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your light

The LightHouse Arabia is a community mental health and wellness center providing high quality outpatient services to children, adults, couples and families.

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Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Our trainings equip individuals and organizations with the skills needed to identify and assist someone who is developing a mental health challenge or is experiencing a mental health crisis.

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Guiding grief

The Raymee Grief Center provides free one-one-one consultations and support groups for individuals and families affected by grief. No one should have to grieve alone.

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Positively changing your life

Our monthly events for the community include workshops, trainings, support groups and grief support groups. With events across the age range and life stage, we are here to help.

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COVID-19 Mental Health and Wellbeing Services Learn More

What We Do

The LightHouse Arabia is an out-patient facility located in central Dubai and licensed by the Dubai Health Authority and the Community Development Authority. We are an international team of over 30 psychologists, psychiatrists, occupational and speech & language therapists working together to provide integrated care for our clients. 

With a community service agenda, our team is committed to transforming mental health in the region. We dedicate significant effort and time working with corporations, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to building awareness and promoting mental wellness through our educational workshops, talks and training programs, such as Mental Health First Aid.

Home to the Raymee Grief Center, our free-of-charge grief support service is the first of its kind in the region. It is open to anyone that is grieving the loss of a loved one, no matter when the loss occurred.

We also provide invaluable experience for assistant psychologists hoping to pursue a career in psychology, and run an internship program for recent university graduates to help train the next generation of exemplary clinicians.

The LightHouse Arabia does not provide crisis response services. If you are feeling vulnerable and need immediate support, please refer to our Frequently Asked Questions below to see here for a list of Emergency Contact places and services in the UAE that will provide emergency care.  

Our Services

We provide support to clients across the age range and life stages. Our clinicians are trained in a wide range of therapeutic tools to support on your wellbeing journey.

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#DiscoverYourLight

The quieter you become, the more you can hear.

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Featured Events

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Mood & Motherhood in Early Years (Panel Discussion)

Date
20 March 2024
Age
Adults (18 Yrs+)
Event type
Webinars
Book Now

TEEN Val-YOU 2024 (Visioning, Leadership & Vision Boarding)

Date
20 March 2024
Age
Teens (13 – 18 Yrs)
Event type
In-Person Workshop
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Adult-to-Adult Mental Health First Aid Online Training

Date
21 March 2024
Age
Adults (18 Yrs+)
Event type
Trainings & Courses
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In their own words

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 showing me the beauty and the strength that lays within me.

Male, 39

Award Winning CEO and Entrepreneur

I sought out grief counseling after my wife’s sudden demise, leaving behind two teenage children. I knew therapy would help ease the pain. Therapy gave me immediate perspective on a major crisis, during the most difficult period of my life. It did not bring my wife back, but certainly aided us in the journey to rehabilitation, given how devastating her passing away was for us. The ambiance in The LightHouse is soothing to start with. The grief support sessions were an eye opener and gave me space to be myself without being embarrassed to express my fears, as well as to shed my tears.

Male

Consultant

The UAE is a new country and needs community work to address mental illness. Thank you, The LightHouse Arabia for bringing qualified professionals who are creating an amazing Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) program to educate this part of the world about mental health.

Male

Emirati

I loved the parenting talk at The LightHouse! I feel energized and hopeful about what I now need to do for my kids and my family. Thank you.

Mother of three children

Expat

Thank you so much for your presentation today – it was really engaging and motivating. The event was a huge success with some really positive feedback from our company. Thanks to you and the team for a great event. I really benefitted from the presentation and was pleased to learn about the presence of The LightHouse Arabia. What a great service!

Female

Partner at an International Law Firm

Thank you for such a thought-provoking session. I loved creating my first vision board at the Val- YOU workshop. It’s a true reflection of my visions and I look forward to watching it manifest. The stunning, welcoming space created at The LightHouse Arabia is tranquil, calm and relaxing – the perfect space to bring out the creativity in all.

Female, mid-30’s

Serving the Community

We exist for, and because of the community, and we continuously strive to better care for our clients, proactively respond to our community, and to extend a helping hand to whoever reaches out to us for support and partnership.

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Supporting Personal Healing Journeys

Whether you are struggling, strained or uninspired, we can help you achieve relief, balance, and vitality. Dedicated to meet clients at various stages of their journey towards mental wellbeing and happiness, we are here for you.

Our Services

Building Healthier Schools

Serving the education sector across the region, we have extensive know-how about the challenges and stressors that schools face. We collaborate with, and support, many schools and understand the types of difficulties facing teaching and administrative staff, learners, and their parents. Learn how our suite of educational services can support your school’s specific needs and wellbeing aspirations.

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Improving Workplace Resilience

We are facilitators of personal transformations that result in healthier, better functioning, and more satisfied employees, who are in greater synergy with their organizations. Learn how our world-class clinical and consulting skills and customized corporate and workplace programs can help your teams and organization.

