5 Best Pakistani Psychologists in Abu Dhabi

Pakistani psychologists play a significant role in providing mental health services in Abu Dhabi. Many well-respected professionals offer counseling and therapy services to the Pakistani community living in Abu Dhabi. Some notable Pakistani psychologists in the UAE include Sumaira Yousaf, who is a Gold Medalist Psychologist and Head of the Psychology & Training Department, and Amna Javed, a Clinical Psychologist, Counsellor, and Therapist residing in Dubai for the last 15 years.

Dr. Sumaira Yousaf is a renowned Consultant Clinical Psychologist based in Abu Dhabi, currently serving at the KidsHeart Medical Center since July 2022. With an impressive educational background, Dr. Sumaira holds a Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (2019) from the University of Management and Technology (UMT) and a Bachelor of Science in Clinical Psychology (2016) from Lahore College for Women University. Her commitment to excellence is further demonstrated through her extensive professional training in various therapeutic techniques, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, DIR Floor Time, Social Skills Training, Applied Behavior Analysis, TEACHH Model, Stress Management, and Neurolinguistics Programming.

Dr. Tahir is an Abu Dhabi-based psychiatrist with training from Columbia University, New York, and a wealth of experience from living a multicultural life. He holds certifications from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is affiliated with the Health Care Financial Administration in Baltimore, Maryland. His academic roles include serving as an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital and other positions within the University Hospitals of Columbia and Cornell. Clinically, he’s the Chairman/Medical Director at the American Wellness Center in Dubai, UAE, and has held significant roles in child, adolescent, and adult psychiatry across various institutions.

Dr. Tahir’s expertise spans the management of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, ADHD, and more, using evidence-based treatments. His work is internationally recognized, with affiliations to prestigious organizations like the American Psychiatric Association.

Ms. Amna Javaid is a Clinical Psychologist at ACPN, Abu Dhabi, with over a decade of experience in her field. She earned her postgraduate degree in clinical psychology from the University of the Punjab, Pakistan, in 2010, after completing her undergraduate studies there in 2008. Amna has specialized training in Cognitive Behavior Therapy from the Beck Institute, USA, focusing on anxiety disorders such as OCD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, panic disorders, and phobias. Additionally, she has completed basic and level-1 training in EMDR and holds clinical psychology licenses in both Abu Dhabi and Pakistan.

Amna brings seven years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults across the UAE and Pakistan, managing a spectrum of conditions from neurodevelopmental and mood disorders to anxiety and substance use disorders. Before her current role at ACPN in 2023, she contributed her expertise to HealthHub Al-Futtaim in Dubai and Kids Heart Medical Center in Al Ain. Her work also includes serving as a clinical supervisor for psychology trainees from the University of the Punjab and United Arab Emirates University.

Dr. Saima Jehanzeb, a Consultant Psychiatrist at ACPN, brings over fifteen years of psychiatric expertise to her role. After graduating in Pakistan, she advanced her career in the UK, earning her certificate of completion of training in General Adult and Liaison Psychiatry in 2021 and becoming a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2017. Dr. Jehanzeb is licensed to practice in both the UK and UAE.

Her clinical skills are complemented by training in psychodynamic psychotherapy, CBT, motivational interviewing, and behavioral family therapy, allowing her to manage a broad spectrum of mental health conditions, including complex cases of depression, psychosis, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder.

Meet Dr. Ayesha Ahmed, currently serving as a Staff Physician at the Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. With an MBBS from Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan, Dr. Ahmed has honed her skills through rigorous residency and fellowship programs in prestigious NHS Trust teaching hospitals in London and Leicester, UK.

Dr. Ahmed is not just a psychiatrist; she’s a consultant psychiatrist with a rich background in various psychiatric care areas, including perinatal mental health, bipolar and mood disorders, schizophrenia, and stress disorders like PTSD, anxiety, panic disorders, and OCD. Before her current role, she made significant impacts at the Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, and her journey also includes pivotal roles in Doncaster and Chesterfield, UK. Currently based in Abu Dhabi, she continues to make strides in mental health care.