Naeema Abdulla Al Ali’s mission in life is simple: to help people.
She was diverted onto this path by a chance suggestion from a friend back in university.
“I was studying maths and physics when a friend of mine, studying psychology, asked me to join her for one of the lectures,” she recalls.
“I loved it. I love how psychology touches the personality ... how it explains everything about a human being,” says the senior clinical psychologist, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the field. “Psychology helps us understand each other, helps communities communicate and helps the individual person fulfil their needs socially, psychologically and physically.”
Al Ali has worked across the UAE, including at Al Amal Hospital, Tawam Hospital and Al Sayegh Clinic, and has been with Emirates Airline since 2004.
But her greatest passion is volunteer work with anyone needing a sympathetic ear, particularly those with terminal illnesses.
“There are too many stories that touched my soul and heart,” she says. “My brother and I worked together volunteering and helping people for more than 25 years. He was always so positive ... ironically, while he was the healthiest in the family, he didn’t know he had cancer until it was too late. He passed away last year.
“The reason I am mentioning his story is to inspire people to always check their health regularly, to be able to catch cancer and other illnesses at early stages.”
Al Ali says that misconceptions about psychologists can mean that people avoid going to them for help.
“Psychologists can change lives – they help and support and give advice on the best ways of overcoming issues in life. It is not shameful to seek help, but it is a shame to reach a stage where it is difficult to help.”
