Speakers

SPEAKERS

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Ramani Durvasula

Dr. Ramani Durvasula is a licensed clinical psychologist in Los Angeles, CA, Professor Emerita of Psychology at California State University, Los Angeles, and the Founder and CEO of LUNA Education, Training & Consulting, a company focused on educating individuals, clinicians, and businesses/institutions on the impact of narcissistic personality styles. Her academic research was focused on the impact of personality and personality disorders on health and behavior. She is an author of multiple books including Should I Stay or Should I Go: Surviving A Relationship with a Narcissist, and “Don’t You Know Who I Am?”: How to Stay Sane in an Era of Narcissism, Entitlement, and Incivility and she will have a new book on healing from narcissistic relationships to be released in September 2023 by Penguin. Dr. Durvasula is a faculty member for the APA Leadership Institute for Women in Psychology, and a consulting editor for the journal Behavioral Medicine. Her work has been featured at SXSW, TEDx, MedCircle, Red Table Talk, the Today Show, and Investigation Discovery, and she has spoken around the world on the impact of narcissism on mental health, relationships, and the workplace. She also operates a popular YouTube channel and podcast (Navigating Narcissism). Dr. Durvasula is also working with PESI on the development of an educational and certification program for clinicians working with clients experiencing the fallout of narcissistic relationships.

Dr. Thema Bryant

Dr. Thema Bryant is the 2023 president of the American Psychological Association, the leading scientific and professional organization representing psychology with more than 130,000 members. Dr. Thema Bryant completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Duke University and her post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical Center’s Victims of Violence Program. Upon graduating, she became the Coordinator of the Princeton University SHARE Program, which provides intervention and prevention programming to combat sexual assault, sexual harassment, and harassment based on sexual orientation. She is currently a tenured professor of psychology in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, where she directs the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory. Her clinical and research interests center on interpersonal trauma and the societal trauma of oppression. She is a past president of the Society for the Psychology of Women and a past APA representative to the United Nations. Dr. Thema also served on the APA Committee on International Relations in Psychology and the Committee on Women in Psychology. Dr. Thema is the author of the book Homecoming: Overcome Fear and Trauma to Reclaim Your Whole Authentic Self and host of the Homecoming podcast which focuses on mental health for those facing stress and trauma.

Professional Track

A Comprehensive Introduction to Dialectical Behavior Therapy for the Treatment of Borderline Personality Disorder

Dr. Arlene Cooke

Dr. Arlene Cooke is a U.S. trained clinical psychologist, licensed to practice by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH) and in the Republic of Ireland. She earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 1996 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and has since accumulated over 25 years of experience working internationally with diverse populations across various mental health sectors in the USA, Ireland, and Abu Dhabi. In addition to running her own private practice for a decade in North Carolina (USA), she has also worked with both outpatient and inpatient (acute and residential) treatment centers across the lifespan and as a Senior Clinical Psychologist in a multidisciplinary community mental health service in the Republic of Ireland for ten years. She has now worked at Maudsley Health Abu Dhabi for 4 years, during which time she has worked to introduce Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to the community, having established the first formal DBT service in the UAE.

Dr. Cooke has pursued specialized training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) through British Isles DBT Training (affiliated with the Linehan Institute), and is currently completing certification as a MBCT (Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy) teacher via the Oxford Mindfulness Foundation (in association with Oxford University, UK). Dr. Cooke specializes in working therapeutically with adults and older adolescents dealing with depression, anxiety, adjustment and coping difficulties, relationship disruption and dissatisfaction, identity and life transition issues, personality disorders, and generalized difficulties with emotional dysregulation. She utilizes an integrative approach by incorporating a integrative mix of evidence-based interventions such as multimodal or “standard” DBT (individual and group therapy programs), DBT-informed individual therapy, DBT – skills only group training, MBCT-L and MBCT-D, mindfulness-based psychotherapy, self-compassion-based approaches, and CBT as appropriate for the client.

Self-Compassion in Clinical Practice

Dr. Alya Sultan

Dr. Alya Sultan is an Omani Clinical Psychologist who provides therapy and assessment for adults and children seeking treatment for a range of mental health concerns. She is the first Clinical Psychologist with Professional Doctoral Training in Oman. Currently, she is the Co-founder of Eunoia Clinic which specializes in Mental Health. Dr. Alya is a certified provider of the ‘Triple P International parenting program which focuses on practical strategies to help parents manage their children’s emotional and behavioral challenges. In addition, Dr. Alya offers clinical supervision for employees and graduate students in the field of psychology and mental health. Prior to joining private practice, Dr. Alya was working at the Al Masarra and Ibn-Sina hospitals, the Ministry of Health, Oman, where she provided psychotherapy and cognitive assessment for clients presenting with poor health conditions, limited literacy, or strong reservations regarding psychological services. She was assigned as the Head of the Psychology Department. In addition to her clinical role, she had administrative and teaching roles where she supervised staff, developed programs and evaluated psychological services at the Ministry of Health. Dr. Alya received her Professional Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Queensland, Australia, and is a Chartered Member of the British Psychological Society. Through her doctoral training, she worked in a variety of settings including Tertiary Care Hospitals, Private Practice, and Child and Family Support Centers. Dr. Alya is a Fullbright alumni. Her Bachelor’s and master’s degrees are from the USA. Dr. Alya’s therapeutic style was shaped by a background emphasizing cognitive behavioral interventions focusing on the development of skills to improve psychosocial well-being. She works with clients to understand their experiences and perspectives while helping to guide them to their best match in evidence-based therapeutic techniques, including CognitiveBehavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, Eye Movement and Desensitization Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness-based, and Motivational Interviewing modalities. She speaks Arabic and English fluently and provides services in both languages

The Surprising Reach of Attitudes Toward Time

Dr. Frank C. Worrell

Frank C. Worrell, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Professor at the University of California, Berkeley. His areas of expertise include at-risk youth, cultural identities, scale development, talent development, time perspective, and the translation of psychological research findings into practice. Author of over 300 scholarly works, Dr. Worrell is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, the American Educational Research Association, and five divisions of the American Psychological Association, and an elected member of the Society for the Study of School Psychology and the National Academy of Education. A former editor of Review of Educational Research, Dr. Worrell is a recipient of the Distinguished Scholar Award from the National Association for Gifted Children, the Distinguished Contributions to Research Award from Division 45 of APA (the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race), the Outstanding International Psychologist Award from Division 52 of APA (International Psychology), and an Outstanding School Psychologist Award from the California Association of School Psychologists. He was the 2022 President of the American Psychological Association.

Drama Therapy a therapeutic intervention for socioeconomically disadvantaged women impacted by Trauma: A psychometric analysis

HH Sheikha Intisar AlSabah

Dr. Lina Haddad Kreidie

HH Sheikha Intisar AlSabah

Her Highness Sheikha Intisar AlSabah is a Kuwaiti social entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, film producer, and columnist whose vision of a peaceful and aspirational Arab world. Her humanitarian work, philanthropic and entrepreneurial initiatives have become even more significant in scope, reach and impact. Her Highness launched a pioneering initiative to heal one million Arab through the use of Drama Therapy after establishing the Intisar Foundation. In 2018, HH Sheikha Intisar AlSabah started the process of launching Intisar Foundation, a UK registered charity dedicated to supporting Arab women affected by war through the creative and therapeutic approach of Drama Therapy. The Foundation was officially registered with the UK and Wales Charity Commission on March 8, 2019, marking International Women’s Day. It is the first and only organization to work on the mental health of women affected by war and trauma in the Arab world.