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Raymee Grief Center

The Raymee Grief Center provides free one-on-one consultations and support groups for individuals and families who are affected by grief. Run by therapists at The LightHouse Arabia, the center can help you to understand what to expect from grief, how grief can impact you, and how to heal you and your family.

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Mental Health First Aid

Mental Health First Aid is the equivalent to physical first aid and training, but for mental health.

It teaches individuals and organizations how to identify, understand, and respond to the signs that someone in your life may be struggling with their mental health. Offering evidence-based courses and trainings for adults and teens, The LightHouse Arabia is the only accredited provider of MHFA in the UAE.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Psychiatry or Psychology?

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Psychiatry is the medical treatment of the psyche and is practiced by medical doctors (psychiatrists) who have undergone specialist training in understanding, diagnosing and treating mental health issues. Psychiatrists can provide therapeutic interventions and prescribe medications.

Psychology is the science of the psyche and is practiced by psychologists who have studied for at least five years and have received specialist training in human behavior – both normal and abnormal. Psychologists can provide therapeutic interventions but they cannot prescribe medications.

What is a therapist?

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PSYCHOLOGIST

A psychologist is trained to help people cope more effectively with life issues and mental health problems – anything from depression to anxiety to learning disorders. All psychologists are trained to a minimum of Master’s level and most clinical psychologists will have a PhD, which means that they have completed a research thesis in their chosen area of specialty.

Psychologists use various methods including psychotherapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), mindfulness and psychodynamic therapy, and can work with individuals, couples, families or other groups. They are also trained to administer and interpret tests and assessments, such as intellectual and cognitive functioning, which screen for concerns like ADHD, ASD or dyslexia.

The main difference between counselling and clinical psychology is their perspective and training. Counselling psychologists focus more on the individual who is experiencing mild to moderate levels of distress in their social, occupational, or academic functioning. While a clinical psychologist can work with similar populations and also more serious presentations such as psychosis, major depression, and personality disorders to name a few.

PSYCHIATRIST

A psychiatrist is a physician who has completed a specialty in psychiatry following their training as a doctor. Psychiatrists will evaluate medical and psychological data to make a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan and suitability for medication. Psychiatrists will prescribe medication to help restore imbalances in body chemistry that are often a large part of mental illnesses. They will use medication and psychotherapy to treat anyone suffering from a short or long-term mental health problem.

COACH

Personal coaches can be qualified psychologists, psychiatrists or counselors. Coaching is often for those individuals who are already succeeding and want to succeed further.

Psychologists often work to a prescribed method and follow a particular clinical model; alternatively, coaching has few tangible rules and is more focused on empowering functional individuals.

Where will the therapy take place?

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Currently, therapy sessions are taking place both online via Zoom and in-person, at The LightHouse Arabia. We will continue to do our best to serve you in-line with any personal situation or preference you may have, and with appointment availability and the health & safety protocols that are currently in place. Our priority is always to make you feel comfortable and at ease, whether your session is taking place online or in-person at the center.

Online therapy

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Have your session from the comfort of your own home. The LightHouse Arabia offers online therapy across the age range – for adults, teens and children. Sessions take place via Zoom meetings, and simple-to-follow set up instructions are shared in advance. Online therapy services provide the much-needed relief and solution for our complex worlds when needed. Like in-person therapy, online therapy is conducted in the same manner; a supportive relationship that the clinician upholds for the client, addressing the increasing issues related to work and life stress, anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties,  parenting, family dynamics, and beyond.

Learn more by viewing our Frequently Asked Questions for online therapy and the Benefits of Online Therapy (an Infographic).

You can also visit our Online Therapy service page

How long does therapy take?

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The amount of therapy you may need is based on:

  • The nature, severity and duration of the presenting problem
  • Individual resilience and coping style
  • The amount of social support
  • Current life stress

Some problems respond to brief therapy approaches, while others will require a longer period of time and more intense therapy to achieve relief, healing and change. Your therapist will discuss this with you at your first appointment.

How will therapy make me feel?

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Therapy can be demanding, emotional and draining, and it’s normal for things to appear to get worse before they get better. In the short-term, you may feel anxious as you deal with emotional issues. Your relationships may change as you make changes in your personal life. In the long-term, therapy can solve specific mental and emotional problems, increase your self-awareness, and restore balance in your life. Typically, therapy is not a quick fix so don’t expect a miracle cure after one session. Our expert therapists focus on introducing structured change that you can maintain long after therapy has concluded, and they will work through your issues at a carefully managed pace.

Confidentiality

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Your confidentiality is of the utmost importance to us, and we give the following guarantees:

  • Your therapist and the office staff are the only people who have direct access to your file. Nobody outside of the clinic can view it unless you provide written permission.

