As discourses on mental health increase and the heaviness around this key issue continues to dissipate, people around the globe are feeling more comfortable seeking guidance and therapy as part of their overall approach to emotional, psychological, and social well-being. In the region, this positive shift can be seen in the prominence of qualified professionals and institutions, such as the UAE’s The Lighthouse Arabia (TLH).
TLH is a registered polyclinic providing wellbeing and mental health services to children, adults, couples, and families. Its team of experts comes from over 30 countries, comprising psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational and speech and language therapists. Currently, the center is the only licensed provider of the accredited Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training in the UAE.
TLH has been working closely with hospitals, schools, governments, and organizations. In details, the services being provided are as follow: Couples Counseling, Grief Counseling, Anxiety/Depression Counseling, Assessments, Eating Disorder Counseling, Anger Management, Addiction Counseling, Corporate Services, Psychoeducation, Therapy, Media Services, Parenting, Child & Adolescent Therapy, Mindfulness, and CBT.
The center also plays host to Raymee Grief Center, which offers a long range of grief support for residents in the UAE. In fact, it is said to be the only grieving center of its kind in the region.
TLH was founded in 2011 by Dr. Saliha Afridi. As a child, she grew up with the dream of healing the world, and would graduate at Arizona School of Professional Psychology with a master’s degree in Clinical Psychology. She then went on to complete her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology.
Afterwards, Afridi relocated to Dubai in 2008 prior to founding TLH. Throughout the years, she had worked with diverse clients while offering adolescents and adults talk psychotherapy, and play therapy and activity therapy to children. In fact, psychology became a huge part of her career. On her profile on sillaconnect.com, she stated that “psychology is not something I studied or a work that I do, but psychology is who I am.”
