A quick and easy alphabetized reference to common concepts we encounter in our practice .
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Psychotherapy and Assessments
Our clinicians use a variety of therapeutic modalities, often integrating and adapting them to suit the needs of our clients.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Clinicians offering ACT at MapleTree use this modality to help individuals become psychologically flexible by accepting difficult thoughts and emotions and commitment to life changes that align with their personal values.
Aeromedical neurocognitive assessments
MapleTree offers cognitive and psychological testing and counseling for the aviation industry in the UAE, including evaluations for pilot performance, decision-making, and stress.
Attachment-based therapy
Issues that arise from attachment disruptions in childhood can be addressed through attachment-based approaches in psychotherapy. This may include identifying and working with anxious, avoidant, dismissive, and secure attachment styles and relational experiences.
Bariatric assessment
A mental health assessment conducted at MapleTree in Dubai before bariatric surgery to evaluate a patient’s readiness for the procedure and their ability to make the necessary lifestyle changes. It also screens for mental health conditions that could affect post-surgical success.
Brain Working Recursive Therapy (BWRT)
MapleTree uses this relatively new form of psychotherapy engages specific brain process to interrupt and reset negative patterns of thought. It aims to unconsciously bring rapid relief from anxiety, trauma, and other mental health issues.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Commonly used for anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, CBT helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.Â
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
A form of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed to help individuals process and recover from trauma by challenging and changing unhelpful beliefs and thoughts related to the traumatic event.
Cognitive rehabilitation
MapleTree offers outpatient therapeutic interventions designed to help individuals recover or improve cognitive functions impaired by brain injury, illness, or aging.
Cognitive testing for athletes and sportspersons
Neuropsychologist at MapleTree assess cognitive and mental functions that affect an athlete or sportsperson’s performance. These tests may be helpful in determining an athlete’s physical and mental readiness for competition and the effect of sport-related injuries on their performance and wellbeing.Â
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is designed to help people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors. At MapleTree, individual therapy and skills implementation is offered in conjunction with the person’s treatment team.Â
Ego states therapy
A form of therapy that works on understanding, integrating, and healing conflicting or maladaptive parts of our personality.Â
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Relationship experts at MapleTree use EFT as a structured approach to focusing on attachment and bonding in couples therapy. In identifying and transforming negative interaction patterns, couples can create secure emotional connections.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
To reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories, clinicians at MapleTree incorporate guided eye movements within psychotherapy. This helps people process and heal from experienced trauma.
Family mediation
MapleTree, Dubai offers services where a neutral mediator helps families resolve disputes and reach mutual agreements.
Marriage or couples therapy
Relationship experts at MapleTree in Dubai offer couples therapy to address communication issues, conflicts, and emotional disconnect within romantic relationships.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
An evidence-based therapeutic approach combining mindfulness meditation and yoga to reduce stress, pain, and improve psychological well-being. It emphasizes being present and accepting thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Neuropsychological assessments
MapleTree offers comprehensive neuropsychological assessments in Dubai for adolescents and adults experiencing cognitive and behavioral symptoms of brain injuries, ADHD, and dementia (among other conditions). Learn more about neuropsychological assessments.
Pre- or post-surgical assessments
Neuropsychologists at MapleTree assist surgeons and patients in understanding the person’s mental health and readiness for the intended surgery (including DBS, bariatric, or organ transplant surgeries). These assessments help identify potential risks and improve outcomes. Evaluations done after surgery to assess how a patient is coping mentally and emotionally. They can help monitor recovery and guide post-surgical care plans.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Most clinicians at MapleTree offer psychodynamic psychotherapy, which helps individuals understand and work through unconscious processes and unresolved internal conflicts that influence their behaviors and emotions. It explores the root causes of emotional difficulties, often through the therapeutic relationship.
Psychoeducational assessments
MapleTree, Dubai, offers psychoeducational assessments to help identify learning disorders, autism, and ADHD. This includes personalized recommendations for academic/vocational success and life skills. Learn more about psychoeducational assessments.
Sex therapy
Sex therapists at MapleTree, Dubai, help clients improve sexual satisfaction and address sexual issues related to sexual function, intimacy, communication between partners, and psychological or relationship factors affecting sexual experiences.