Dr. Lina Haddad Kreidie

Dr. Lina Haddad Kreidie Academic Director of the NEA/AC Middle East Partnership Initiative for Gender Studies Program at the Lebanese American University. Kreidie holds a Ph.D. in Political Science with a concentration in political Psychology from the University of CA, Irvine. Kreidie is a research consultant on Women’s Empowerment for Intisar Foundation-NGO. Kreidie is a Jerome and Hazel Tobis fellow at the Interdisciplinary Center for the Scientific Study of Ethics and Morality; University of CA, Irvine: She also served for ten years-2012- 2021 as a Council Member of the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy.Dr. Kreidie’s research interest is mainly on the Middle East Region, with a focus on marginalized communities -mainly displaced and refugee women, and on gender and public policy.

Motivational Interviewing for Leadership

Dr. Kristijan Civljak

Dr. Megan Ross

Dr. Kristijan Civljak

Kristijan Civljak, PhD is an Assistant Professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Business Psychology Division, where he expands and develops courses for socio-cultural foundation, culture-centered interventions, consumer motivation, and organizational and cultural dynamics for graduate students. Dr. Civljak graduated with the highest honors from the University of Belgrade and continued his education in the United States in which he obtained his Doctorate degree in International Psychology (IP). Dr. Civljak is focused on organizational development and the role of consulting in leadership, diversity, and inclusion, and change management. His research concentration was on the settlement decisions of migrants, which propelled him to develop a construct map of migrants’ desires, career opportunities, transnational networks, and family values. Besides developing training modules in leadership development from the IP perspective for various organizations, he also creates multiple trainings to facilitate change management in uncertain times. Dr. Civljak serves as a developmental/executive coach and is partnered with national and international clients from different industries in order to inspire them to optimize their personal and professional potential in the creative process of learning, development, and problem-solving.

Dr. Megan Ross

Megan Ross, PhD is a psychologist focused on the experiences and effects of nations, organizations, and individuals. Dr. Ross specializes in interpersonal neurobiology, trauma, somatic, peace and conflict, and organizational and international psychologies. Her work is used to understand our relatedness.

Dr. Ross is the founder of The Ozias Group, a social health consultancy, advocacy, and educational organization where she leads embodied organizational development and health solutions for all sectors. Dr. Ross also operates her own psychology practice and is a professor of Clinical Psychology, Business Psychology, and International Psychology. Previously, Dr. Ross served for over 10 years as Chief Clinical Officer, Director of Program Development, Trauma Awareness, and Clinical Development faculty for national healthcare organizations, and recently was the Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Therapy Through the Arts. In these roles, Dr. Ross established organizational infrastructures and developed cultures of leadership at all levels of operations.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): An overview

Dr. Lina Ashour

Dr. Lina Mahmoud Ashour is an associate professor and the head of counseling psychology department at Philadelphia University, Amman- Jordan. who manages the Department’s physical estate as appropriate, in collaboration with the Faculty. Her research and scholarly interest encircled different areas of mental health.

Lina also is a licensed therapist working with teens, adults, families, and couples in a wide range of ages. She has a wide variety of experience working with clients with anxiety, depression, personality disorders, self-harm/ suicidal ideation, substance/ alcohol use, Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, post traumatic and more.

Lina has experience in group work, supervision/ management, chemical dependency, residential settings, and school settings in addition to extensive outpatient clinic experience as she has her own clinic since 2017.

Lina also has training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), drama and psychodrama therapy, and narrative therapy.

Lina enjoys helping others while using strength-based approaches and integrating various treatment therapies to best meet the needs and goals of her Clients. She provides emotional support and guidance to adults and young adults specifically, focusing on adjustment issues and significant life changes in order to address all needs. She aims to empower her clients to create space, balance, time, and strength to process and embrace their needs.

Integrating Cognitive Behavioral and Islamic Principles in Psychology and Psychotherapy: A Narrative Review

Dr. Angie Cucchi

Dr. Cucchi is chartered as a Counselling Psychologist and a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and is registered as a Counselling Psychologist with the Health and Care Professions Council in the UK. She currently holds a senior lecturing position in Psychology and Counselling Psychology at London Metropolitan University, London (UK) where she teaches on a variety of modules at undergraduate, postgraduate and Doctoral level.

In addition to being an academic engaged in lecturing and research, Dr. Cucchi has over 12-year experience working therapeutically with people in the National Health System (NHS) and in private practice. Dr. Cucchi specialises in Mentalization based Therapy (MBT) and Schema Therapy, but works routinely using Person-Centred, Cognitive Behavioural, Psychodynamic, and Systemic Approaches. In addition, over the past few years, Dr. Cucchi has started training in African Psychology, Indigenous Narrative Therapy and has worked on the development of an Islamically-modified CBT approach. These latest trainings and developments are in line with Dr. Cucchi’s passion and expertise in cross-cultural Psychology and in working with indigenous organisations and Universities worldwide to develop culturally-congruent therapeutic approaches. Dr. Cucchi is a passionate advocate of the need to decolonise the field of Psychology and her latest work reflects this commitment.

Dr. Cucchi’s journey started with a BSc in Psychology and Criminology at Middlesex University, London, (UK) and a placement in a residential home for people with severe and enduring psychotic illnesses, as well as a placement in a forensic unit. These experiences ignited Dr. Cucchi’s passion and she went on to complete a Masters in Mental Health Studies (MSc) at King’s College London and a post-graduate Diploma (PGDip) in Counselling Psychology at the University of East London. Dr. Cucchi eventually completed a Doctorate in Counselling Psychology at City, University of London whilst also working in a variety of adult mental health services.

Dr. Cucchi won the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology (DCoP) 2015 Research Prize and also won the 2015 BPS-DCoP Trainee Prize. Her research and clinical interests lay in cross-cultural issues in the phenomenology and idiom of distress and the implications of this for the field.

Utilizing Cultural Intelligence to Create Conceptual Change and Diverse, Harmonious and Positive Communities in the Middle East and Globally

Dr. Roblyn Lewter

Dr. Roblyn Lewter is an International Psychologist with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field and over 14 years in higher education. She holds a Master of Art in Counseling Psychology, a Doctorate in International Psychology, a Masters of Business Administration degree, and a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration. She has served in both senior administrative and leadership positions as well as Core Faculty roles where her focus has primarily been on students of color, nontraditional students, and other marginalized populations. As an avid researcher in the area of cultural intelligence, Dr. Lewter has provided cultural intelligence, diversity, and human rights trainings globally, with a special focus on training teachers from regions including but not limited to Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Nepal, Morocco, and Turkey on the role of implicit bias, restorative practices, systemic inequities and universal human rights; and how to integrate these lessons into their curriculum. Dr. Lewter is a core Faculty member and Dissertation Faculty Lead at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. In addition, she leads international field experiences for doctoral students globally to regions such as Peru, Ghana, Kuwait, and Germany. Forever committed to addressing trauma, she is also a founding member of USA Today’s “I Survived It” Facebook group, that is committed to providing a voice and a place for resources and healing for survivors globally. Dr. Lewter is also a part of a collaborative research group with scholars from the University of Illinois, Northwestern University, and Loyola University where they present their research at academic and professional conferences globally including the American Education Research Association conference.

