Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you want to know about starting therapy in Dubai and the UAE, answered honestly.
Getting Started
The simplest first step is to book a discovery session (AED 500). This is a 50-minute online consultation with Dr. Fatima where you share what you need, ask any questions, and together map a path forward. There is no obligation to continue. You can also reach us by phone, WhatsApp, or email if you'd prefer to talk first.
The discovery session is a dedicated 50-minute conversation with Dr. Fatima. You share what is going on for you, what has brought you to therapy, and what you hope to change. Dr. Fatima listens, asks clarifying questions, and recommends a clear plan, whether that is individual sessions, a specific programme, or a referral if someone else is better placed to help. It is a no-pressure, honest conversation.
You don't have to know. That's what the discovery session is for. Dr. Fatima will assess your presentation, goals, and circumstances and recommend the most appropriate approach. If you have a sense of what you need (e.g. trauma-focused work, EMDR, or help with a teenager), you're welcome to mention that and she will factor it in.
Yes. In-person sessions are available at our clinic inside INK Hotel, Al Jadaf, Dubai, a calm, private, and easily accessible location. We also see clients in Sharjah at Aljada. Online sessions are available for clients across the UAE and internationally.
No referral is needed. You can book directly through our website, by WhatsApp, or by phone. Enliven is a private practice, so you can access therapy immediately without waiting for a GP referral or insurance pre-authorisation.
Sessions & Pricing
A discovery session is AED 500 (50 minutes). Individual therapy sessions are AED 650 per session. Session bundles offer better value: a Starter Pack of 5 sessions costs AED 3,000 (AED 600/session), and the Transformation Pack of 20 sessions costs AED 10,000 (AED 500/session). Specialised programmes for youth and young adults are priced separately, see our Services page for details.
Individual sessions are 50 minutes. Programme sessions may vary slightly depending on the format. Dr. Fatima starts and ends on time, so your time is fully protected.
Weekly sessions are recommended at the start of therapy to build momentum and allow the work to develop steadily. Once progress is established, many clients move to fortnightly sessions. Dr. Fatima will guide you on the right frequency based on what you're working through.
Yes. We offer a Starter Pack (5 sessions for AED 3,000) and a Transformation Pack (20 sessions for AED 10,000, our best value per session). Bundles can be used flexibly over time. We also offer structured programmes for specific goals: youth anxiety, teen support, relationship recovery, and more.
Enliven is currently a private-pay practice and does not bill insurance directly. We can provide an itemised receipt for each session that you can submit to your insurer for potential reimbursement, many UAE health plans cover a portion of mental health fees. Please check your policy details with your insurer.
Online Therapy
Yes. All individual sessions and most programmes are available online via secure, encrypted video. Online sessions are equally effective for the vast majority of presentations and give you access to Dr. Fatima regardless of where in the UAE, or the world, you are based.
Research consistently shows that online therapy produces comparable outcomes to in-person therapy for most presentations, including anxiety, depression, trauma, and relationship issues. The most important factor is the quality of the therapeutic relationship, which translates just as well to a well-run online session.
A smartphone, tablet, or computer with a stable internet connection, a working camera and microphone, and a private space where you won't be interrupted. We use a secure video platform, no specialist software required. Dr. Fatima will send you a link ahead of your session.
Confidentiality
Yes. Everything shared in your sessions is strictly confidential. Dr. Fatima will not disclose any information about you to anyone without your written consent. There are very limited legal exceptions to this, which she will explain in your first session, but they are rare and only apply in situations involving serious, imminent risk of harm.
Confidentiality may be broken without consent only in situations where there is serious and imminent risk of harm to you or another person, where a child is at risk of abuse or neglect, or where compelled by a court order under UAE law. These exceptions exist to protect life and are always discussed transparently at the outset of therapy.
Clinical records are stored securely using encrypted, HIPAA-aligned practice management software with restricted access. Contact data submitted through our website is handled in accordance with our Privacy Policy and UAE PDPL requirements. We retain records for a minimum of 7 years per UAE healthcare regulations.
About Enliven
Dr. Fatima Abdullah is a psychologist, author, and founder of Enliven Counselling Center with over 20 years of experience in mental health and education. She specialises in anxiety, trauma, self-harm, grief, and relationship counselling. She is also the author of The Mindfulness Cure and works in English and Arabic.
Dr. Fatima draws on a range of evidence-based modalities tailored to each client: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), EMDR, Schema Therapy, Mindfulness-Based approaches, and Internal Family Systems (IFS). She does not apply a fixed template, the approach is built around you.
Yes. Enliven has specific programmes for children, teenagers, and young adults, including TeenMind Reset, Teenage Brain Breakdown, Youth Anxiety & Self-Harm Recovery, and Growing Calm Minds. We also work with parents to help them support their teenagers more effectively.
Sessions are available in English and Arabic. Dr. Fatima is bilingual and can work in either language throughout the session, or switch mid-session if that helps you express yourself more naturally.
Still have questions?
Book a discovery session, AED 500. Dr. Fatima will answer any questions in person and help you decide if Enliven is the right fit.
Book Discovery Session