective mutism.