The Gottman Method
Couples therapists at MapleTree offer Drs. John and Julie Gottman’s research-based approach focused on enhancing relationship satisfaction by improving communication, increasing respect and affection, and managing conflict constructively.
Trauma-informed care
Clinicians at MapleTree use a trauma-sensitive framework that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into treatment approaches. It prioritizes safety, choice, and empowerment for trauma survivors.
Mental Health Diagnoses
Adjustment disorder
An umbrella term for psychological response(s) to a significant life change or stressor, which leads to marked distress and impacts daily functioning. Psychologists at MapleTree, Dubai, support their clients in navigating these emotional and behavioral experiences.
Anxiety disorders
MapleTree Dubai offers specialized interventions to navigate a spectrum of anxiety issues, from nagging worries and debilitating fears/phobia to anxiety disorders, including:
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent and excessive worry about everyday situations.
- Panic disorder: Sudden attacks of intense fear, often accompanied by physical symptoms like racing heart and difficulty breathing.
- Social anxiety disorder: Extreme fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
A chronic condition involving attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. MapleTree, Dubai, offers specialized assessments, psychotherapy, and cognitive training for adolescents and adults with inattentional, lack of focus, and difficulties with concentration. Â Learn more attention processes here.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A neurodevelopmental disorder affecting social communication and behavior. Autistic individuals may have longstanding difficulty interacting with others, show repetitive behaviors, or have specific interests. It is called a “spectrum” because it affects people in different ways and with varying degrees of severity. MapleTree offers assessments and support services for individuals with autism and their families.
Bipolar Disorder
A mood disorder marked by extreme mood swings, including periods of mania (high energy, euphoria, impulsive behavior) and depression (low energy, sadness, hopelessness). The mood shifts can severely impact daily life. MapleTree provides therapeutic support for individuals with bipolar disorder in Dubai.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPD is characterized by a chronic and consistent tendency to experience intense emotions, fear of abandonment, and unstable relationships. These are often accompanied by self-harm and suicidality. Clinicians at MapleTree offer psychotherapy to help their clients regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, practice mindfulness, and improve social communication.
Chronic Pain
Persistent pain lasting for months, often without a clear physical cause. Chronic pain can be associated with psychological stress, which can be managed with the support of clinicians at MapleTree.
Dementia
A group of conditions that cause a gradual decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. People with dementia may have trouble remembering recent events, recognizing familiar people, or making decisions.
Alzheimer’s Disease
The most common type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It usually starts slowly and gets worse over time. People with Alzheimer’s may forget things, have difficulty planning, or struggle with tasks they used to find easy.
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD)
A form of dementia that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which control behavior, language, and emotion. People with FTD may act impulsively, have difficulty speaking, or show changes in personality.
Vascular Dementia
The second most common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often due to strokes or damaged blood vessels. Symptoms include memory problems, difficulty with planning, and slower thinking. MapleTree provides neuropsychological assessments to identify the type, severity, and nature of dementia symptoms in older adults. This helps with treatment planning and streamlining efforts to improve the person’s functioning and quality of life.
Depression
People with depression experience persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. These might be episodic or chronic, and are often accompanied by trouble sleeping, eating, or concentrating and may experience physical symptoms like fatigue or pain. MapleTree offers psychotherapy and counselling for depression.
Epilepsy
A neurological disorder that causes recurring seizures, which are sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can affect movement, behavior, or awareness, and they vary in severity from person to person. These are evaluated at MapleTree in Dubai.
Giftedness
Exceptionally high ability in areas such as intellectual reasoning, creativity, or artistic talent. Gifted individuals may require special educational or vocational support to meet their potential and address emotional or social challenges. We assesses for intellectual giftedness at MapleTree in Dubai. We also offer counseling and psychotherapy to navigate anxiety, depression, and stress that are common among gifted individuals.
Head injuries (concussions and TBIs)
Head injuries are caused by any blow, jolt, or violent impact to the head. The severity of these injuries can range from concussions (mild and temporary symptoms common in sports injuries and car accidents) to traumatic brain injuries or TBI (moderate to severe symptoms that are typically long-lasting). Head injuries commonly cause problems with thinking, memory, mood, and movement. The process of recovering cognitive and physical functions after a brain injury, often involving neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation, offered at the MapleTree Center in Dubai.
