The 7 Top Counseling Services in Dubai
Sometimes we might need a helping hand. This doesn’t just have to be in the form of assisting you with physical or technical tasks – we can ask for help for our own mental health.
If you’re struggling with personal issues or trauma, one of the things that we can recommend to help you get through them is to seek a specialist.
There’s nothing wrong with asking for advice or counseling, as it is just a more healthier way to cope and deal with personal issues. Here are our recommendations for the top counseling services in Dubai!
How Much Do Counseling Sessions Cost
Actually, there are some organisations that provide free counseling sessions. These are usually backed by the government, although they might offer specific help with issues such as dealing with the pandemic, anxiety or depression.
If you’d prefer to go to therapy at your own time and pace, then you might need to pay for the sessions that you will avail at your chosen clinic. Here’s a brief estimate of how much you can spend per meeting with a counselor:
The Best counseling Services in Dubai
Here’s what we considered as we assessed the different healthcare centres in this list:
1. Positive Living UAE
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Positive Living UAE stands out as one of the premier holistic centers in the UAE, boasting a stellar reputation for its Life Style Coaching and Psychotherapy services. The range of offerings caters to various mental conditions, from individual clinical hypnotherapy sessions to ADHD coaching, Challenging Teens Coaching, Conscious Parenting Coaching, Healing with Addictive Behaviors, Couple Therapy, and Peak Performance Life Coaching.
At the helm is Mrs. Luz Maria Villagras, the CEO and primary Psychotherapist, whose expertise in many holistic approaches she uses to guide individuals, teens, and couples into a transformative journey toward self-mastery. The center’s approach is rooted in neuroscience, neuroplasticity, and a compassionate approach, ensuring sustainable healing for every single client.
As the premier psychotherapist, I pride myself on offering unparalleled, tailor-made services that cater to the unique needs of each client. With a profound understanding of human psychology and a wealth of therapeutic expertise, I provide a safe and supportive environment where clients can explore their innermost thoughts, emotions, and challenges.
My approach is characterized by empathy, warmth, and non-judgment, ensuring that clients feel understood and accepted throughout their therapeutic journey. By utilizing a diverse range of evidence-based techniques and modalities, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychodynamic therapy, mindfulness practices, and solution-focused therapy, I tailor my interventions to suit the specific needs and preferences of each client.
Furthermore, I am committed to ongoing professional development, staying abreast of the latest research and therapeutic innovations to ensure that my clients receive the highest standard of care. Whether working with individuals, couples, or families, I am dedicated to empowering my clients to overcome obstacles, achieve personal growth, and lead more fulfilling lives.
With me as their guide, clients can rest assured that they are receiving the best psychotherapeutic support available, custom-tailored to help them thrive in every aspect of their lives.
My credentials are backed by renowned therapeutic entities such as Marisa Peer’s School of Rapid Transformation Therapy (RTT), the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), The International Coach Federation (ICF), Dr. Shefali Tsabary, Ph.D. Institute of Conscious Parenting Method (CPM), the International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine (IPHM), and the Compassionate Inquiry Institute by Dr. Gabor Mate (CI).
It’s worth noting that booking in advance is essential due to high demand.
The CEO and Founder Luz Maria typically requires a minimum of two weeks’ notice for appointments, ensuring that clients have ample time to secure their spot and embark on a holistic journey towards improved mental health and emotional intelligence.
To book a session with Positive Living UAE, use the link below:
https://calendly.com/positiveliving_with_luzmaria/40-min-short-session-with-luz-coaching
Pros
- Holistic Powerful Tools
- Tailor Made Programs
- Drug-Free Solution Offered
- Excellent Reviews on Services
- Sessions Online and Face to Face (Both Available)
Cons
- Need Booking in Advance
- Availability Might Be a Constraint
- Not Direct Billing With Insurances (Reimbursement only available)
Customer Reviews
I heard about Luz from a Facebook group, while I was searching for a psychologist. I’ve never been to one in my life. It’s the best decision I could make, and it is worth all the money invested:) Luz helped me to clear my mind, to move on with my life and to strategically plan and visualize, step by step my future plans and actions. She is always there when I need her with a piece of advice, she’s empathic, and professional capable to transform you in the best version of yourself.Thank you, Luz, for being part of my journey:)
Ms Andrea Naftaan
Luz! What can I not say about her? She’s beyond amazing, her warmth, professionalism, insight and support is unparalleled.. I am and forever will be indebted to the her and to the person who referred her.
