Trauma and Childhood Trauma Therapy in Dubai
Healing from the past to embrace the present
Trauma is not just about the event that happened to you; it is about what happens inside of you as a result. Whether stemming from a single distressing event or prolonged difficulties during childhood, unhealed trauma can leave lasting imprints on your nervous system, influencing how you view yourself, how you relate to others, and how you navigate the world.
You may know exactly what happened, or you may simply feel that something from the past still has a hold on you. Either way, what you're experiencing makes sense, and it can change. With the right support, at a pace that feels safe, the past can become something you remember rather than something you relive.
What is Trauma?
Trauma is the lasting impact of an experience that overwhelmed your ability to cope. It's not defined by how "big" the event looks from the outside, but by how it affected you.
Single-Event Trauma A specific experience such as an accident, an assault, a medical emergency, a difficult birth or a sudden loss. Afterwards, your mind and body may stay on high alert, as if the danger hasn't passed.
Complex and Childhood Trauma Repeated or long-term experiences, often in childhood or within close relationships: emotional neglect, abuse, growing up around conflict or addiction, bullying, or a home that never felt safe. Its effects are often quieter, showing up years later in self-worth, relationships and emotions.
Not everyone who goes through something traumatic develops post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Many people live with some symptoms without meeting a diagnosis, and they deserve support too. The ICD-11 also recognizes Complex PTSD, which describes the deeper effects that long-term trauma can have on emotions, self-image and relationships.
Recognizing the Impact of Trauma
Trauma can show up in the mind, the body and in relationships:
Reliving: Intrusive thoughts, memories, nightmares or flashbacks of past events.
On Edge: Hypervigilance, feeling constantly "on edge", easily startled, or struggling to sleep.
Avoiding: Steering clear of situations, places, people or conversations that bring up distress.
Disconnected: Feeling numb, detached from your body, or as if life is happening behind glass.
Emotional Swings: Difficulty regulating emotions, including sudden anger, panic or deep numbness.
Relationship Patterns: Challenges in forming or maintaining secure relationships, difficulty trusting, or people-pleasing to keep the peace.
A Harsh Inner Voice: Persistent shame, self-blame or a sense of being "too much" or "not enough".
Experiences We Help With
Accidents, assault and other frightening events
Medical trauma, including difficult pregnancies and births (see perinatal mental health)
Sudden or traumatic loss (see grief)
Betrayal and the discovery of infidelity (see infidelity and betrayal)
Childhood emotional neglect, abuse or growing up in an unpredictable home
Bullying, discrimination or workplace harassment
Living through conflict, evacuation or prolonged uncertainty
How Trauma Therapy Works
Good trauma therapy moves in phases, and you set the pace:
Safety and stability. We build trust and give you practical tools to calm your nervous system, so that you feel steadier day to day.
Processing. When you're ready, we gradually approach difficult memories and help your mind and body file them as the past, not the present.
Integration. We focus on rebuilding trust, connection and a sense of who you are beyond what happened.
These phases aren't a straight line. It's normal to return to stabilization whenever you need to.
Our Therapeutic Approaches
Every person's history is different, so we draw on several evidence-based approaches and tailor them to you.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
TF-CBT helps you understand how trauma has shaped your thoughts and reactions, process memories gradually and safely, and loosen beliefs such as "It was my fault" or "The world is never safe".
Somatic Experiencing
Trauma is held in the body as well as the mind. Somatic Experiencing gently works with body sensations to release stored tension and help your nervous system return to a sense of safety.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Skills
DBT skills help you manage intense emotions, tolerate distress and stay grounded, especially useful in the early, stabilization phase.
Schema Therapy
Schema Therapy helps identify the deep patterns formed in childhood, like expecting to be abandoned or criticized, and build healthier ways of meeting your needs today.
Psychodynamic and Person-Centered Therapy
These approaches offer space to explore how your history shapes your present relationships and sense of self, within a steady, accepting relationship with your therapist.
Your First Sessions
You don't need to tell your whole story to begin. In your first sessions, your therapist will focus on getting to know you, understanding how things are affecting you now, and agreeing goals together. You decide what to share and when. If something feels like too much, you can say so, and we'll slow down.
When to Seek Urgent Help
If you are having thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, please seek help straight away. Peninsula does not provide emergency services. If you are in a life-threatening situation or require immediate psychiatric care, please:
Call 998 for an ambulance.
Adults: Go to Rashid Hospital ER (Open 24/7).
Children/Teens: Go to Al Jalila Hospital (800 25 24).
Therapists in Peninsula Specialized in Trauma
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Rita Figueiredo
CDA LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST AND MANAGING DIRECTOR
“Think of us as partners in discovery - using science and heart to understand your story and create lasting change.”