Student Track

Trauma Memories in the Present

Ms. Marie Abdel Ahad

Mrs. Marie Abdel-Ahad, a Clinical Psychologist-Psychotherapist (with more than 10 years of experience). Licensed from the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon as a Clinical Psychologist.

Studied a Master’s in clinical psychology from Saint Joseph University in Beirut.

Certified from Saint- Anne Hospital France and Hospital de la Croix in CBT.

Trained as therapist, supervisor, and Trainer in Narrative Exposure Therapy from Dignity Institute. She participated in the study and paper research about NET. Did training for more than 100 psychologists and psychiatrists in Mena Region in NET.

Certified as a trainer from the Ministry of Public health in Emotional Crisis Management and Psychological First Aid.

Certified from John Hopkins University in CETA (Common Element Treatment approach) for Adults and Children.

Certified in IPT Therapy From Colombia University and the Ministry of Public Health.

In 2021 she started a Diploma in Eating Disorders at the American University of Beirut (till present).

Did trainings with Centre of Victims of Torture in the USA in the following trainings:

Ambiguous Loss. Clinical Boundaries and Clinical supervision course.
In 2021 and till present she started EMDR training (a project under the Ministry of Public Health and EMDR Lebanese Association) (actually the last level).
From 2021 till present: Diploma in Eating Disorder (American University of Beirut in Collaboration with Oxford University).

Clinical practice recommendation for psychological services with bariatric patients

Dr. Reham Ammar

Bart A. van Wagensveld

Dr. Reham Ammar

A clinical psychologist with more than 10-year experience in the field of psychology and psychotherapy in Egypt and UAE. Working with both inpatient and outpatient. Providing psychotherapy like (CBT-DBT-Cognitive therapy-Behavioral modification) for teenagers and adults. Performing psychological assessments. Recently working with Bariatric Patients, introducing psychological assessment and psychotherapy for them.

I have a PhD in Mental Health, 2020 and a Master Degree in Mental Health, 2015. I am a co-author of a book called “Introduction for Holotropic Technique” published on 2017. Participated in the international conference of the international association for group psychotherapy and group processes, Egypt, January, 2020.

I am a member in national and internationals communities for psychology and psychotherapy.

Bart A. van Wagensveld

Professor Bart A. van Wagensveld (MD 1995 – PhD 1998 University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands) is a board certified Consultant General, Laparoscopic and Bariatric surgeon (SCOPE certified). He is director of the EASO Collaborating Centres for Obesity Management accredited Metabolic and Bariatric Unit at NMC Royal Hospital in Abu Dhabi, UAE and Lead for Obesity treatment at GluCare Diabetes Center in Dubai, UAE.

He is a passionate medical doctor with a long history of teaching medical students, interns, residents and clinical fellows.

He has a strong Academic profile (over 100 peer reviewed articles, 2 book chapters and member of the editorial board at Obesity Surgery), was chairman of the Dutch Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (DSMBS), initiator and organizer of 4 International consensus meetings and 1 International conference and initiator of the Dutch Bariatric National Registry. From 2023 he is appointed as Adjunct Clinical Professor in the Department of Surgery, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

His research interests are in the field of Obesity and treatment outcomes – Obesity related diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with infertility – Integrated lifestyle intervention and its components: dietetics, psychology and physical exercise – Different weight loss treatments such as medication, endoscopic and surgical procedures – Healthcare analytics such as value based healthcare, health care registries and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programs – Quality of life and Patient reported outcome measurements (PROMS) – Gastrointestinal diseases, Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease and colorectal diseases in particular – Digital health.

Adapting immersive methods in mental health based on VR and AI, supported by scientific research

Dr. Per Carlbring

Mr. Bilal Awan

Dr. Per Carlbring

Professor Per Carlbring is a licensed psychologist and psychotherapist, as well as a specialist in clinical psychology. He is the leader of the clinical psychology research group at Stockholm University (Sweden). He has published over 300 peer-reviewed papers, and the main research focus is the effectiveness and efficacy of treatments for anxiety disorders using virtual reality. Both as stand-alone interventions and as a tool for the psychotherapist to use in-session with the patient. Professor Carlbring is the associate editor of Internet Interventions.

Mr. Bilal Awan

Bilal Awan is a multi-award-winning entrepreneur, visionary and technologist turned successful entrepreneur. His company, PsycReality, is helping psychologists to help people live better social, personal, and family lives by treating their social anxiety, phobias and fears using technology and solutions built by Bilal and his team, which includes 13 psychologists (academic and clinical researchers). Bilal has recently become a member of the American Psychological Association.

A graduate of computer science from Pakistan and the UK, and having previously worked on large technology projects in the UK, Ireland, Europe and UAE, Bilal has developed solutions using new, emerging, and immersive technologies, such as Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence for the field of Psychology. He has won several awards, including Top 20 Tech Entrepreneurs by Web Summit, All-Ireland All-Star Thought Leader in I.T. Security, All-Ireland Master Practitioner for use of technology in Psychology, Outstanding Leadership Award and Top 50 Tech Visionary Award. He is CEO of award-winning start-ups including the Best Start-up of the Year in Europe, and Most Impactful Start-up by Collision Conference and Websummit under UN Charter for Mental Health.

Borderline Personality Disorder, navigating therapists’ challenges!

Ms. Nashwa Tantawy, MA

Nashwa Tantawy is a licensed Professional Psychologist, Researcher, and Speaker. She has eight years of experience specializing in offering psychotherapy, speeches, and workshops in Egypt & UAE for adolescents, adults, and couples with a focus on personality and mood disorders. Nashwa is a researcher in the psychology field. Her research on Domestic Violence against women in the Middle East was presented as a poster presentation at the MEPA 4th Annual conference 2021, and she was a presenter speaker at IPCD 2021; speaking about integrating AI technology with personality assessments. Nashwa is a member of the American Psychological Association (APA) and an active member of the Middle East Psychological Association (MEPA), holding the role of Treasurer of the MEPA UAE Country Chapter. In 2019, following her mission of spreading mental health awareness in the Arab World, Nashwa launched Nafsology by Nashwa Tantawy virtual initiative introducing scientific mental health knowledge in Arabic targeting to increase awareness and fight stigma, with over 30,000 followers.

Mental Health in Aging: Growing Older, Growing Healthy

Dr. Barbara Zaynab D’Elia

B. Zaynab D’Elia, PhD is a Distinguished Core Professor at National University, San Diego, USA. She has been privileged to study under some classic psychologists from the Golden Age of counseling, such as Carl Rogers, Viktor Frankl, and Albert Ellis. In the decades since, she has been involved as a psychotherapist, family counselor, prison reform psychologist, and most recently served on hospice and palliative care teams. Freshly trained in narrative therapy, some of her current research focuses are moral disengagement, healthy aging, and stress and resilience in healthcare workers. Dr. D’Elia divides her time between work and research in Canada and the Middle East.

