Clinical therapist Andrew Wright. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
Clinical therapist Andrew Wright. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
Clinical therapist Andrew Wright. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National
Clinical therapist Andrew Wright. Jeffrey E Biteng / The National

Dubai gets art therapy clinic to help troubled children


Nick Webster
  • English
  • Arabic

DUBAI // Providing psychological help to troubled children is becoming easier as the first art therapy clinic in Dubai sets up shop.
Studies point to a lack of trained child therapists in the UAE, and psychiatrists are in short supply.
At a discussion on health reforms this month, Dr Klaus Boecker, a consultant and health policy adviser in Abu Dhabi, said there was "plenty of scope for improvement" in psychiatry.
The Art Therapy International Centre has opened at Al Hawai Tower, near Dubai International Financial Centre.
Counsellors at the centre are leading the way with a new programme to help children overcome traumatic experiences.
Sara Powell, 31, is an art therapist who has seen successful methods in Singapore.
"The Government is doing a good job of educating people about mental health issues in the UAE, such as autism, but more can be done," she said.
"I see this industry at the beginning, with lots of areas that need work. Autism, addiction and eating disorders are key areas."
Art and play are proven methods to help children open up and help those with limited verbal skills communicate.
That is a starting point to allow clinicians an insight into their world, so that the right therapy can be provided. "This could be because the child is completely traumatised due to abuse or neglect," said Mrs Powell. "Kids will often draw through metaphor or fantasy to describe how they are feeling. They may draw a picture of a girl being hit by a monster, for example. That allows them to process that trauma in a safe way."
A high-functioning autistic boy, 11, found that drawing trains eased his anxiety.
He always felt different, imagining he had a condition much worse than autism.
He drew to show what it was like being autistic, so he could educate others and attain a sense of control.
Pashmi Khara, a psychologist resident in Al Barsha, said art therapy had been proven to work for children and could also be used to treat traumatised adults.
"People are beginning to realise that there is help to address problems they may have ignored in the past. The challenge now is leading them towards the correct services," she said.
The therapy can also be used to treat people with eating disorders.
Often, patients use art materials in a way that reflects their use of food. If they tend to overeat, they would use large quantities of paint in a parallel expression of their relationship with food.
Those with anorexia would use only a pencil and restrict the range of materials they use in the art therapy room. It helps clinicians understand their needs to help with rehabilitation.
"It is not important to be skilled at art, the therapy is there to facilitate the creative process. It can be quite liberating," said Andrew Wright, 40, an art therapist at the clinic.
"People with addiction problems can be quite defensive. Creativity is a form of escapism that young people can use instead of drugs or crime."
nwebster@thenational.ae

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Company profile

Name: Tharb

Started: December 2016

Founder: Eisa Alsubousi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: Luxury leather goods

Initial investment: Dh150,000 from personal savings

 

What should do investors do now?

What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor? 

Should I be euphoric?

No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.

So what happened?

It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.

"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."

Should I buy? Should I sell?

Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.

"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.

All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.

Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.

Will the rally last?

No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.

"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."

Skewed figures

In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458. 

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