English,Portuguese,Individual Therapy,Couples Counseling,Family Therapy,Adults (18+),In-Person,Online,Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),Constructivist Therapy,Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT),Motivational Interviewing (MI),Narrative Therapy,Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT),Systemic Therapy,Addictions,Anxiety,Burnout,Chronic Stress,Communication Issues,Conflict in Relationships,Depression,Divorce and Separation,Expat Adjustment and Relocation Stress,Family Conflict,Identity Concerns,Infertility,Infidelity and Betrayal,Life Transitions,Panic Attacks,Perfectionism,Perinatal Mental Health,Personality Difficulties,Phobias,Physical Intimacy Issues,Post-Partum Depression,Relationship Issues,Sleep Problems
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Ailien Sy
CDA LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
“I believe that each person’s story is unique, and therapy should reflect that.”
English,Filipino,Individual Therapy,Adolescents (13-17),Adults (18+),In-Person,Online,Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT),Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT),Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT),Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT),ADHD/Neurodiversity,Anxiety,Attachment Difficulties,Burnout,Career Dissatisfaction,Childhood Trauma,Communication Issues,Conflict in Relationships,Depression,Divorce and Separation,Emotional Regulation Difficulties,Grief and Loss,Identity Concerns,Infidelity and Betrayal,Life Transitions,Low Self-Esteem/Self-Worth,Personality Difficulties,Relationship Issues,Trauma
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Lauren Rozario
CDA LICENSED COUNSELLOR
"Together, we will create a space for you to reclaim your voice, step into your power, and lead with conviction."
English,Hindi,Malayalam,Individual Therapy,Couples Counseling,Adults (18+),In-Person,Online,Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT),Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT),Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT),Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS),Solution-Focused Therapy (SFT),Systemic Therapy,Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT),ADHD/Neurodiversity,Anxiety,Communication Issues,Conflict in Relationships,Depression,Divorce and Separation,Eating Disorders,Emotional Regulation Difficulties,Expat Adjustment and Relocation Stress,Grief and Loss,Identity Concerns,Infidelity and Betrayal,Life Transitions,Parenting Challenges,Perinatal Mental Health,Post-Partum Depression,Relationship Issues,Substance Abuse,Trauma
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Shrav Shankar
CDA LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST
“It's important for me to offer you a supportive space, where you can bring anything you'd like to, so that we can figure it out together.”
English,Individual Therapy,Couples Counseling,Adults (18+),In-Person,Online,Psychodynamic Therapy,Neuropsychology,Person-Centered Therapy,Art Therapy,Anxiety,Depression,Chronic Stress,Communication Issues,Relationship Issues,Attachment Difficulties,Childhood Trauma,ADHD/Neurodiversity,Trauma,Low Self-Esteem/Self-Worth,Conflict in Relationships,Identity Concerns,Life Transitions,Expat Adjustment and Relocation Stress
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Rebecca Cobb
CDA LICENSED COUNSELLOR
“Together we can rebuild a genuine connection with yourself and rediscover your sense of fulfilment and joy.”
English,Individual Therapy,Adolescents (13-17),Adults (18+),In-Person,Online,Art Therapy,Interpersonal Therapy (IPT),Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT),Person-Centered Therapy,Psychodynamic Therapy,Schema Therapy,Somatic Experiencing (SE),Systemic Therapy,ADHD/Neurodiversity,Addictions,Anger Difficulties,Anxiety,Attachment Difficulties,Behavioral Issues,Body Image Concerns,Bullying,Burnout,Career Dissatisfaction,Childhood Trauma,Chronic Stress,Communication Issues,Conflict in Relationships,Depression,Divorce and Separation,Eating Disorders,Emotional Regulation Difficulties,Expat Adjustment and Relocation Stress,Family Conflict,Grief and Loss,Identity Concerns,Infertility,Infidelity and Betrayal,Life Transitions,Low Self-Esteem/Self-Worth,Panic Attacks,Parenting Challenges,Perfectionism,Perinatal Mental Health,Personality Difficulties,Post-Partum Depression,Pre-Marital Counseling,Relationship Issues,School Refusal,Substance Abuse,Trauma
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to talk about what happened in detail? No. You're always in control of what you share. Many approaches, especially early in therapy, focus on how you're feeling now rather than on the details of the past.
How do I know if I have PTSD? A licensed psychologist can assess this with you. A diagnosis isn't needed to start therapy, though. If trauma is affecting your life, that's reason enough to get support.
Can therapy make me feel worse before I feel better? Talking about difficult experiences can bring up strong feelings. That's why we start by building safety and coping skills, and why we move at your pace. Your therapist will check in with you regularly.
Can trauma from childhood really affect me as an adult? Yes. Early experiences shape how we see ourselves, how we handle emotions and how we connect with others. The encouraging part is that these patterns can change at any age.
How long does trauma therapy take? It depends on what you've been through and what you want from therapy. Recovery from a single event is often shorter than work on long-term or childhood trauma. Your therapist will discuss a realistic plan with you after your first sessions.
How much does it cost, and can I have sessions online? Individual therapy is AED 850 for a 50-minute session, in person in JLT or online anywhere in the UAE. We work on a pay-and-claim basis with insurance; see fees and insurance.