Mr. ET Ahmed
I highly recommend Mrs. Luz. Spending my life with therapists around the world, in different aspects to help myself, therapy with Luz was one of the eye-openers. I have to mention her knowledge and wisdom are touching. What helped me a lot with her was her life experiences which made her much more skillful in helping me. She understands because she lived life intensely that is what I love about her sessions. It’s a “must go” with her. Don’t doubt a minute. She is amazing. Thank you Luz for being so empathetic and great to me. Love you 😘
Paris Faraji
2. ClearMinds
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
ClearMinds Psychotherapy Centre is a clinic in Dubai that provides counseling and assessment for a wide variety of people. The clinic can provide assistance to men, women, and children.
ClearMinds has quite a good range of various psychological therapies that are available for people with different issues. They deal with anxiety, depression, and also help children with different developmental or psychological ailments.
One thing we noticed about this company is that their focus mostly relies heavily on psychotherapy or providing counseling to groups and couples.
We believe that it’s best if you book an appointment here if you are a pair struggling with some issues or a lone individual who would want help with healing or coping with trauma.
The roster of experts here are composed of specialists that have 5 to 10 years of experience. Additionally these professionals are also licensed by the Dubai Health Authority and some even carry licences from the USA.
We think that this centre is a good healthcare establishment for a person’s counseling needs if they would want to deal with anxiety or depression. It’s also a good option for couples who are seeking to mend their relationship or go through a traumatic experience together.
Pros
- Caters to men, women, and children
- Has separate services for helping with depression or anxiety
- Experienced team
Cons
- Appointment required
- Focuses more on individuals and couples
3. Vivamus
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Support | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Vivamus is a centre that offers quite a variety of psychological and counseling services for individuals and corporations in Dubai. With that being said, we did notice that this centre leans more toward providing their services to expats.
Vivamus offers three different kinds of counseling services. These are individual, marriage, and relationship counseling sessions .
Generally what patients can expect during these sessions is that the specialist can help them deal with their issues or challenges such as stress, relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, panic attacks, and more.
We did also notice that they offer specific services in dealing with postnatal depression and challenges during and after pregnancy for women.
Part of seeking help is also making sure that the specialist that will help you in your journey is qualified. This centre has a team of experts ready and available for those who will need them.
In terms of expertise, the specialists here have around 5 to 10 years of experience and most have postgraduate degrees in psychology or social work. They’re all licensed with the Dubai Health Authority so you know that you’re in good hands .
The clinic does encourage patients to book more than six sessions to get a good result. Usually these sessions happen for around 50 minutes and only once a week.
We think that Vivamus is a good option for expatriates and corporations in the city, especially if you need a team that can support you as you navigate around a work and life balance.
Pros
- Expert specialists available
- Can cater to one or more people
Cons
- Appointment required
- Encourages patients to book more than six appointments
4. ATIC
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
ATIC is a psychology and counseling centre that was initially opened in Singapore in 2010.
After opening a branch in Dubai in 2014, the company has given their assistance and expertise to assist people in dealing with their issues and experiences.
Licensed by the Community Development Authority (CDA) of Dubai, the centre also ensures that the specialists that will handle their patients are all knowledgeable and experienced.
The experts here are what we call a team of master degree holders, as they all have obtained their post-graduate degrees. Additionally, their practices are all licensed and approved by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
These experts can help children and older individuals facing issues such as abuse, anger management, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, gender identity, OCDs, and many more.
Aside from the regular therapy or counseling sessions ATIC can also provide their expert assistance towards couples, families, groups and individuals. There’s also an online therapy session for those who can’t go to their clinic.
We think the most unique thing that sets this center apart from its competitors is that they have art psychotherapy, where patients undergo art sessions to help them heal.
Another great thing about this centre is that they can handle sessions of varying numbers of people. So you can come here on your own, with your partner, or with a group.
