Author: Manfred Creativo

Recognizing the Early Signs of Mental Health Concerns

Taking care of your mental health is as important as looking after your physical well-being.
When we actively take care of our mental health, it seeps into various aspects of our lives, such as our work how we socialize with others and our overall morale. It is important to address our mental health needs and seeing a mental health counselor can be significant in improving your overall wellbeing and lifestyle.

Visiting a therapist for an assessment can be the first step in identifying mental health issues that you may be struggling with and creating a treatment plan to tackle it. If you are feeling hesitant or unsure if it is time to seek some support, here are a few behaviors and feelings you may relate to, that could be impacting your wellbeing.

Stress exists in our lives in various ways. It can be from work, school, or significant life events. It can make us feel as though we have little to no control over a situation and can threaten our sense of self. When stress becomes prolonged and overwhelming, it can lead to lack of sleep, irritability, muscle tension, substance use, and withdrawal from social affairs. Managing stress can be tricky and at times difficult, a mental health therapist can support you in identifying methods to tackle and reduce the stress you are feeling.

Our moods can change throughout the day, which is natural. Our mood can be influenced by many different experiences such as interactions with people we encounter to certain thoughts we have. Extreme mood changes, however, can affect our lives negatively and create dysfunction. If you are experiencing extreme mood changes which are impacting you, booking an appointment for psychotherapy in Dubai can guide you in regulating and handling intense mood changes.

When we feel overwhelmed with intrusive thoughts and stress, we tend to isolate ourselves from family, friends and even shy away from carrying out routine hobbies. Although this can happen unintentionally, humans are social beings who rely on each other for self-actualization and belonging. Isolation from social settings over a long period of time can intensify feelings of anxiety and depression. Seeking support for our mental health can be beneficial as it can be focused on certain behaviors that impact us most, for example therapy for anxiety disorder can be significant in reducing nervousness, feelings of dread or panic.

Other indicators include:
● Significant tiredness, low energy or fatigue
● Changes in mood, appetite, and sleeping habits
● Difficulty concentrating or staying focused
● Excessive anger, hostility, or violence
● Problems with alcohol or drug use
● Trouble understanding and relating to situations and to people
● Sex drive changes
● Suicidal thinking
● Detachment from reality (delusions), paranoia or hallucinations

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above or noticing other signs of declining mental health, you may book an appointment for consultation with one of our specialists. Our experienced professionals will evaluate your current mental state and design a treatment plan that is appropriate for your condition. Human Relations Institute and Clinics are a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses in the Middle East and abroad.

Types of Therapy for Anxiety and What To Expect

While nervousness or worry is a natural response to a perceived threat, some people may experience chronic levels that can lead to anxiety when coping with life-changing events. If your anxiety level becomes consistent, overwhelming, and disruptive, it may develop into a mental health difficulty. When this happens, it is best to visit a mental health therapist.

Depending on the severity of your experience, anxiety can be treated through a combination of medication and therapy or only therapy. Expecting a quick fix is not realistic. Working through anxiety may take some time and it will require patience to do so.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms below, consider seeking mental health services:

  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Excessive worrying and difficulty controlling the thoughts
  • Sleeping problems, fatigue, and insomnia
  • Muscle tension, and headaches
  • Digestive problems
  • Irritability
  • Low self-esteem
  • Rapid heart rate

Is anxiety treatment in Dubai available? Yes, it is!

What are the types of therapy for anxiety and what to expect during treatment?

There are many different types of treatments for anxiety. The most common treatments are the ones listed below; however, it is important to note that there are many viable options other than the following.

Dialectical behavior therapy

Dialectical behavior therapy or DBT is a highly effective type of Cognitive Behavior Therapy. While this method was originally used to treat borderline personality disorder, DBT is now used to treat a variety of mental health conditions, including anxiety.

When you opt for DBT, your treatment program will focus on you learning to both accept your anxiety and actively work to adapt to it. It will teach you to accept yourself for who you are while trying to learn new coping skills and resilience strategies.