Intellectual Disability (ID)
A condition that affects intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. People with intellectual disabilities may have mild to severe trouble learning, reasoning, or problem-solving, and may need support with daily tasks like communication and self-care. MapleTree offers assessments and support for these cases in Dubai.
Learning Disorders
A group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to read, write, or do math, despite having neurotypical intelligence. Common learning disorders include:
- Dyslexia: Difficulty with reading.
- Dysgraphia: Difficulty with writing.
- Dyscalculia: Difficulty with math.
MapleTree provides psychoeducational assessments to diagnose and manage learning disorders.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
A condition in which a person experiences memory problems greater than expected for their age but not severe enough to interfere with daily life. It may be an early sign of dementia. MapleTree provides baseline assessments to understand the extent of these impairments.
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
A chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). MS causes the immune system to attack the protective covering of nerves, leading to symptoms like muscle weakness, difficulty walking, and cognitive changes. MapleTree assesses the functional effects of MS and provides lifestyle and intervention recommendations.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A group of conditions that affect the development of the nervous system, leading to difficulties in learning, socializing, and self-control. Examples include ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities. Neurodevelopmental disorders may be identified and managed at MapleTree.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
People with OCD have recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors they feel driven to repeat (compulsions) without relief/benefit. Examples include washing hands excessively or checking things multiple times. Clinicians at MapleTree are competent in offering psychotherapeutic support to manage obsessions and compulsions.
Panic
Panic attacks involve an intense episode of sudden fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, and a sense of impending doom. Panic attacks are the hallmark of panic disorder and can be treated through interventions offered at MapleTree.
Parkinson’s Disease
A neurodegenerative disorder among older adults that primarily affects movement. Symptoms include tremors (shaking), stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Over time, Parkinson’s can also affect cognitive functions like memory and problem-solving. MapleTree in Dubai assesses the cognitive and psychological implications of Parkinson’s disease as well as suitability for DBS surgery.
Postpartum Depression
Mood swings, exhaustion, feelings of sadness, and difficulty bonding with the baby may occur after childbirth, and affects the well-being of both the mother and the infant. Clinicians at MapleTree offer support for mothers during this period.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
MapleTree Clinic in Dubai helps individuals recover from trauma and gain control over their lives. Our clinicians offers trauma-informed psychotherapy for those who are affected by flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and disrupted sleep or concentration due to experienced or witnessed traumatic event(s).
Psychosomatic Disorders
Used interchangeably with terms like conversion disorder and functional disorders, this is an umbrella diagnosis referring to physical symptoms caused or affected by psychological factors. For example, stress might cause headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue. In moderate to severe cases, they may even lead to symptoms of paralysis and seizures. These symptoms are real but may not have a clear medical cause. Psychotherapy offered at MapleTree helps identify and reduce the underlying emotional problems leading to symptom relief.
Schizophrenia
People with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (false beliefs), and disorganized thinking. These affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. MapleTree complements primary medication treatment with psychotherapy.
Sleep Disorders
Conditions that affect a person’s ability to get enough quality sleep. Common sleep disorders include:
- Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
- Sleep Apnea: Breathing interruptions during sleep.
- Narcolepsy: Sudden and uncontrollable episodes of sleep during the day.
Clinicians at MapleTree help manage anxieties and other emotions associated with sleep difficulties. We also evaluate the effect of these disorders on cognitive functioning and suggest personalized strategies and interventions.
Substance use disorders and Addictions
Addiction to substances (including drugs and alcohol), sex, gaming, gambling, and/or food can be distressing and adversely affects the person’s health, relationships, and ability to function. Clinicians at MapleTree work with mild to moderate problems with substance use and other addictions, in conjunction with the person’s treatment team (including psychiatry, rehabilitation providers, and family/caregivers).
Tourette’s Syndrome
MapleTree clinicians offer psychotherapy and assessments in Dubai for those who experience tics, i.e. involuntary repetitive movements (such as blinking or shrugging) or sounds (such as grunting or repeating words) that are difficult to control.
Vaginismus
Clinicians at MapleTree offer psychotherapy support for women who experience involuntary muscle contractions around the vagina that make penetration painful or impossible. The intervention (often involving counseling and relaxation techniques) targets underlying psychological factors and is typically implemented alongside physical therapy.
Mental Health Phenomenon
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood, such as abuse or neglect, which can have long-lasting effects on mental and physical health. Clinicians at MapleTree are mindful of this when working with their clients.