  • All staff members at The LightHouse have been trained to protect your privacy, and have signed an agreement not to release information outside of the clinic.

  • We will never disclose that you are a client at The LightHouse Arabia unless we have your written or verbal consent to do so; this is different in the case of minors, where we have to report attendance to the parents.

  • It is our policy to not send reports or notes via email to protect your confidentiality. If your child’s school requires reports from the clinic, only you as parents can provide these; we will not send them directly from the clinic.

  • Only the Dubai Government can demand access to your files in the event of a legal proceeding or court case involving you.

Hours of Operation

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The LightHouse Arabia is an outpatient facility and our operating hours are as follows:
Monday - Friday: 8am – 8pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: 9am - 6pm

Please note that The LightHouse Arabia is an outpatient facility and does not provide crisis services. In the event of a psychiatric emergency and/or if you are feeling vulnerable and need immediate support due to mental or emotional distress, please attend the nearest hospital with psychiatric admission.

Should you require urgent after-hour services, immediate support or emergency care, please visit Al Amal Hospital (for adults) or Al Jalila Hospital (specifically for children and adolescents under 21). Contact details are as follows: Al Amal Hospital: 04 519 2500 and Al Jalila Hospital: 04 281 1000.

Fees, Billing & Payment

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Fees are based on the qualification, experience and expertise of the Clinician. Please contact us for specific information regarding our clinicians.

There is a one-time 50 AED registration fee for file set up, payable before the first session. This fee is not inclusive of prescription charges, reports or letters requested. Clients can expect to be notified of any changes in fees 30 days prior to the effective date.

Payments are made online before each appointment, via a secure payment link that will be sent to your registered email address. Alternatively, payment can be made in-person at our clinic in advance of appointments (cash, credit/debit card, check).

If the account is more than 60 days in and suitable arrangements have not been made, The LightHouse Arabia has the option of using legal means to secure payment. Services may be terminated if payments are in arrears.

Insurance

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The LightHouse Arabia works on a pay-and-claim basis, therefore no direct billing is available. We encourage you to check your insurance policy to find out if it covers Psychology or Psychotherapy and whether a referral from Psychiatry or pre-approval is required. For Psychotherapy, please know that it will take two to three visits before the reimbursement form is completed, as Clinicians need more than one visit to provide an accurate diagnosis, which is required on the claim form.

Cancellations and Non-Attendance of Sessions

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If for any reason a client is unable to attend a scheduled session, they are requested to contact The LightHouse Arabia as soon as possible and no later than 12.00pm noon the day before the scheduled time (or 12.00pm noon on Friday for Sunday sessions, as we are closed on Saturday). Sessions that are cancelled later than the cut-off time or missed without notification will be charged as follows:

  • Sessions for adult individuals/couples/families: charged at the full fee
  • Sessions for individuals aged 18 years and under: charged at 50% of the full fee

Please note, insurance companies do not cover missed sessions.


Should a clinician/therapist/psychiatrist make a short-notice cancellation after 12.00pm noon on the previous day for any reason (or 12.00pm on Friday for Sunday sessions) – whether it is an emergency or not – the fee for the next session will be waived. For clients aged 18 years and under, there will be a 50% discount applied.

Discounts and Packages

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Unfortunately, we do not have any discounts or packages. However, discount requests can be forwarded to our Clinical Director after the first session for consideration.

Grief Support Groups/Grief Consultations

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We are honored to offer a range of free grief support groups to the community every month through the Raymee Grief Center. A complimentary 50-minute Grief Consultation is required prior to attending our Grief support groups. Kindly contact us to schedule your Grief Consultation on T. +971 (0)4 380 2088.

Concerns or Complaints

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If there is a problem or dispute between you and your therapist, or if you have any concerns about your treatment, please contact the Clinical Director of The LightHouse Arabia, Dr. Tara Wyne

Emergency Contacts in the UAE

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The LightHouse Arabia is an out-patient facility and does not provide crisis response services.

In the event that you experience a psychiatric emergency, or are seriously considering self-harm or suicide, or pose a risk to another, a safety protocol needs to be in place that includes informing your emergency contact and attending the nearest hospital with psychiatric admission.

If you are feeling vulnerable and need immediate support, the following places will provide emergency care:

Rashid Hospital, ER (Oud Metha)
T. 04 219 1000/2000

Al Amal Hospital (Al Aweer)
T. 04 519 2154

Al Jalila Hospital (Al Jaddaf)
For 18 years and under
T. 800 2524

Foundation for Women & Children (Al Aweer)
T.
04 606 0300
T. 800 111 SMS: 5111 (Helpline)

CDA Child Protection
T. 800 988
E. child@cda.gov.ae

#DiscoverYourLight
@lighthousearabia