What does CBT look like for a child at Young Valens?
The CBT page describes the approach as age-sensitive, structured and supportive. It helps young people build emotional awareness, coping skills and resilience. Parents join in where needed, for clarity, continuity and reassurance.
The page does not walk through a session. Others give clues. The child psychology page says a psychologist may use play-based techniques or drawing to help children express themselves. The choice follows the child’s developmental stage. Its FAQ says methods shift from play for younger children to talk therapy for teenagers.
No page says which approach a CBT session uses at a given age. Ask.
The clinic’s general CBT answers apply as well, though they were not written for children. Many clients notice changes within a few sessions, one FAQ says, and the therapist reviews progress regularly. Another FAQ says CBT may involve “homework” between sessions.
Is there a minimum age for CBT?
The site gives none. The child psychology page covers birth to 18, and Young Valens treats children from early childhood through the teenage years. Lara Daouk, a psychologist at Young Valens, lists children and adolescents aged 5 to 21 on her profile. She also lists CBT, DBT and Family and Systems Therapy. Timea Antal, also a psychologist at Young Valens, works with children, adolescents and young adults and lists CBT, ERP, ACT and DBT. Dr Zara Habib, a psychiatrist who sees children, adolescents and adults, lists CBT- and DBT-informed strategies.
For a child at the young end, ask what the first sessions involve at your child’s age.
Where does a parent fit in?
The clinician sets the level. The child psychology page says a parent’s involvement depends on the child’s difficulties, age and preferences. For older children it asks parents to respect the need for privacy.
Where the child and psychologist agree, parents can help the child apply strategies from sessions. If a child learns a relaxation technique, the page suggests practising it together at home. Young Valens also runs parenting workshops and one-to-one consultations, and its FAQ calls family involvement core to treatment planning.
What helps before the first session?
The child psychology page gives plain advice. Tell your child who they will see and why, calmly and in age-appropriate words. Say the psychologist is there to listen, not to get them into trouble. Choose a quiet moment when they are calm. Afterwards, praise the effort of going and help your child write down questions for next time.
The page suggests meeting weekly in the early stages, so trust has time to form, and weekly or fortnightly afterwards. The psychologist reviews progress against agreed goals regularly with the young person or the family.
The CBT page says a first session leaves you with clarity on possible next steps, without pressure or obligation.
Which four questions should you ask before you book CBT?
Ask whether CBT suits your child’s age and difficulty. Ask what a session will look like: talking, play or drawing. Ask what you should do between sessions, and whether homework applies to a child. Ask how and when the psychologist will review progress. The answers will differ by clinician, and the site does not publish them.
Ask Young Valens about CBT
Read the Young Valens page, then email info@thevalensclinic.ae to ask which clinician fits your child. The clinic operates under Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licensing, and its Jumeirah site holds Community Development Authority (CDA) approval.