Anger
At MapleTree, we offer specialized anger management therapy to help you understand and control your anger in healthy ways. Our therapy focuses on identifying triggers, managing emotions, and using techniques like emotional regulation and mindfulness.
Authoritative Parenting
Clinicians at MapleTree help parents develop and maintain authoritative parenting styles that balance firmness with warmth. Authoritative parents set clear rules but are also supportive and open to communication. Learn more here.
Burnout
A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, often related to work. It can lead to decreased performance, feelings of detachment, and a sense of helplessness. MapleTree offers counselling, psychotherapy, and corporate workshops to reduce burnout.
Dissociation
Ranging from mild daydreaming to more severe forms like dissociative identity disorder, dissociation is characterized by a disconnection from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity, often in response to trauma. Services provided at MapleTree help reduce the disruption and distress caused by dissociative experiences.
Grief and Loss
The emotional response to loss, typically the death of a loved one, but can also occur after other significant losses (e.g., job, relationship). Grief involves stages of emotional processing such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Clinicians at MapleTree competently offer grief support.
Imposter Syndrome
A psychological pattern where individuals doubt their abilities, feel like fraud, and fear being exposed as incompetent, despite evidence of their competence or achievements.
Mindfulness
A mental practice that involves focusing on the present moment and accepting it without judgment. Clinicians at MapleTree teach mindfulness strategies to help their clients reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Neurodiversity
Clinicians at MapleTree endorse an inclusive and strengths-affirming perspective that views neurodevelopmental differences like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia as natural variations of the human brain. Learn more about neurodiversity assessments here.
Psychosis
A severe mental state characterized by a disconnection from reality, which may include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (false beliefs), and disorganized thinking or behavior. Psychotherapy provided at MapleTree complements medication management to help individuals work through the psychological factors that cause and maintain these symptoms.
Self-Harm
Deliberate self-inflicted harm, such as cutting or burning, often used as a way to cope with emotional distress. MapleTree clinicians assess for self-harm in psychotherapy and work on safety planning, especially when working with individuals experiencing depression or trauma.
Sexual Abuse
Unwanted sexual activity, where consent is not given or is unable to be given. This includes acts ranging from inappropriate touching to rape. Sexual abuse can have long-lasting psychological and emotional effects. We at MapleTree are here to help navigate such traumatic experiences.
Mental Health Practice
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Clinical neuropsychologists at MapleTree in Dubai are trained in understanding brain-behavior relationships that underline cognitive functions. She assesses and treats individuals with cognitive symptoms related to neurological, developmental, or psychiatric conditions.
Clinical Psychologist
A mental health professional with a doctoral or master’s degree in clinical psychology who is trained in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Clinical psychologists in Dubai must be licensed by the DHA to provide therapy and conduct psychological assessments. They do not prescribe medication.
Counseling Psychologist
A professional with a doctoral or master’s degree in counseling, who focuses on helping people with emotional, social, relational, and career challenges. Counseling psychologists are licensed by the CDA in Dubai and often work with clients dealing with life transitions, stress, and relationship issues.
Psychiatrist
In Dubai, psychiatrists are DHA-licensed doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing psychiatric disorders (mainly) through prescribing and managing medications. Clinicians at MapleTree often collaborate with psychiatrists to help their clients.
Psychoanalyst
Psychoanalysts at MapleTree helps clients explore and gain insight into their unconscious thoughts and feelings using Freudian methods such as free association and dream interpretation.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
The DSM is a manual updated and maintained by psychiatrists in the US and used worldwide to diagnose psychiatric and related conditions. All our clinicians are well-versed with the DSM-5, which is the fifth and most recent edition (the DSM-5) was published in 2013.
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
The ICD is a diagnostic tool for physical and mental health conditions maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is used worldwide for medical coding, treatment planning, and research. ICD codes are used when working with insurance providers in Dubai.
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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Clinicians offering ACT at MapleTree use this modality to help individuals become psychologically flexible by accepting difficult thoughts and emotions and commitment to life changes that align with their personal values.
Aeromedical neurocognitive assessments
MapleTree offers cognitive and psychological testing and counseling for the aviation industry in the UAE, including evaluations for pilot performance, decision-making, and stress.