Psychoanalytic Therapy

Psychoanalytic Therapy is a Freudian model which suggests that symptoms of anxiety are the reflection of the client’s unconscious conflicts. The goal of this therapy for anxiety disorder is to resolve these conflicts.

It is considered one of the most intense treatment methods. You and your therapist will work on examining your thoughts, fears, and desires to better understand how you view yourself. This particular anxiety treatment takes a bit longer than other therapies, yet has been shown to have lasting effects, as it involves identifying patterns, thought processes and what you need to do to overcome your anxiety.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy or CBT is a treatment where your psychologist will work with you to teach you various ways how to identify and manage the factors that trigger or contribute to your anxiety.

You will learn the basics of identifying the thoughts that trigger your anxiety. During this treatment, you will learn how to replace negative thoughts with more realistic ones. Additionally, you will learn different methods to reduce disruptive behaviors associated with anxiety. During your therapy, your psychologist will work with you and encourage you in anxiety-provoking activities. The goal of this part of the treatment is to help you learn that your feared or expected negative outcomes are unlikely to happen and if they do, you will have the necessary tools to work through them.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of anxiety, especially when you’re surrounded by people, you may need to talk to your therapist about what psychotherapy treatment is more appropriate for your current condition. Human Relations Institute and Clinics are a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses in the Middle East and abroad

Psychotherapy treatments to address anxiety and depression

Medication is not enough as a treatment to address anxiety and depression, and although psychotherapy has shown to be effective on its own, studies have proven that clients suffering from severe and complex depression or anxiety that receive a combination of medication and psychotherapy have higher rates of improvement.

Whether it’s your first time seeking mental health counseling services, or you know someone who is suffering from anxiety and depression, it is important to understand that psychotherapy treatments do not always have the same effect on people. There are different kinds of treatment available for various conditions and the person who will undergo treatment must cooperate or work with the specialist.

Here are some common treatments for anxiety and depression:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of therapy style that focuses on helping individuals learn to be their own therapists. CBT aims to bring to the clients’ awareness of their negative styles of thinking and unhelpful behavior patterns associated with depression and anxiety, and eventually replace them with more helpful thought patterns and behaviors. Getting such anxiety treatment in Dubai helps to limit the client’s distorted thinking by looking at their problems or issues more objectively.

Interpersonal therapy

Interpersonal therapy or IPT is a short-term treatment that usually involves 12 to 16 one-hour weekly sessions. The therapy focuses on your social roles and relationships. The therapist will work with you to identify interpersonal issues you may have, including conflicts with family or friends, change in social roles, stress from work, unresolved grief, and other issues involving other people in your life. During or after the therapy, you will also learn about healthy ways to express your feelings and improve your communication with others.

Psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on the psychological roots of the client’s emotional suffering. It involves self-reflection and self-examination, and the use of the relationship between therapist and patient as a window into problematic relationship patterns in the client’s life.

There are other kinds of treatment that your therapist can recommend to you depending on the severity of your condition. No matter which therapy is chosen, keep in mind that your willingness to get better is also a key factor in your recovery.

Take breaks when everything gets overwhelming and ask your therapist if there are ways on how you can better prepare your mind for the treatment.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of depression and anxiety, especially when you’re surrounded by a lot of people, you may need to talk to your therapist about which treatment is more appropriate for your condition. Human Relations Institute and Clinics are a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses in the Middle East and abroad.

Psychology Skills Used in the Workplace

There are several ways psychology can be applied in the workplace, from assisting employees who are suffering from stress anxiety to providing mental health counseling services that can help keep the workplace safe.

Workplace, or organizational, psychology is primarily applied to detect and resolve difficulties and create improvements in the workplace which can help maintain a good work environment and improve employee engagement as well as productivity. Most human resources officers have adequate knowledge and experience to properly facilitate staff training, do performance evaluations, and come up with solutions on how to keep the staff motivated at work.

What are the Psychology skills used in the workplace?