Pros
- Has different kinds of therapy sessions
- Caters to men, women, and children
- Can handle individual, group, and couple sessions
- Center has licensed and experienced psychologists
Cons
- Appointment required
- Primarily offers one kind of therapy (art therapy)
Customer Reviews:
Professional Staff, Great Therapist
“ATIC is hands down one if the best clinics in Dubai. They have been professional from day one and made me feel comfortable as I started my healing journey. Everyone I have interacted with made me feel welcome and understood however I have to give all my thanks to Khulood, my therapist. She has been nothing but a blessing with her insight and calm demeanour, she helped me navigate a lot of my personal trauma and anxiety and I feel like a different person after 2 years of seeing her. I will continue to use ATIC services even now after moving from Dubai.” – Bakinam Sherif
Quality Care and Services
“Learned a lot about art therapy during our sessions. I was apprehensive to try at first but they made me at ease from the start. Felt very welcome and enjoyed my journey thru rediscovering my love for creating art from the simple, unexpected things. Surely an enlightening and therapeutic experience.” – Alda Alcala
5. LifeWorks
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
LifeWorks is a DHA and CDA-licensed healthcare centre that provides mental health assistance for the residents in Dubai.
In terms of services, this clinic has an interesting range. They go from psychological assistance to aviation medicine, which we think is unique.
Looking at their counseling services, the clinic provides sessions that help children and adults. The experts in the clinic can help their patients with problems such as depression, anxiety, addiction, and post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD).
The counseling sessions are available for individuals, families, couples, or groups. The duration of each meeting, which is held once a week, will last for about 30 to 50 minutes.
LifeWorks doesn’t have a minimum number of sessions you need to take, which is quite nice. They can cater to short-term or long-term sessions, depending on how long the patient would want to meet up with their therapists.
Video consultation is also available for those who will be unavailable for face-to-face meetings with therapists. The company does require patients to let them know in advance if a scheduled session will be via video instead.
Overall, while LifeWorks doesn’t necessarily add something new to the table when it comes to consultations, we like that they offer flexibility in terms of scheduling for their patients.
Also, we recommend this healthcare centre if you want to get some counseling with somebody or a group of people!
Pros
- Has licensed and experienced specialists
- Offers other services aside from counseling
- Video consultation available
Cons
- Booking encouraged
- No walk-ins on Friday and Saturday
Customer Reviews:
Great Therapist, Quality Service
“Nashwa was a life changer for me. She is an incredible therapist who utilizes the time effectively in the session to make you feel like you are getting a ton out of each session. I think that everyone should see her! She is amazing!” – Kennedy Mascarhenas
Easy to Work With Experts
“This is a great place to go for counseling support. Dr. Bassem and his team of awesome therapists are easy to work with and seriously committed to helping their clients.” – Margie Torrefiel
6. OPENMINDS
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Support | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
OpenMinds Centre is a psychiatry, counseling, and neuroscience centre in Dubai. The establishment offers multidisciplinary treatments for people regardless of age and gender.
They cater to children, adults, and seniors, helping them with mental and physical health concerns. Their therapists or counselors assist patients in dealing with issues such as eating disorders, PTSD, OCD, stress, tauma, and relationship problems.
Their specialists are all licensed and very experienced as well. We’ve observed that they all have around 10 to 20 years of experience, so you know that you’ll be assisted by someone who’s been in the business for a long time.
For their sessions, OpenMinds only offers individual counseling. These meetings can last from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on what the patient agreed upon booking.
Speaking of booking, we liked that the clinic accepts billing services for insurance policies from multiple companies. These include NextCare, MetLife, OMAN INSURANCE COMPANY, AXA, MedNet, NAS, and many more.
Depending on the policy you have, you can get some of the sessions discounted if it is covered by your provider. Regardless, we like this aspect of their paying process, and we’re sure that it would be of help to those who have the necessary plans.
Lastly, they offer add-on services for their patients who come in for counseling. These can be in the form of giving them access to support groups or education and training services.
Overall, we recommend OpenMinds Center for their expert specialists as well as their wide range of issues they can help patients with!