Attachment-based therapy
Issues that arise from attachment disruptions in childhood can be addressed through attachment-based approaches in psychotherapy. This may include identifying and working with anxious, avoidant, dismissive, and secure attachment styles and relational experiences.
Bariatric assessment
A mental health assessment conducted at MapleTree in Dubai before bariatric surgery to evaluate a patient’s readiness for the procedure and their ability to make the necessary lifestyle changes. It also screens for mental health conditions that could affect post-surgical success.
Brain Working Recursive Therapy (BWRT)
MapleTree uses this relatively new form of psychotherapy engages specific brain processes to interrupt and reset negative patterns of thought. It aims to unconsciously bring rapid relief from anxiety, trauma, and other mental health issues.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Commonly used for anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues, CBT helps individuals identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
A form of cognitive-behavioral therapy designed to help individuals process and recover from trauma by challenging and changing unhelpful beliefs and thoughts related to the traumatic event.
Cognitive rehabilitation
MapleTree offers outpatient therapeutic interventions designed to help individuals recover or improve cognitive functions impaired by brain injury, illness, or aging.
Cognitive testing for athletes and sportspersons
Neuropsychologist at MapleTree assess cognitive and mental functions that affect an athlete or sportsperson’s performance. These tests may be helpful in determining an athlete’s physical and mental readiness for competition and the effect of sport-related injuries on their performance and wellbeing.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
DBT is designed to help people manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce self-destructive behaviors. At MapleTree, individual therapy and skills implementation is offered in conjunction with the person’s treatment team.
Ego states therapy
A form of therapy that works on understanding, integrating, and healing conflicting or maladaptive parts of our personality.
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Relationship experts at MapleTree use EFT as a structured approach to focusing on attachment and bonding in couples therapy. In identifying and transforming negative interaction patterns, couples can create secure emotional connections.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
To reduce the emotional intensity of traumatic memories, clinicians at MapleTree incorporate guided eye movements within psychotherapy. This helps people process and heal from experienced trauma.
Family mediation
MapleTree, Dubai offers services where a neutral mediator helps families resolve disputes and reach mutual agreements.
Marriage or couples therapy
Relationship experts at MapleTree in Dubai offer couples therapy to address communication issues, conflicts, and emotional disconnect within romantic relationships.
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
An evidence-based therapeutic approach combining mindfulness meditation and yoga to reduce stress, pain, and improve psychological well-being. It emphasizes being present and accepting thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Neuropsychological assessments
MapleTree offers comprehensive neuropsychological assessments in Dubai for adolescents and adults experiencing cognitive and behavioral symptoms of brain injuries, ADHD, and dementia (among other conditions). Learn more about neuropsychological assessments.
Pre- or post-surgical assessments
Neuropsychologists at MapleTree assist surgeons and patients in understanding the person’s mental health and readiness for the intended surgery (including DBS, bariatric, or organ transplant surgeries). These assessments help identify potential risks and improve outcomes. Evaluations done after surgery to assess how a patient is coping mentally and emotionally. They can help monitor recovery and guide post-surgical care plans.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy
Most clinicians at MapleTree offer psychodynamic psychotherapy, which helps individuals understand and work through unconscious processes and unresolved internal conflicts that influence their behaviors and emotions. It explores the root causes of emotional difficulties, often through the therapeutic relationship.
Psychoeducational assessments
MapleTree, Dubai, offers psychoeducational assessments to help identify learning disorders, autism, and ADHD. This includes personalized recommendations for academic/vocational success and life skills. Learn more about psychoeducational assessments.
Sex therapy
Sex therapists at MapleTree, Dubai, help clients improve sexual satisfaction and address sexual issues related to sexual function, intimacy, communication between partners, and psychological or relationship factors affecting sexual experiences.
The Gottman Method
Couples therapists at MapleTree offer Drs. John and Julie Gottman’s research-based approach focused on enhancing relationship satisfaction by improving communication, increasing respect and affection, and managing conflict constructively.
Trauma-informed care
Clinicians at MapleTree use a trauma-sensitive framework that recognizes the widespread impact of trauma and integrates this understanding into treatment approaches. It prioritizes safety, choice, and empowerment for trauma survivors.