The Renaissance Psychologist: Broadening Our Understanding of Who We Are in the Context of the Climate Crisis

Dr. Amanda Clinton

Amanda Clinton, M.Ed., Ph.D., is the Senior Director for the Office of International Affairs at the American Psychological Association (APA). Prior to joining the APA, Dr. Clinton served as Professor of Psychology at the University of Puerto Rico where she specialized in cultural adaptation, social-emotional development, and the neuropsychology of bilingualism. Dr. Clinton is a licensed psychologist and a credentialed school psychologist with experience in community clinics, pediatric hospitals, public schools, academic settings, and public policy. Dr. Clinton’s scholarly work includes “Climate Action and Global Psychology” and “Integrated Assessment of the Bilingual Child,” as well as numerous peer-reviewed papers and chapters. She is also Co-Editor of the upcoming second edition of the “Handbook of International Psychology.” Dr. Clinton completed an APA/AAAS Congressional Fellowship in the office of Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) where she helped write the Mental Health Reform Act of 2016 (passed as 21stCentury Cures). Dr. Clinton has won several prestigious awards, including a Fulbright Scholarship and APA Division 9 Educator/Mentor of the Year. Dr. Clinton earned her master’s degree at the University of Washington, her doctoral degree at the University of Georgia and a post-doctoral title in Trauma and Humanitarian Response from the State University of New York.

Preventing Bullying in Schools through Strengthening Social Competencies

Ms. Sara Hassan, MSc

Dr. Nuhaila Al-Rawahi

Ms. Sara Hassan, MSc

Ms. Sara Hassan obtained a Bachelor degree in Psychology from McMaster University, Canada, a Masters of Sciences in Mental Health from Johns Hopkins University, USA; and obtained extensive training in Family Behavior Therapy from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Ms. Sara Hassan formerly served as the Program Administrator of the Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States where she managed the center’s research and training. During that time, she wrote a book entitled “Hands Off: Strategies to Combat Youth Violence” highlighting topics such as bullying, gang violence, school violence, domestic violence, and conflict resolution strategies with the intention of reducing violence among youth. Ms. Sara Hassan also served as a violence prevention consultant in Washington DC and worked as a mental health counselor in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ms. Sara Hassan has extensive research and practical experience in violence and bullying prevention which is one of her areas of interest and expertise.

Upon relocating to the Middle East, Ms.Sara Hassan worked in the private healthcare sector as a Psychologist and Consultant at Al Harub Medical Clinic and later as Director of the Psychology & Wellbeing Department and Senior Psychologist at the Canadian Health Centre. Ms. Sara Hassan worked with a variety of nationalities and age groups, mainly adolescents and adults. She utilized her experience and skills to promote physical and psychological well-being in Muscat, Oman by raising awareness on various mental health topics through radio commitments; through serving as a columnist with a variety of local magazines and newspapers; and through her one-on-one work with clients. Ms. Sara Hassan’s multicultural upbringing has provided her with a profound level of cultural awareness, an invaluable asset to a multicultural group of clientele in the region. Ms. Sara Hassan’s main treatment modalities include CBT, ACT, EMDR, Interpersonal Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. Ms. Hassan currently serves a dual role: Operations Manager and Mental Health Therapist at Eunoia Clinic, Muscat Oman.

Mobile Psychology Studies Promote Inclusivity in Science

Dr. Jacquelyn Berry

Dr. Jacquelyn Berry is a cognitive scientist studying learning, expertise, and human-computer interaction. An Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, Dr. Berry first came to the region as a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in 2019-20 studying interface switching in Arabic-English bilinguals. Dr. Jacquelyn returned home for the pandemic during which time she wrote her best-selling book, Find Your Carrot, about motivation, and also developed reactive artificial intelligence feedback software to help people learn the complex video game Tetris. Since returning to Egypt, Dr. Berry continues to study AI in Tetris and is focused on growing cognitive science in the region. For more information, or to reach out to Jacquelyn, please visit jacquelynberry.com.

Whole Conference Track

Mental health and wellbeing of migrant workers in the Middle East: Challenges, Deficits & Improvements

Dr. Sahana Mitra

Dr. Louise Lambert, PhD

Mr. Sarmad Ahmad

Mr. Shaheer Rizwan

Dr. Sahana Mitra

Dr. Sahana Mitra is a developmental psychologist with the research and training in child psychology. She received both her degrees, Bachelor of arts in Psychology (Honors) (specialization: counselling psychology) and Master of arts degree in psychology (specialization: developmental psychology), from University of Delhi, India. She earned her PhD in Social Sciences from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, India. Dr. Mitra completed her post-doctorate research (on child adoption) and a visiting faculty appointment from University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland. Having received her training in India in Art therapy, Dance therapy, and Sexuality counselling skills and a teaching experience of more than 9 years. Dr. Mitra is currently a visiting Assistant Professor at University of Bahrain and University American College Skopje, Macedonia. Her current research projects are – Advocates perspective on victims of abuse (Bahrain); Digital child adoption (India); Irish-Indian adoption.

Dr. Louise Lambert, PhD

Dr. Louise Lambert, PhD, is a Registered Psychologist, author of the first and only positive psychology authoritative textbook in the Middle East, program developer and professor with almost 20 years of experience in counselling, mental health, not-for-profit organizations, higher education and research, and primary healthcare. Her area of specialization is positive psychology and the empirically validated interventions people can use to achieve and sustain greater subjective wellbeing over time. For example, she developed Kuwait’s Bareec positive education program which is now rolled out in dozens of schools around the country, as well as Dubai College’s positive education program.

Mr. Sarmad Ahmad

Mr. Sarmad completed his MBA from Le University, Madrid, Spain and also has a MEng degree in Chemical Engineering from University of Nottingham, UK. Currently, Mr. Sarmad is a health-tech entrepreneur based in Bahrain. His company Saaya Health provides Emotional & Mental Wellbeing access to Corporates & Diaspora communities across the globe – enabling access to culturally relevant mental health. Saaya Health currently provides services across 6 countries and 140,000 employees in 8 Languages. Clients of Saaya include P&G, Roche, Bayer, Reckitt and other multi-nationals. Saaya Health has pioneered Blue Collar solutions for the population that generally only catered to White-Collar boardrooms.

Mr. Shaheer Rizwan

Mr. Shaheer has completed his BSc, Sociology from University of West Indies, TT&T and is a world-travelled Sociologist, spending time in Uganda, Arabia and the past decade in Trinidad & Tobago. He recently relocated to Bahrain to head Saaya Health’s Migrant Worker programs. Developing the programs data & analytical tools including the basis for interpretations and recommendations for improved happiness and wellbeing in actionable, pragmatic methods. His expertise lies in understanding patterns within social frameworks, and this is employed for recommendations on worker happiness & wellbeing.

The Effects of family Lifestyle on Children’s Overweight and Obesity

Dr. Rashed Al Sahel

Ms. Anwar Bokubar

Ms. Ashwaq Al Kandari

Anwar Bokubar

Researcher from Kuwait, School psychologist,
Master degree in school counseling, and phd researcher at Alexandria University in Educational psychology.

Ms. Ashwaq Al Kandari

Researcher from kuwait
School psychologist
Evaluate children IQ
Master degree in school counseling

Autism Spectrum Disorder, differences among girls and boys

Ms. Hazel Wheldon

As CEO at Multi-Health Systems (MHS), Hazel has the opportunity to engage in two of her passions – helping others and leveraging technology. MHS provides data-driven solutions that help clients evaluate, track and leverage human-centric data to realize individual potential.

