What did the child psychiatrist notice about mothers in Dubai?
Dr Graf describes mothers who balance roles at home and in their careers. They arrive asking about a child, and their wellbeing takes a back seat. In Dubai, she writes, mothers face immense pressure to be perfect in every aspect. She links the relentless pursuit of perfection to burnout. The burnout reaches the children too, she says.
She calls the pattern a global issue. A mother’s mental state can influence her child’s emotional and psychological development, she writes. Her advice is short. Take time for yourself. A spa weekend, an evening with friends or a quiet moment with a good book all count. She calls such acts necessary rather than selfish.
A second post, from April 2024, returns to the load. Dr Graf writes of young mothers with small children and professional duties. They carry a great challenge and a burden, she says.
Is self-care enough?
The clinic’s post on emotional self-care offers a journal, a break from social media, a firm no and healthy boundaries as examples. It also says such activities are no substitute for professional assistance. Some people may still need a professional if their situation gets severe.
My reading, not the clinic’s: when a rest day changes nothing, a psychologist is the next sensible step.
When does a mother need a psychologist in Dubai?
The individual therapy page lists anxiety, depression, relationship difficulties, self-esteem issues and life transitions among its concerns. Izabel Tytar’s profile lists burnout and stress. Alison Kuit’s profile lists Parent Guidance and Family Support, and she works with adolescents and adults.
A child’s difficulty and a mother’s strain can share one calendar. The clinic runs two sites. Business Bay is the adult psychiatry and psychology flagship. Young Valens, on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah, serves children, adolescents and families.
What does parent support at Young Valens involve?
The Young Valens page describes parenting workshops and one-on-one consultations. Topics include behavioural challenges, emotional resilience and discipline strategies. Its FAQ calls family involvement core to treatment planning.
Parent support serves the child’s plan. Therapy for the mother is a separate decision. The individual therapy page lists Business Bay and Young Valens as locations. When you write to the clinic, you can ask about each.
Who hears what a mother says?
The confidentiality FAQ says the clinic follows the DHA regulations in force in Dubai. Clinicians and staff speak to nobody but the patient unless the patient authorises contact. In an immediate emergency, the treating clinician may breach confidentiality with the relevant parties. The clinician shares only strictly necessary information.
Book therapy for yourself
Read about individual therapy, then email info@thevalensclinic.ae. The clinic operates under Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licensing, and its Jumeirah site holds Community Development Authority (CDA) approval.