Pros
- Licensed and experienced specialists
- Accepts multiple insurance policies
Cons
- Appointment required
- Individual sessions only
Customer Reviews:
Helpful and Effective Treatment, Expert Therapists
“Dr Anna and Dr Shankar have been really helpful and effective in diagnosing and treating my condition. They are very knowledgeable and understanding. I wouldn’t hesitate to continue attending my sessions with them as I feel that I’m way better as compared to my first session. Kudos to the receptionists and nurses as well, for always being patient, kind, and organized. I will be forever grateful to the Openminds team, you are really are a life changer!” – Socorro Bitas-Cuyos
Great Service and Treatment
“New to the country with no job and extreme anxiety and stress. I was taken great care of by the whole clinic and Dr. Shankar. My economic situation was understood and taken into consideration. Thank you for helping me through this new phase of my life.” – William El Khazen
7. Nicola Beer
| SERVICES | Life Coaching Individual & Couples Counselling |
| WEBSITE | nicolabeer.com |
| ADDRESS | The Springs Souk – Al Afnan St – Dubai – United Arab Emirates |
| CONTACT DETAILS | [email protected] +971 509454 233 https://www.instagram.com/nicolabeerofficial/ |
| OPERATING HOURS | Monday – Sunday, 9:00 AM – 10 PM |
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Expertise | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Price | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Facilities | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Support | ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) |
Nicola Beer is a trusted individual and couple counselor based in Dubai, offering her services both in-person and online. With her expertise in life coaching and counseling, Nicola provides a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals and couples to address their challenges and work towards positive transformation. Her counseling programs have gained worldwide recognition due to their action-oriented approach, focusing on rebuilding love, trust, and effective communication.
With over twelve years of experience, Nicola has helped thousands of men and women worldwide navigate through relationship issues, trauma, anxiety, low self-esteem, and addiction. Her approach goes beyond traditional counseling by providing practical strategies and tools that empower individuals to take control of their lives and build fulfilling relationships. Nicola’s dedication to her clients’ well-being is evident in her co-authorship of four international best-selling books and her appearances on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News Network, Huffington Post, and Wall Street Select.
Nicola offers individual support and relationship coaching/counseling, aiming to help individuals and couples overcome emotional challenges and achieve happier, healthier lives. Whether it’s healing from a painful past or navigating a difficult relationship, Nicola’s counseling services provide guidance and support in finding resolutions and developing new coping strategies.
With an extensive list of credentials, including certifications in hypnotherapy, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), grief and loss recovery, and addiction coaching, Nicola brings a diverse range of tools and techniques to her counseling sessions. She also offers free podcast shows that cover topics such as romantic relationships, self-esteem, and healthy eating habits, providing additional support to those seeking guidance.
To embark on a journey towards personal and relationship growth, individuals can book a free 20-minute private introduction call with Nicola or explore her breakthrough sessions. These sessions provide clarity, understanding, and motivation to overcome challenges, leaving clients with renewed confidence and recommended action steps to create a happier life.
Nicola Beer’s counseling services extend beyond relationships and include support for anxiety, depression, anger management, addiction recovery, and trauma healing. She also offers business mentorship programs for those looking to start or grow their healing or life coaching businesses.
If you are seeking a trusted counselor who combines expertise, compassion, and practical solutions, Nicola Beer is dedicated to helping you create a vibrant and blissful life. Contact her today to begin your journey towards a happier and healthier future.
Pros
- Trusted counselor offering worldwide recognized counseling programs.
- Practical strategies for positive transformation and fulfilling relationships.
- Diverse expertise and support for personal and business growth.
Cons
- Appointment required
- Individual sessions only
Customer Reviews
She is worth every penny
“I’ve met with Nicola a few times and she is incredible. She has always been able to get to the root of the issue so quickly and give me the exact advice I needed at the time. She is worth every penny I have ever spent. Her programs and meditations are also incredible and life changing. She is truly gifted and I am so thankful that I found her. She has helped me through several of life’s obstacles and I cannot say enough good about her. If you need help and you’re unsure of where to turn, turn to Nicola. You won’t regret it, I promise.” – Rebeka Flansburg
Personal and personable
“Nicola’s approach in life and career coaching has been incredible. Personal and personable, she makes you feel listened to and provides easy to follow advice. Thank you Nicola!” – Hakam Saadi
FAQs About counseling Services in Dubai
If you’re looking for mental health assistance, here’s our top picks for the best clinics for such issues in Dubai!