The clinic’s FAQ page says every clinician holds a licence from the DHA or the CDA. The EMDR page adds a detail on who treats: DHA-licensed psychologists trained in trauma-informed and evidence-based psychotherapy.
What is EMDR therapy?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. The clinic describes it as a psychotherapy method for helping the brain process difficult memories, so they become less overwhelming.
Treatment combines a structured protocol with bilateral stimulation, which means guided eye movements or alternating sensory input. Unlike traditional talk therapy alone, the page says, EMDR focuses on how the nervous system stores distressing memories. The page also says EMDR does not erase memories. It helps the brain store them in a less distressing way.
Over time, many people report reduced emotional intensity when recalling events, decreased reactivity to triggers, improved nervous system regulation and greater emotional stability, says the clinic.
Who might consider EMDR with a therapist in Dubai?
The clinic describes EMDR as commonly recommended for post-traumatic stress disorder, persistent distress linked to past events, emotional triggers and anxiety related to trauma.
The page lists five situations. Persistent distressing memories come first, such as intrusive thoughts and flashbacks. PTSD symptoms come next, such as nightmares, avoidance and hypervigilance. Strong emotional reactions to reminders of past experiences are third. Trauma from accidents, medical trauma, childhood experiences or loss which still shapes relationships, work or mood is fourth. A sense of being stuck comes fifth: earlier therapy helped, but certain memories still feel unresolved.
The page says a structured clinical consultation can help determine whether EMDR is appropriate for you.
How does EMDR treatment run at the clinic?
The approach section lists four steps. It begins with a detailed clinical evaluation of your history, symptoms and treatment goals. A stabilisation phase follows. Before trauma processing begins, the clinic puts emotional regulation strategies and coping skills in place.
Next comes a personalised EMDR treatment plan. Sessions follow an evidence-based EMDR protocol, and the clinic paces them according to your readiness.
The fourth step brings in integrated mental health support when appropriate. Treatment may include ongoing psychotherapy, psychiatric review and medication management, and anxiety or mood disorder support, as your needs require. The page says the clinic does not deliver EMDR as a one-size-fits-all intervention.
What other trauma approaches does the clinic list?
EMDR is one option among several. The individual therapy page lists Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Narrative Exposure Therapy, trauma-focused therapies, EMDR, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Compassion-Focused Therapy and psychodynamic approaches. The page says the clinic’s system helps identify the most suitable clinician for each individual.
A 2024 post by a specialist psychiatrist on the clinic’s site names several psychotherapy options for trauma. They are cognitive behavioural therapy, trauma-focused CBT, prolonged exposure therapy, dialectical behaviour therapy, somatic experiencing, EMDR and group therapy.
The FAQ page says a therapist may use more than one technique or approach in the course of therapy. It depends on the condition the therapist treats, the client’s response and any new emerging information.
What should you ask before booking?
The EMDR page says psychologists deliver treatment and work within multidisciplinary care when needed. Ask at booking which clinician will lead your sessions.
The psychologist page says many insurance companies request a psychiatric consultation before a referral to a therapist. Check your policy first. A family member or friend who wants to attend a therapy session needs agreement with your assigned therapist beforehand, the FAQ page says.
The same FAQ page says you do not need to prepare for therapy unless the clinic gives you forms or questionnaires to complete.
Book an EMDR consultation
The Valens Clinic offers EMDR therapy in Dubai, and the EMDR page says the clinic delivers all therapy in accordance with Dubai Health Authority standards. Book your appointment on the EMDR therapy page.