Hazel’s education and work experience in School Psychology provided a solid foundation in understanding the importance of well-developed and validated assessments as the basis for understanding individual behavior and creating individual change. From understanding and leveraging strengths in the workplace to diagnosing and treating disorders in school and clinical settings, Hazel has been instrumental in both growing the MHS portfolio of assessments as well as leveraging technology to deliver the assessments and aid in appropriate development and intervention strategies. She has worked in schools helping teachers and parents understand and support children with learning, behavioral and emotional needs.

Hazel has a Master’s Degree in School Psychology, is active in industry associations such as the Association of Test Publishers and the International Test Commission, and has spoken to audiences around the world on a wide variety of topics involving the assessment and development of individuals.

Effectiveness of a Counseling Program Based on Cognitive Reframing in Modifying Attitudes through Addiction, Rebuilding Confidence and Reducing Future Anxiety among Families of Drop-Out Drug Abusers at Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts

Dr. Wesam Abu Ali

I work as a head of the Domestic Violence Department at the Women and Child health directorate/ Jordan Ministry of Health. Practical experience of 13 years, mostly in the National Center for Mental Health, Drugs Addicts Rehabilitation Department. Hold a Ph.D. in Psychological Counseling from the University of Jordan. Member of the network against violence against women in the National Committee for Women’s Affairs.

The Kids are Not OK: risk assessment and prevention in schools

Dr. Vedrana Mladina

Prior to joining NYU Abu Dhabi, Dr. Mladina worked as Associate Victims Expert in the Gender and Children Unit at the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, providing psycho-social care for adult victims of war crimes and children affected by conflicts worldwide. She also worked as a faculty member at Webster University in Leiden, teaching various subjects in Psychology both on graduate and postgraduate level, as well as a clinical psychologist in her own private practice. She is trained in CBT, ACT, and Schema Therapy and specializes in the treatment of PTSD, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, conflict management, secondary traumatization, stress management, and burnout prevention, as well as in psycho-social aspects of investigative interviewing..

Considerations and Strategies for the Mental Health and Well-Being of Third Culture Kids/Adults

Dr. Patricia Perez

Mr. Brandon Kerr

Dr. Patricia Perez

Patricia H. A. Perez, PhD is an Associate Professor in the International Psychology (IP) Department at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP). She is originally from Quezon City, Philippines.

Dr. Perez received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Northwestern University, Master of Education degree in Child Development and Infant Studies from the Erikson Institute, and her Doctorate degree (minor in Multicultural Counseling) in Counseling Psychology from Loyola University Chicago. Dr. Perez has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in child development and psychology on-ground and online across five higher education institutions for over 20 years. Dr. Perez has over 25 years of experience working with young children and families in community-based settings, early intervention, hospitals, family support programs, and in private practice. Her areas of research and practice expertise include children and families, children with special needs, diversity/equity/inclusion/justice/belonging, parenting, cultural competence, lifespan development, child abuse and neglect, global trauma, career development, study abroad curriculum development, acculturation psychology, and third culture kids/adults. Dr. Perez is a psychotherapist, mixed methods researcher, developmental specialist, cultural expert, and global consultant. Dr. Perez provides consultation nationally and internationally (United States, United Kingdom, Ghana, Kuwait, Philippines, Indonesia, Armenia).

Dr. Perez is a member of Division 52 (International Psychology) of the American Psychological Association (APA) and has been appointed as the division representative for APA’s Coalition for Psychology in Schools and Education. Since 2016, Dr. Perez serves as the chair of the scientific committee for the Middle East Psychological Association’s annual Conference and is a member of the School of Education Advisory Board at Pacific Oaks College. She is a recipient of a 2018 Elizabeth Hurlock Beckman Award for inspiring students to establish a concept, procedure, movement, and/or organization that makes a difference in their communities.

Mr. Brandon Kerr

Brandon C. Kerr is a lecturer at Kingsborough Community School, a campus that falls under New York’s CUNY system. With 15-years of behavioral health experience, he has leveraged his Master’s in International Psychology to work pointedly with international students developing programs for them both at a local level and abroad. Brandon has spent the better part of the last decade living abroad spending 4 years in South Korea, 4 years in Turkey, and several months in Armenia studying Russian language. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree with The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in International Psychology with a concentration in Trauma Services. He has chosen to focus the better part of his research on foreign language anxiety and how it affects social acculturation amongst international students. His work is invigorated by his personal mission “Be inspired; Be an inspiration.”

Mental Wellness and Resilience

Dr. Vedrana Mladina

Originally from Bosnia, Dr. Mladina completed both her undergraduate and graduate studies at Karl Franzens University of Graz, Austria.

Working with Parents: How Art Psychotherapy Supports, Informs, and Enlivens Alliances

Ms. Natalia Gómez-Carlier, MAAT, ATR-BC

Ms. Sara Powell

Ms. Mariam El-Halawani, MA, ATR

Ms. Natalia Gómez-Carlier, MAAT, ATR-BC

Natalia has a degree in Psychology from Universidad de Los Andes, a master’s in art therapy from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and is a Registered Board-Certified Art Therapist with the American Association of Art Therapy. Natalia is currently a Ph.D. student of Transpersonal Psychology at California Institute of Integral Studies. She was a co-founder and President of the Colombian Art Therapy Association, taught at universities, frequently presents at International Mental Health Conferences, and is a published author. She has practiced as a psychotherapist for more than 20 years in Bogota, Chicago, New York, Muscat, and now Dubai. Natalia is trained in psychodynamics and uses and adapts different techniques and modalities according to the needs of each individual. Incorporating techniques from CBT, Gestalt, Brief Therapy, Depth Psychology, Transpersonal, Mindfulness, and other modalities, therapy is oriented by the uniqueness of each individual. Natalia speaks English and Spanish fluently and is a 300HR Jivamukti Yoga Teacher.

Ms. Sara Powell

Sara Powell is the founder of ATIC Psychological Counseling Center. She is from the UK, a Third Culture Kid, growing up in the Gulf. She is an Art Psychotherapist and is registered with the Health Care Profession Council (HCPC) UK and a member of the British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT). Sara has over 10 years of clinical experience and has provided psychotherapy to children, adolescents, adults, and families, and facilitated a variety of groups and programs. Sara is passionate about supporting women, specializing in child and adolescent-related disorders, and has worked extensively with people of determination and those who are non-verbal. Sara is a mother to a toddler and during her pregnancy observed a need for perinatal and postnatal mental health as well as an overall lack of early intervention available for children 6 years and below, which led Sara to the introduction of ATIC’s Early Intervention and Child Development services. Sara has overseen numerous projects consulting Government agencies in Singapore and UAE (in forensic settings, with addiction as well as in medical settings, and with vulnerable children and young people). Sara is a published author and has presented at many national, regional, and international conferences.

Ms. Mariam El-Halawani, MA, ATR

Mariam is a US trained art psychotherapist and has an MA in Art Therapy from NYU, New York. Her clinical experience includes working with clients in psychiatric, medical, educational, and clinical settings in different countries including the US, Italy, and the UAE. She has a special interest in working with adolescents and young adults experiencing psychological distress, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and/or identity confusion. Being born and raised in the Middle East, Mariam’s expertise also lies in supporting Arab families in navigating multigenerational patterns, trauma, and difficult relational dynamics. She is passionate about bridging generational gaps and different cultural and ideological perspectives that can sometimes surface in Arab families.