Mental Health Diagnoses
Adjustment disorder
An umbrella term for psychological response(s) to a significant life change or stressor, which leads to marked distress and impacts daily functioning. Psychologists at MapleTree, Dubai, support their clients in navigating these emotional and behavioral experiences.Â
Anxiety disorders
MapleTree Dubai offers specialized interventions to navigate a spectrum of anxiety issues, from nagging worries and debilitating fears/phobia to anxiety disorders, including:
Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD): Persistent and excessive worry about everyday situations.
Panic disorder: Sudden attacks of intense fear, often accompanied by physical symptoms like racing heart and difficulty breathing.
Social anxiety disorder: Extreme fear of being judged or embarrassed in social situations
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
A chronic condition involving attention difficulty, hyperactivity, and impulsiveness. MapleTree, Dubai, offers specialized assessments, psychotherapy, and cognitive training for adolescents and adults with inattentional, lack of focus, and difficulties with concentration. Learn more attention processes here.Â
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
A neurodevelopmental disorder affecting social communication and behavior. Autistic individuals may have longstanding difficulty interacting with others, show repetitive behaviors, or have specific interests. It is called a “spectrum” because it affects people in different ways and with varying degrees of severity. MapleTree offers assessments and support services for individuals with autism and their families.Â
Bipolar Disorder
A mood disorder marked by extreme mood swings, including periods of mania (high energy, euphoria, impulsive behavior) and depression (low energy, sadness, hopelessness). The mood shifts can severely impact daily life. MapleTree provides therapeutic support for individuals with bipolar disorder in Dubai.
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
BPD is characterized by a chronic and consistent tendency to experience intense emotions, fear of abandonment, and unstable relationships. These are often accompanied by self-harm and suicidality. Clinicians at MapleTree offer psychotherapy to help their clients regulate their emotions, tolerate distress, practice mindfulness, and improve social communication. Â
Chronic Pain
Persistent pain lasting for months, often without a clear physical cause. Chronic pain can be associated with psychological stress, which can be managed with the support of clinicians at MapleTree.Â
Dementia
A group of conditions that cause a gradual decline in memory, thinking, and reasoning skills. People with dementia may have trouble remembering recent events, recognizing familiar people, or making decisions.
Alzheimer’s Disease: The most common type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking, and behavior. It usually starts slowly and gets worse over time. People with Alzheimer’s may forget things, have difficulty planning, or struggle with tasks they used to find easy.
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD): A form of dementia that affects the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, which control behavior, language, and emotion. People with FTD may act impulsively, have difficulty speaking, or show changes in personality.
Vascular Dementia: The second most common type of dementia caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often due to strokes or damaged blood vessels. Symptoms include memory problems, difficulty with planning, and slower thinking.
MapleTree provides neuropsychological assessments to identify the type, severity, and nature of dementia symptoms in older adults. This helps with treatment planning and streamlining efforts to improve the person’s functioning and quality of life.Â
Depression
People with depression experience persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest in activities. These might be episodic or chronic, and are often accompanied by trouble sleeping, eating, or concentrating and may experience physical symptoms like fatigue or pain. MapleTree offers psychotherapy and counselling for depression.Â
Epilepsy
A neurological disorder that causes recurring seizures, which are sudden bursts of electrical activity in the brain. Seizures can affect movement, behavior, or awareness, and they vary in severity from person to person. These are evaluated at MapleTree in Dubai.Â
Giftedness
Exceptionally high ability in areas such as intellectual reasoning, creativity, or artistic talent. Gifted individuals may require special educational or vocational support to meet their potential and address emotional or social challenges. We assesses for intellectual giftedness at MapleTree in Dubai. We also offer counseling and psychotherapy to navigate anxiety, depression, and stress that are common among gifted individuals.Â
Head injuries (concussions and TBIs)
Head injuries are caused by any blow, jolt, or violent impact to the head. The severity of these injuries can range from concussions (mild and temporary symptoms common in sports injuries and car accidents) to traumatic brain injuries or TBI (moderate to severe symptoms that are typically long-lasting). Head injuries commonly cause problems with thinking, memory, mood, and movement. The process of recovering cognitive and physical functions after a brain injury, often involving neuropsychological assessment and rehabilitation, offered at the MapleTree Center in Dubai.Â
Intellectual Disability (ID)
A condition that affects intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. People with intellectual disabilities may have mild to severe trouble learning, reasoning, or problem-solving, and may need support with daily tasks like communication and self-care. MapleTree offers assessments and support for these cases in Dubai.Â
Learning Disorders
A group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to read, write, or do math, despite having neurotypical intelligence. Common learning disorders include:
Dyslexia: Difficulty with reading.
