Compassionate, evidence-based trauma therapy for children, teens, and adults in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai. Specialist treatment for PTSD, complex trauma, and the lasting impact of difficult experiences.
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Understanding Trauma
Trauma occurs when an experience or series of experiences overwhelms a person's capacity to cope, leaving lasting marks on how they think, feel, and respond to the world. Traumatic events can include single incidents such as accidents, medical emergencies, or assault, as well as prolonged or repeated experiences such as abuse, neglect, or growing up in an environment of chronic stress.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the clinical presentation that can develop following trauma, characterised by intrusive re-experiencing, avoidance, negative changes in thinking and mood, and heightened arousal. Complex trauma — resulting from prolonged, often interpersonal, traumatic experiences — can produce a broader impact on identity, relationships, and emotional regulation.
Effective trauma treatment is available and well-evidenced. Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) are among the most widely recommended approaches for PTSD. At CAYA World in Palm Jumeirah, Dubai, we provide trauma-informed care for all presentations, paced carefully to the individual's readiness and stability.
Signs That May Indicate This Service Is Right for You
Intrusive memories, flashbacks, or nightmares related to a past experience
Significant avoidance of reminders, places, or people associated with a traumatic event
Emotional numbness, detachment, or feeling cut off from other people
Persistent negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world
Heightened startle response, hypervigilance, or difficulty relaxing
Anger, irritability, or emotional dysregulation that feels disproportionate
Difficulty trusting others or maintaining close relationships
Significant distress or impairment following a difficult or overwhelming experience
What to Expect
Trauma-Informed Assessment
A careful, sensitive assessment of the trauma history, current symptoms, and stabilisation needs before any trauma processing begins.
Stabilisation
Building emotional regulation skills and internal resources to support safe engagement with trauma processing work.
Trauma Processing
Evidence-based trauma processing using TF-CBT or EMDR, paced to the individual's readiness and closely monitored throughout.
Integration and Recovery
Consolidating progress, addressing remaining symptoms, and building a foundation for sustained recovery and future resilience.
What We Work On
Reducing intrusive symptoms: flashbacks, nightmares, and re-experiencing
Processing the traumatic memory and its associated beliefs
Addressing avoidance and gradually rebuilding engagement with life
Emotional regulation skills for managing trauma-related distress
Challenging negative beliefs about self-worth, safety, and others
Rebuilding trust and connection in relationships
Complex trauma: identity, self-concept, and interpersonal patterns
Supporting children and families through trauma with TF-CBT
Common Questions
We work with all trauma presentations including single-incident trauma such as accidents and assaults, childhood abuse and neglect, medical trauma, relationship trauma, and complex developmental trauma. We also work with secondary traumatic stress in parents and carers of traumatised individuals.
Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT) is a structured approach that combines psychoeducation, coping skills, and gradual trauma processing through narrative work. EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) uses bilateral stimulation alongside recall of traumatic memories to facilitate processing. Both are evidence-based; the most appropriate approach depends on the individual's presentation and preference.
Yes. Complex trauma resulting from prolonged interpersonal experiences requires a longer-term, phase-based approach that prioritises stabilisation before any direct trauma processing. This is distinct from the more direct processing approach used for single-incident trauma.
Virtual therapy is available for many trauma presentations. However, for more complex trauma or presentations requiring careful pacing, in-person therapy may be clinically preferable. We discuss the most appropriate format at the initial consultation.
If you are experiencing significant intrusive symptoms, avoidance, or significant impairment in daily functioning linked to past experiences, a trauma-informed approach is likely to be more effective than general counselling. A free consultation is a good starting point to discuss what you are experiencing and whether trauma-focused treatment is appropriate.