Recruitment – Applying psychology in the workplace can help determine the required educational attainment, important skills, and work experience that you would need from the candidates you will hire. Knowing these characteristics can also help you create the most suitable job description for a certain person in a particular position.

Training – Psychology skills can help you pinpoint the staff’s training needs and provide relevant training and guidance in an engaging and interesting manner. Adequate training must be provided by the employed to ensure that the quality of work or output adheres to the standards of the business and the requirements of the law. Employees must also be provided with additional training on workplace safety, especially if their position puts them at risk (of harm or injury) while performing their tasks.

Performance evaluation – Evaluations are performed to give employees feedback about their performance for a certain period. The feedback and evaluation of their current performance (including strengths and weaknesses) must lead to improvement of productivity on the part of your employee. This is also a great opportunity to discuss their concerns about their work and the workplace itself.

If several staff members are suffering from anxiety and stress, seeing a mental health counselor may help in addressing their concerns, as well as provide relevant advice on how they can take care of their mental health.

Salary and compensation – These are critical points in developing a great compensation strategy. With the amount of competition in the market, some employees/applicants have started looking into other benefits that set the company apart from others, instead of just focusing on the salary.

Proper compensation may reinforce the idea that the staff is doing well and that their work and efforts are appreciated by the organization. This feeling of satisfaction from their work may help keep them from relying on other things such as alcohol and substance abuse to feel good about themselves.

Motivation – Several studies found that increased motivation among employees often leads to higher productivity. Stress and anxiety on the other hand might affect productivity and the quality of their output. Hence, companies often use work psychology to use techniques like contests, commissions, performance appraisals, and other reward systems to keep the employees engaged and motivated. Additional benefits such as anxiety treatment in Dubai is also something that you can add, especially if you have an employee who had a recent traumatic experience or is suffering from anxiety.

Whether you have a staff or know someone who needs substance abuse counseling, or you need expert advice to improve your workplace environment, Human Relations Institute and Clinics are a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses in the Middle East and abroad.

Building Strong Leaders through Organizational Psychology

Leading a team towards success may look easy when you are viewing it externally, with leaders doing the thinking and their members engaging in the grunt work. However, it is not that simple. Being a leader often means understanding the strengths, weaknesses, and potential of each member of the team and knowing how to make all these factors work together to solve current issues and achieve the goals of the business.

While many businesses usually apply transactional and transformational leadership, certain businesses find organizational leadership more beneficial based on the goals of the business and the skills and personality of the staff. Unlike traditional management where leaders only focus on the overall goal, applying organizational psychology and leadership involves communicating the business’ mission and vision, establishing a strategic plan, and motivating individuals to utilize their talents to fulfill the goals aligned with the strategic plan and the mission/vision.

To become a capable leader, you must:

  • Continuously look for opportunities to build your expertise. This may be achieved through formal education, mentorship and/or internal training programs.
  • Establish good working relationships and maintain a positive work environment. However, if you or an individual feels overwhelmed, seeking the help of a mental health counselor can help in processing what’s going on and how the situation can be improved.
  • Whenever possible, express your desire to lead and establish the image that you are the type of person who takes the initiative in getting things done, while communicating effectively with the team and utilizing and developing their skills and talents.
  • Seek opportunities for professional development. Whether it’s learning a new skill or polishing an existing skill, look for ways on how you can improve and share your experience with the team, especially if this can help the business’ goals. Since it is a complicated role, the leader must be boundaried and willing to work on their shortcomings without affecting theirs and the team’s output. When it comes to dealing with these tough moments, doing relaxation techniques for stress management may be beneficial.

If you are having difficulties with your current leadership style or wish to understand what needs to be done to improve, you may visit a psychotherapy clinic to seek the advice of a mental health therapist to help you understand the issues and guide you in working things out. Human Relations Institute and Clinics are a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses in the Middle East and abroad.

A Guide to Child Adoption in the UAE

Can expats adopt a child in the UAE? 

Expatriate couples residing in the UAE who wish to adopt a child will need to consider adopting from either their home country or another country. The adoption process for expats can still be conducted from the UAE, however, they cannot adopt Emirati children. Should they decide to process the adoption internationally, the UAE will honor the child’s documents as long as they are able to present all documentation and have completed all legal requirements.