Dysgraphia: Difficulty with writing.
Dyscalculia: Difficulty with math.
MapleTree provides psychoeducational assessments to diagnose and manage learning disorders.
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
A condition in which a person experiences memory problems greater than expected for their age but not severe enough to interfere with daily life. It may be an early sign of dementia. MapleTree provides baseline assessments to understand the extent of these impairments.Â
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
A chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). MS causes the immune system to attack the protective covering of nerves, leading to symptoms like muscle weakness, difficulty walking, and cognitive changes. MapleTree assesses the functional effects of MS and provides lifestyle and intervention recommendations.
Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A group of conditions that affect the development of the nervous system, leading to difficulties in learning, socializing, and self-control. Examples include ADHD, autism, and learning disabilities. Neurodevelopmental disorders may be identified and managed at MapleTree.Â
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
People with OCD have recurring, unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors they feel driven to repeat (compulsions) without relief/benefit. Examples include washing hands excessively or checking things multiple times. Clinicians at MapleTree are competent in offering psychotherapeutic support to manage obsessions and compulsions.Â
Panic
Panic attacks involve an intense episode of sudden fear or discomfort, often accompanied by physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, sweating, shortness of breath, and a sense of impending doom. Panic attacks are the hallmark of panic disorder and can be treated through interventions offered at MapleTree.Â
Parkinson’s Disease
A neurodegenerative disorder among older adults that primarily affects movement. Symptoms include tremors (shaking), stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Over time, Parkinson’s can also affect cognitive functions like memory and problem-solving. MapleTree in Dubai assesses the cognitive and psychological implications of Parkinson’s disease as well as suitability for DBS surgery.Â
Postpartum Depression
Mood swings, exhaustion, feelings of sadness, and difficulty bonding with the baby may occur after childbirth, and affects the well-being of both the mother and the infant. Clinicians at MapleTree offer support for mothers during this period.Â
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
MapleTree Clinic in Dubai helps individuals recover from trauma and gain control over their lives. Our clinicians offers trauma-informed psychotherapy for those who are affected by flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and disrupted sleep or concentration due to experienced or witnessed traumatic event(s).
Psychosomatic Disorders
Used interchangeably with terms like conversion disorder and functional disorders, this is an umbrella diagnosis referring to physical symptoms caused or affected by psychological factors. For example, stress might cause headaches, stomach issues, or fatigue. In moderate to severe cases, they may even lead to symptoms of paralysis and seizures. These symptoms are real but may not have a clear medical cause. Psychotherapy offered at MapleTree helps identify and reduce the underlying emotional problems leading to symptom relief.Â
Schizophrenia
People with schizophrenia may experience hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (false beliefs), and disorganized thinking. These affect how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. MapleTree complements primary medication treatment with psychotherapy.Â
Sleep Disorders
Conditions that affect a person’s ability to get enough quality sleep. Common sleep disorders include:
Insomnia: Difficulty falling or staying asleep.
Sleep Apnea: Breathing interruptions during sleep.
Narcolepsy: Sudden and uncontrollable episodes of sleep during the day.
Clinicians at MapleTree help manage anxieties and other emotions associated with sleep difficulties. We also evaluate the effect of these disorders on cognitive functioning and suggest personalized strategies and interventions.Â
Substance use disorders and Addictions
Addiction to substances (including drugs and alcohol), sex, gaming, gambling, and/or food can be distressing and adversely affects the person’s health, relationships, and ability to function. Clinicians at MapleTree work with mild to moderate problems with substance use and other addictions, in conjunction with the person’s treatment team (including psychiatry, rehabilitation providers, and family/caregivers).Â
Tourette’s Syndrome
MapleTree clinicians offer psychotherapy and assessments in Dubai for those who experience tics, i.e. involuntary repetitive movements (such as blinking or shrugging) or sounds (such as grunting or repeating words) that are difficult to control.Â
Vaginismus
Clinicians at MapleTree offer psychotherapy support for women who experience involuntary muscle contractions around the vagina that make penetration painful or impossible. The intervention (often involving counseling and relaxation techniques) targets underlying psychological factors and is typically implemented alongside physical therapy.Â
Mental Health Phenomenon
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Potentially traumatic events that occur during childhood, such as abuse or neglect, which can have long-lasting effects on mental and physical health. Clinicians at MapleTree are mindful of this when working with their clients.