Mariam is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in International Psychology in order to expand her clinical skills beyond borders. She is a published author and contributor to art psychotherapy journals and books. Her research focus includes vulnerable and stigmatized groups and the use of art psychotherapy services as a form of support. Mariam is also a part-time lecturer and has presented in international and regional mental health conferences.

Panel Discussion

Mental Health at a Governmental Level

Mr. Mazen AboulHosn

Dr. Nadyah Alayadhi

CPT Preston Visser, PhD, ABPP

Ms. Benedicte Duchesne

Mr. Mazen AboulHosn

Mr. Mazen AboulHosn, Lebanese national, has been appointed Chief of Mission for IOM Kuwait as of September 2020.

Mazen has been working with IOM for more than 15 years; he started his career in response to the crisis in Lebanon (2007), then moved to Haiti (Earthquake 2010), than to Chad (Libya crisis 2011), and Congo (2011). In 2011, he moved to Turkey to respond to the Van earthquake; with the start of the Syria Crisis, he was assigned as Senior Emergency Coordinator in Turkey to oversee the humanitarian programs and work on strategic humanitarian and development planning including liaison with the Government, the donors community and the UN.

His technical expertise covers humanitarian response programming and coordination in natural disasters, conflicts and complex emergencies. He worked in several programs including psychosocial, education, livelihood, health, and community stabilization. Mazen has a broad knowledge of Migration Management programs including migration and Sustainable Development. He participated, as trainer on psychosocial topics, leadership and people management in several workshops and as speaker in international conferences on Migration including Turkey, Jordan, South Korea, Tunisia and Brussels.

Mazen holds a BA in Psychology and Master’s degree in Psychosocial Support in war torn societies from the Lebanese University. He is also a holder of BA on Tourism and Travel Management and a Master’s degree in Cultural Management from University of Perpignan in France. He speaks Arabic, French and English.

Dr. Nadyah Alayadhi

Dr. Nadyah Alayadhi, is head of Pharmacy at Kuwait Center for Mental Health, manages 5 Pharmacies and 3 Medical Stores at the only Mental Health center in Kuwait, dealing with 940 in-patients and around 400 out-patients on daily bases. The chairperson of the Annual Kuwait Mental Health Conference. Holds Ph.D. in Economy, Development, Pharmaceutical Innovation and Policy Development, and a master’s degree in Pharmaceutical Services and Medicines Control both from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom. The research Orientations includes Essential Medicine List, Rational drug use, Pharmacovigilance, Transparency, GCC Health Profile and Economy, Standard Treatment Guidelines, selection criteria with special focus towards Psychopharmacology and policies to prevent Irrational Drug Use and Adverse Drug Reaction. The research area that are concerned with mental health are the long and short impact of Lorasidone on metabolic parameters, patient satisfaction and waiting time research, Medication error Analysis, Clinical audit for prescribing antipsychotic at KCMH, Memantine uses in Psychiatry.

Dr. Alayadhi designed and implemented several Medicine Policies to protect patients, they are Patient-centered policies that involves treating and monitoring patients with respect and empathy while supporting them in making decisions about their health and course of treatment. The Clozapine Policy has been successful in minimizing Clozapine Induced Agranulocytosis, The Eskitamine Policy helped in managing Patient Dissociation effect, the Benzodiazepine Policy was very successful in minimizing drug abuse and Irrational drug use, The Lithium Policy to prevent Lithium toxicity, Long Acting Antipsychotic injectable policy to manage side effect and increase adherence, Second Generation antipsychotics to prevent metabolic syndrome.

CPT Preston Visser, PhD, ABPP

Dr. Preston Visser, PhD, ABPP, is a board-certified clinical psychologist currently serving as a Captain in the United States Army Reserve at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. He is a member of the American Psychological Association and has served many years on the board of the Intermountain Psychological Association. Dr. Visser’s clinical experiences involve psychotherapy with adolescents through adults in the context of primary care, traditional offices, and home-based settings. He is a state-certified forensic evaluator in Tennessee. Dr. Visser served as Training Director for an APA-accredited doctoral internship in psychology and Chair of an APA-approved Continuing Education Sponsoring Agency for six years before joining the Veterans Affairs Medical Center as a staff psychologist in 2021. In the military, Dr. Visser is completing his 3rd mobilization as a behavioral health officer, with prior activations to Fort Bliss in Texas and Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras.

Ms. Benedicte Duchesne

Ms. Benedicte Duchesne holds a Master’s degree in cross-cultural and clinical psychology from Toulouse University (France). She has been working in the humanitarian aid sector for 15 years, with INGOs, UN agencies, as well as an independent consultant, she was also involved in academic research and lectures. Her technical expertise is on mental health and psychosocial support in complex emergencies, community-based interventions and cross-cultural psychology with refugees and other forcibly displaced populations. She has been living in Vietnam, Myanmar, the Philippines, Madagascar, Turkey and Jordan. Since March 2019, she is Senior Mental Health and Psychosocial support Officer for UNHCR Regional Bureau for the Middle-East and North Africa. She is also an EMDR therapist and particularly interested in mindfulness, meditation and martial arts.

Resilience across populations and contexts influence of culture, early development and neurodiversity

Dr. Maria Weissenboeck

Ms. Roberta Pagliarulo

Ms. Silvia King

Dr. Saddiga AlGhalib

Ms. Anna Kaminski

Dr. Maria Weissenboeck

Dr. Maria Weissenboeck is a licensed clinical and health psychologist and psychotherapist.
After her studies of psychology and human biology, she started working as a psychologist at a women/maternity hospital in Vienna.

She herself developed a concept supporting women, couples, and their babies during pregnancy, birth, and postnatal time.

In course of time she expanded her professionalism studying client-centered psychotherapy (talking-therapy), children and family psychology, emergency psychology, psychotraumatology, traumafocused therapy, hypnotherapy, EMDR, EGO-state therapy, IBT-therapy as well as systemic family therapy.

Simultaneously she started as a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences for midwives and nurses. She also assisted with several research works and published her own book and some papers.

A large part is working as a psychotherapist in her own private practice.
As a supervisor, she is working with international members of different professions, such as medical doctors, clinical staff, psychologists, and more.

She is very interested in cultural diversity issues on all the above specified topics.

Practical workshops for professionals working for the Vienna government departments of health are completing and rounding off her professional life.

Ms. Roberta Pagliarulo

As a coach and trainer Roberta has extensive and more than decennial experience with top management and executives in multicultural contexts, delivering executive and business coaching, she also works as a supervisor trainer and mentor in ICF certification coaching courses (in Europe, Middle East and Asia) and she is a speaker for Italian and international coaching and HR conferences (Edutech Asia, IPCD Dubai, SCAP Singapore, ICF National Conference). She is of the ICF-certified course “Develop your cultural sensitivity for successful crosscultural coaching, mentoring & leadership”. In her previous professional experiences, Roberta worked as HR professional and supervisor in various companies, focusing on recruiting and learning & development. Roberta is a long-life learner and she achieved a Diploma in Executive and Team Coaching, a Certificate in Applied Neuroscience, and a Certificate in Harrison Assessment among many others. Her mission is to help others to live the life they want to belong to, to find their inner motivation and balance among body, mind, and emotions, in order to unleash their authentic potential in their professional and personal life.

