A therapist in Dubai can start with a reassurance. Anyone can feel shaken by distressing world events, and the reaction is not a flaw. A November 2023 post on the website of The Valens Clinic makes the point. Its byline names psychologist Nour El Ali. The post calls the reaction a normal, if uncomfortable, response to an unnatural situation. Its main advice is to stop treating the feelings as unwanted.
How does distress from the news show up?
The post lists feeling helpless, anxious, depleted, angry, irritable, numb or full of sorrow. Some people cannot sleep. Others sleep more to escape what they have seen. Many cannot focus at work because what they have seen occupies their thoughts. The post treats the whole pattern as a normal response to distressing events.
Dubai is a multicultural city. A headline from far away can describe home for the colleague at the next desk. If your family lives where the footage comes from, distance does not shield you.
Why does fighting the feelings make them heavier?
The post says labelling the feelings “unwanted” can set the stage for internal conflict and worsen distress. It warns of a snowball effect, which makes the turmoil harder to manage. Its alternative is to accept the emotions as a valid response, meet them with self-compassion and look for healthier ways to cope.
The clinic’s individual therapy page lists Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy and Compassion-Focused Therapy among its approaches. The post names no approach for news-related distress, so a clinician makes the match after meeting you. My reading, labelled as one: acceptance and compassion are the post’s themes, so ask whether such therapies suit you. The page also lists anxiety, anger, and grief and loss among the concerns therapy addresses.
Who should you lean on first?
The post recommends supportive people: friends, or support groups of people who share your beliefs and feelings. The clinic’s site describes no support group for news-related distress, so ask before assuming one exists.
When is it time to see a therapist in Dubai?
The post says to reach out to a psychologist if accepting the feelings is a struggle. It describes a psychologist who gives your feelings space and helps you find meaning. Only a clinician can judge whether distress has become a clinical problem. The clinic’s psychologists assess and diagnose as well as treat. The individual therapy FAQ says an initial consultation matches a patient with a therapist whose expertise fits their concerns.
A first session usually focuses on your concerns, history and goals. The pace adjusts to your comfort. The clinic also offers online therapy by secure video, locally and internationally. If distress ever becomes an emergency, go to the nearest Emergency Department. The clinic has no dedicated out-of-hours hotline.
Book a first appointment
Read about individual therapy at the clinic, then email info@thevalensclinic.ae to book. Every Valens clinician holds a licence from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or the Community Development Authority (CDA).