Anger
At MapleTree, we offer specialized anger management therapy to help you understand and control your anger in healthy ways. Our therapy focuses on identifying triggers, managing emotions, and using techniques like emotional regulation and mindfulness.
Authoritative Parenting
Clinicians at MapleTree help parents develop and maintain authoritative parenting styles that balance firmness with warmth. Authoritative parents set clear rules but are also supportive and open to communication. Learn more here.
Burnout
A state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress, often related to work. It can lead to decreased performance, feelings of detachment, and a sense of helplessness. MapleTree offers counselling, psychotherapy, and corporate workshops to reduce burnout.
Dissociation
Ranging from mild daydreaming to more severe forms like dissociative identity disorder, dissociation is characterized by a disconnection from their thoughts, feelings, memories, or sense of identity, often in response to trauma. Services provided at MapleTree help reduce the disruption and distress caused by dissociative experiences.
Grief and Loss
The emotional response to loss, typically the death of a loved one, but can also occur after other significant losses (e.g., job, relationship). Grief involves stages of emotional processing such as denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Clinicians at MapleTree competently offer grief support.
Imposter Syndrome
A psychological pattern where individuals doubt their abilities, feel like fraud, and fear being exposed as incompetent, despite evidence of their competence or achievements.
Mindfulness
A mental practice that involves focusing on the present moment and accepting it without judgment. Clinicians at MapleTree teach mindfulness strategies to help their clients reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Neurodiversity
Clinicians at MapleTree endorse an inclusive and strengths-affirming perspective that views neurodevelopmental differences like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia as natural variations of the human brain. Learn more about neurodiversity assessments here.
Psychosis
A severe mental state characterized by a disconnection from reality, which may include hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren’t there), delusions (false beliefs), and disorganized thinking or behavior. Psychotherapy provided at MapleTree complements medication management to help individuals work through the psychological factors that cause and maintain these symptoms.
Self-Harm
Deliberate self-inflicted harm, such as cutting or burning, often used as a way to cope with emotional distress. MapleTree clinicians assess for self-harm in psychotherapy and work on safety planning, especially when working with individuals experiencing depression or trauma.
Sexual Abuse
Unwanted sexual activity, where consent is not given or is unable to be given. This includes acts ranging from inappropriate touching to rape. Sexual abuse can have long-lasting psychological and emotional effects. We at MapleTree are here to help navigate such traumatic experiences.
Mental Health Practice
Clinical Neuropsychologist
Clinical neuropsychologists at MapleTree in Dubai are trained in understanding brain-behavior relationships that underline cognitive functions. She assesses and treats individuals with cognitive symptoms related to neurological, developmental, or psychiatric conditions.
Clinical Psychologist
A mental health professional with a doctoral or master’s degree in clinical psychology who is trained in diagnosing and treating mental health conditions. Clinical psychologists in Dubai must be licensed by the DHA to provide therapy and conduct psychological assessments. They do not prescribe medication.
Counseling Psychologist
A professional with a doctoral or master’s degree in counseling, who focuses on helping people with emotional, social, relational, and career challenges. Counseling psychologists are licensed by the CDA in Dubai and often work with clients dealing with life transitions, stress, and relationship issues.
Psychiatrist
In Dubai, psychiatrists are DHA-licensed doctors (M.D. or D.O.) who specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing psychiatric disorders (mainly) through prescribing and managing medications. Clinicians at MapleTree often collaborate with psychiatrists to help their clients.
Psychoanalyst
Psychoanalysts at MapleTree helps clients explore and gain insight into their unconscious thoughts and feelings using Freudian methods such as free association and dream interpretation.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
The DSM is a manual updated and maintained by psychiatrists in the US and used worldwide to diagnose psychiatric and related conditions. All our clinicians are well-versed with the DSM-5, which is the fifth and most recent edition (the DSM-5) was published in 2013.
The International Classification of Diseases (ICD)
The ICD is a diagnostic tool for physical and mental health conditions maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO). It is used worldwide for medical coding, treatment planning, and research. ICD codes are used when working with insurance providers in Dubai.
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