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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

The LightHouse Arabia is an outpatient facility and operates from Sunday – Saturday, 8 am – 8 pm. 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.

Below are the fee ranges for 60-minute sessions (50 minutes of face time, 10 minutes for notes/clinical admin) for different types of therapy:

• Individual therapy: 795 – 950 AED
• Couple’s therapy: 915 – 1,100 AED
• Family therapy: 915 – 1,190 AED

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

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.

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.

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 Thursday for Saturday sessions). Sessions that are cancelled later than the cutoff 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 Thursday for Saturday 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.

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.

We are honored to offer a range of free grief support groups to the community every month through the Raymee Grief Center. A complimentary 60-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.

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

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