Ms. Silvia King

Silvia King is an enthusiastic empowerer of people and Positive Psychology Coach. She is a PhD candidate with Heriot Watt University, exploring Coaching Psychology in a Middle East context, and adjunct faculty. Silvia holds an MA/lic.oec.publ. (Business Management) from the University of Zurich and an MSc in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology from the University of East London (MAPPCP), and is a graduate member of the British Psychological Society (GMBPsS). She is an EMCC-accredited Practitioner coach, a certified facilitator for Mindfulness and Emotional Intelligence, EFT Master Practitioner, Laughter Yoga Teacher, and MTa® Experiential Learning facilitator. As a coach, Silvia works with individuals and teams to help them flourish through 1-to-1 Positive Psychology Coaching, training, and workshops. She has over 20 years’ experience of working in a cross-cultural corporate context. She sees herself as a Positive Psychology life coach with a business edge and an executive coach with a holistic angle. The best part of her work is seeing people discover opportunities they didn’t think existed, finding motivation to change, grow in the process and thrive on the success they created for themselves. Silvia is the co-creator of the ICF-certified course “Develop your cultural sensitivity for successful cross-cultural coaching, mentoring & leadership”. Her publications include peerreviewed academic journal articles and book chapters. She is a speaker, and facilitator and has presented at several international academic conferences. She is a founding member of the Middle East Psychological Association’s (MEPA) positive psychology division and a volunteer with EMCC Global’s Research Development group. Silvia is fluent in English and German.

Dr. Saddiga AlGhalib

Dr. Saddiga Jaber AlGhalib is an Assistant professor in the Psychology Department at Effat University and the Founder of the first ever Positive Psychology and Wellbeing Research Lab in Saudi Arabia. She has a background in educational psychology, research, and assessment development. Her work in the field of Positive Psychology is remarkable and noteworthy. Dr. Saddiga has prioritized ending the stigma against mental illnesses, seeking treatment for them, and raising awareness in the community to develop an environment in which people and their mental health can thrive and flourish. She has organized events, workshops, and conferences to raise awareness, remove the taboo from talking about mental health, and also to connect people with mental health resources and centers in the country. Her passion to help others is inspiring and outstanding. Dr. Saddiga believes that by developing and teaching effective positive psychology interventions that meet the needs of the community, we can give people the tools to work on themselves so that they can live happier and more fulfilling lives. She is also passionate about Islamic Psychology and the positive role it can play in improving intellectual awareness in the community. She actively works with people on a personal basis to help with their concerns. Her efforts to improve the lives of people as individuals and the community as a whole have won the hearts of many people.

Ms. Anna Kaminski

Anna Kaminski, MA Psych., is an international ADHD Coach and presenter, mindfulness educator, and a children’s book author. She has a great passion for using the science of psychology to support people of all ages in leading happier and more fulfilling lives. As a specialist in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), she coaches people towards a greater understanding of its impact, as well as self-acceptance and maximization of personal potential. She is a keen advocate for school and university students with ADHD. She is committed to reducing misunderstanding and stigma about this neurological difference, by providing science-based guidance to families and organizations across the world. Having lived in Europe and Africa, for the last 15 years, Anna has enjoyed the hospitality of the Middle East. As a keen learner, she is very appreciative of the experiences she has had working and living with diverse communities in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Workshops

The Axe Forgets but the Tree Remembers: Guiding Clients through Understanding and Healing In Narcissistic Relationships (For professionals ONLY)

Dr. Ramani Durvasula

Adding Creative Thinking to your Psychological World

Dr. John McCarthy

John McCarthy, Ph.D., is an international speaker, author, and facilitator. In addition to writing two books on creative thinking and problem-solving, he blogs for Psychology Today and has over 60 professional presentations throughout the world. He is a Professor of Psychology at RIT Dubai and has professional interests in innovation, strengths- and solution-based approaches, international mental health, and hope-fostering. Dr. McCarthy is a member of the American Psychological Association.

Aspects of Group Therapy

HH AlSayyida Basma Al Said

Noora AL Ahkzami

Sara AlMaawali

HH AlSayyida Basma Al Said

A well-established Mental Health Clinical Counselor, founder of the first mental health clinic in Oman, Whispers of Serenity and founder of mental health campaign Not Alone. She is also a hypnotherapist and PTSD trainer with over 23 years of experience seeing and treating patients from a wide array of disorders. She holds a master’s degree in Health Counseling in 2008 from Curtin University of Technology in Australia. Sayyida Basma is a pioneer in mental health issues awareness and is renowned for dealing head on with taboo subjects in the Middle East such as abuse and eating disorders. She is one of the few psychotherapists in the Gulf to use techniques such Hypnotherapy as well as her most recently earned training of Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET) for PTSD from Harvard University.

Awarded as International Social Responsibility Ambassador by The International Union for Social Responsibility (IUSR) for 2022, and has been honored as one of the 50 Omani women who have played a significant role in the country’s development and for their achievements in the field of their work by the Honorable Lady, Wife of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik on Omani Women’s Day 2020.

On February 2022, World Humanitarian Forum has welcomed Sayyida Basma as one of the new members of Medical and Health Programming board while The Diana Award- the only charity named after the legacy of Princess Diana has announced about her being the first Arab to judge young candidates around the world who have excelled in social work. Moreover, she was also one of the speakers to the Inaugural of Forbes USA for World’s Most Powerful Women for International Women’s Day where HE Hillary Clinton had headlined last March 2022.

Noora AL Ahkzami

A psychologist working at Whispers of Serenity. Her clinical experience varies from working with children on the autistic spectrum to adults with psychosis and substance misuse and adults with ‘personality disorder’. During her time working for the NHS in the UK, she facilitated group therapy sessions and co-facilitated support groups for carers of people with ‘personality disorder’. After moving to Oman, she ran individual and group therapy sessions for children, teenagers and adults. She regularly contributed to ‘Not Alone’ campaign to raise awareness on mental health. She also ran various talks and workshops on stress management.

Sara AlMaawali

Youth Counselor Sara AlMaawali specializes in dealing with anxiety, social anxiety, depression, interpersonal conflicts and body image using CBT, DBT and Schema therapy.

Poster Presenters

Lina Abuzubaida

Lina Abuzubaida, a clinical psychology master’s student at Doha Institute for Graduate Studies in Qatar. I pursued my bachelor’s degree in psychology at the Lebanese American University (LAU) in Lebanon. Currently, I am working as a research assistant on various topics related to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, and emotional intelligence with my professors in the psychology department at LAU. Following my life-long passion for psychology, I aspire to be at the forefront of a variety of contributions to the psychological research, improve the understanding around mental health, and increase the accessibility of psychological advances to the public eye.

Hessah Alshaalan, PhD student at University of Warwick

I hold a PhD in social psychology from the University of Warwick (July 2022). My field of research is social influence and decision making. Interested in judgment and decision making in different domains and how people change their opinion and behaviour. I did my bachelor degree in psychology at Kuwait University and my master in research methods in psychology at Anglia Ruskin University.

Erusha Nikita Kumar, M.A., PhD – Candidate

Currently a Candidate of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP), under the Trauma division. Miss Kumar is originally from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with Indian heritage.

