What did the psychiatrist see with a therapy dog?
Dr Graf opens with Dubai’s mix of backgrounds. Despite the melting pot, she writes, simple human things bind people together, and our relationship with animals is one of them. She says most people love animals and the majority of households today have a pet.
Before she worked in Dubai, Dr Graf worked in Germany. Her child and adolescent psychiatric day clinic had a therapy dog named George. She calls him the star. Her young patients had anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders, conduct disorders or depression. She reports almost instant positive effects.
Her examples are specific. Sad and crying children cheered up. Angry or agitated children grew calmer. Neurodiverse children who rarely or never spoke to adults began to talk to the animals. The post gives no figures for the symptom drop it describes.
She adds a few more benefits. Pets help children take responsibility and show consideration. The unconditional love they receive strengthens self-confidence, she writes. Many of her patients in Dubai tell her they want a pet and ask her to persuade their parents.
Does The Valens Clinic offer animal-assisted therapy?
Dr Graf says many schools and clinics have added animal-assisted therapy, and she names dogs, horses and dolphins. The clinic’s service and specialty pages do not list it. Her post describes her German practice and a family decision. It does not describe a Valens service.
Do the post’s conditions match what the clinic treats?
Dr Graf’s young patients had anxiety disorders, autism spectrum disorders, conduct disorders or depression. The clinic’s child psychology page lists stress or anxiety, low mood and behavioural difficulties among common difficulties in children and adolescents. The Young Valens page lists developmental support for ADHD, autism spectrum disorder and learning difficulties. My reading: behavioural difficulties are the nearest match to the post’s conduct disorders.
When should a parent see a child psychologist in Dubai?
The clinic’s FAQ lists ongoing anxiety, low mood, behavioural changes and difficulty coping with a stressful event. A change in mood or behaviour affecting school or home life is a reason to ask. The child psychology page adds adjustment difficulties after major changes, such as parental divorce or moving to a new country.
My reading, not the clinic’s: a pet and a psychologist answer different questions. A pet offers daily company. A psychologist assesses what is going on and builds a plan. The post does not say a pet replaces assessment or therapy.
Book a child psychology consultation
Young Valens is the clinic’s child, adolescent and family site on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah 3. Its page calls the clinic a safe and welcoming space where young people can feel heard, understood and supported. The child psychology page lists Marianne Diab, a neuropsychologist, Dr Rama Kanj, an educational psychologist, and Mira Nasr, a counsellor.
Read about Young Valens, then email info@thevalensclinic.ae. The clinic operates under Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licensing, and its Jumeirah site holds Community Development Authority (CDA) approval.