Miss Kumar received her Bachelors in Clinical Psychology (BSc. Hons) from Trent University from Canada. After completing her undergrad, Miss Kumar went on to pursue her Masters in Psychology with a specialization in Child & Adolescents at TCSPP, parallel to working at one of North America’s largest government educational institutions. Miss Kumar has a decade of experience and knowledge working with the public education sector to assist refugees and newcomers to acclimatize into Canadian culture. Through her work in the PhD program, Miss Kumar has dedicated her time to understanding the impact of sexual violence on refugee females and her future goals is to bring light to topic of sexual violence against women and be a voice for those in need.

Dr. Patricia Tesoriero, PhD

Patricia Tesoriero completed her Ph.D. in International Psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in the Fall of 2022. The focus is on Organization + Systems, with a dissertation on the Psychosocial Implications of Hydraulic Fracturing on Nearby Communities in North America. The emphasis is to shed light on marginalized populations with little to no political voice and seek systematic change to help improve the quality of life for those impacted most. Prior academic achievements include two masters degrees, one in Sociology earned at Arizona State University, and a second earned at Norwich in Diplomacy with a focus on International Commerce. She has also received a Certificate of Teaching License (CTL) from Norwich University as well as Honor Society in Education from Pi Lambda Theta and is certified in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) obtained at Texas A&M University. Patricia has also completed a fellowship with the United Nations UNITAR program in Global Development Initiatives for certification in December 2022.

Patrice Le Goy, MBA, LMFT

Patrice Le Goy, MBA, LMFT is a PhD Candidate at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (TCSPP), pursuing a doctorate in the International Psychology Department with a focus on Trauma. She received her Masters in Business Administration (International Business) from California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) and her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California (USC).

Patrice is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California and a Board Member of a community mental health clinic that primarily serves the low-income, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. In addition to serving on this board, she has contributed to publications about the mental health benefits of remote work among employees in the United States and spousal abuse in the Middle East. She has also presented as part of an interprofessional team on topics including Service Learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and received a grant to develop a program on Spiritual Wellness through Indigenous Healing Practices, which was provided to students, faculty, and staff at TCSPP.

Prior to her psychology career, Patrice worked for several years in the entertainment industry, in International Marketing for film and television studios.

Sara Costa

Sara Costa Certified Recreation Therapist and Trainee in Therapeutic Play Skills Sara is Certified in Recreation Therapy & Creative Counsellor from Portugal, currently working at Al Jalila Children’s Hospital in the Department of Mental Health Center of Excellence in Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates), in an inpatient and outpatient clinic. Sara as with eight years of experience working with children’s and young people in a variety of settings in Portugal and UAE. Currently, is pursuing licencing exam in Recreational Therapy at the Universiade Eastern Washington University of America. Additionally, undertaking post-graduate certification in therapeutic play skills with Leeds Beckett University in UK. Recreation and Play therapy sessions are characterized by an eclectic approach using play, recreation, and other activity-based interventions in order to restore, remediate, and rehabilitate individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions. Sessions focuses not only on the overall well-being, as well, on the physical, cognitive, motor, social, sensorial, and emotional component through and holistic approach.

Sara is an advocate of children’s and young people Mental health, where she attends regular conferences and training around the topic. She promotes awareness of mental health issues to the wider community, supporting families and providing therapeutic healing.

Gemma Hookins M.A.

Gemma Hookins M.A. Qualified Play Therapist, Trainee Clinical Supervisor, and PhD research student. Gemma Hookins is a qualified play therapist from the United Kingdom. She is currently working at a Children’s Hospital in Dubai, UAE (United Arab Emirates), under the mental health centre of excellence, where she provides play therapy within the hospital, and in the outpatient clinic. Gemma has over 20 years’ experience working with children and young people, in a variety of settings in the United Kingdom and United Arab Emirates. Gemma holds a master’s degree in Practiced Based Play Therapy at Leeds Beckett University, United Kingdom, where she graduated in 2019, and awarded for her research on the effectiveness of play therapy with adolescents diagnosed with autism and intellectual disabilities. Gemma is currently enrolled on a postgraduate doctorate degree, researching the effectiveness of non-directive play therapy as a treatment for childhood anxiety disorder in the United Arab Emirates. Additionally, Gemma is a trainee clinical supervisor offering supervision for certificate therapeutic practitioner course trainees and other professionals. Gemma’s background is in education, she has supported special needs children in schools, she held roles in special needs schools as a teacher and taught within a class of Special needs and mainstream children, furthermore, she is a qualified EYFS (early years foundation stage) teacher. Gemma is an advocate of young people’s mental health, within her role in the mental health centre of excellence, and her continued research. She promotes awareness of mental health issues to the wider community, breaking the stigma, supporting families, and striving to help heal the young minds of today.

Aswathy Menon

Aswathy Menon is a trained psychologist, avid reader, researcher and academician. She is passionate about researching psychological trauma, social anxiety, interpersonal issues, and protective factors against developing trauma. She has experience working with students in a school and university setting, dealing with general anxiety, academic stress and interpersonal issues.

Fathima Zeba

Fathima Zeba is an academician and researcher with publications high impact journals. Her areas of interest include mental health, solution focused therapy, cultural psychology, cognition and neuroscience. She has worked on projects involving developing computerized research tools as well as areas of music, cognition and neuropsychology.

Dr Jereesh K Elias

Dr Jereesh K Elias is a clinical psychologist licensed in India, interested in working with individuals who have substance use disorders, personality disorders and common mental disorders. He uses cognitive behavior therapy, motivational interviewing and dialectical behavior therapy to work with his clients.

Abdullah Althuwaikh

I am a PhD student in forensic psychology at the University of Roehampton, and currently living in Wimbledon. I am keen on studying juvenile offenders, particularly in the Middle East region. My research analyses juvenile general violence profiling in Kuwait in order to enhance criminal profiling in regard to juvenile offenders. Additionally, I have been working as a crime analyst for 10 years in Kuwait related to juvenile offenders and child protection. Recently, I have joined the Journal of Investigative Psychology and Criminal Profiling (JIPCO) as a peer reviewer. As a result, I am now up to date in my specific discipline.

I have graduated from Kuwait University KUNIV in both bachelor’s (2010) and master’s degree in criminal psychology (2016) with honours degree. Furthermore, I was a member of the SCAN team in Kuwait, which combats any kind of abuses (physical- sexual – psychological) against children, and a member in a dialogue between the police of Kuwait and the United States (FBI) concerning security and training (2018 -2019). Furthermore, I am now included with expert database of (NAUSS) Naif Arab University for Security Science (2021), which is an Arab organisation and the scientific body of the Arab Interior Ministries Council.

Seham Abdlnaeem

Seham Abdlnaeem is a psychology student in the Chicago School of Professional Psychology with a position in a reputable firm; using and practically implementing academic knowledge and competencies attained into the real-world aspects. Driven and enthusiastic learner willing to incorporate tech-related knowledge into different aspects to trigger efficient organizational goal-attainment.

Dr. Mona Alhamdan

Dr. Mona Al-Hamdan is a psychologist at the Public Authority for People with Disabilities and Director of Top Winner Consulting and Training Company in Kuwait, she has more than 23 years of experience in helping individuals with psychological, educational and social disorders and problems, and she has many scientific researches and specialized books.