What are the steps to adopt a child in the UAE?

If you wish to process the adoption in the UAE, here are the steps that you need to follow:

  • Complete the home study program with a qualified psychologist or adoption service counselor
  • Gather and submit all required paperwork (must be certified and attested by relevant authorities)
  • Reach out to an adoption facilitator (from the chosen country or home country of adoptive parents)
  • Flying out to the country of adoption to meet the adoptive child
  • Complete all the paperwork
  • Apply for a visa and bring the child to UAE

While it is not always the case, the adoption process may be stressful for both the adoptive parents and the child. If you’re a first-time parent, visiting a mental health counselor may be beneficial for you. They may be able to give you guidance on how to establish a good first impression and build a connection with the child while the adoption is being processed.

Depending on the adoptive child, you may also book for mental health counseling services, especially if the child had any traumatic experiences.

If you are looking for an adoption services counselor to assist you with the adoption process in UAE, you may reach out to Human Relations Institute and Clinics, a psychotherapy clinic based in Dubai, UAE. They have been providing adoption counseling services in the UAE for more than 15 years – offering emotional and psychological support to prospective adoptive families while evaluating their level of preparedness and presenting them with necessary guidelines to help them through their adoption journey as successfully as possible.

 

Managing and Treating Anxiety among Adults

Anxiety is one of the most common mental health conditions experienced by adults nowadays. It affects one’s physical, emotional, and mental health in various ways.

Unlike other types of mental condition which usually manifests later in life, both children and adults may develop anxiety due to stress, as well as other environmental and genetic factors. As soon as you detect signs of anxiety or higher levels of stress, it is highly recommended that you seek help from a mental health counselor to determine what triggers your anxiety and recommend a treatment program that is appropriate to your current condition.

Can anxiety be treated without medication?

Many institutions offer mental health counseling services to help patients recover without relying on medication. Medication is used with severe levels of anxiety.

Depending on the patient’s existing health conditions, doctors may recommend the following as part of one’s treatment plan:

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is one of the most effective interventions for anxiety. It gives a person the chance to discuss what triggers their anxiety, explore coping mechanisms, and work through some experiences that may contribute to their anxiety. Some psychotherapy clinics prefer cognitive behavioral therapy among other types of psychotherapy because it focuses on helping a person understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, however other therapies are equally helpful. Using these methods also helps them to find ways on how to disrupt their negative thoughts and avoid anxious thinking patterns.

Change diet and nutrition

Making changes in one’s diet or intake of certain food items may also become a part of a client’s therapy for anxiety. Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake is highly recommended as these drinks can often make the person restless. Keeping a log of one’s food consumption can help determine if certain foods trigger or worsen their anxiety.

Support groups

Anxiety can make a person feel isolated even with the company of others. Hence, it is beneficial to have a support group that can help the client cope and feels less alone. A great support group will provide practical wisdom that can help a person find the right provider, talk to their loved ones about their anxiety, or manage the process of seeking workplace accommodations.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of anxiety, especially when you’re surrounded by a lot of people, you may need to talk to your therapist about what social anxiety treatment is appropriate for your condition. Human Relations Institute and Clinics is a psychology-based practice based in Dubai, UAE, providing mental health and psychological services to individuals and businesses around the globe.

The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Employee Retention

The intense competition among employment candidates, for both experienced professionals and fresh graduates, creates a more challenging workplace. While this can help create plenty of opportunities for growth through collaboration and partnerships, it can also lead to a toxic environment where employees hinder the growth of one another and focus only on personal gain. To prevent this from happening, it’s crucial to have a leader who understands the needs of their staff and is up to the job of bringing out their potential and unifying everyone to promote the growth of the organization.

Studies have shown that among the most popular leadership styles, transformational leadership is the style that helps increase employee retention. While there are plenty of candidates to choose from, experienced professionals are crucial in maintaining the business’ level of service while maximizing its resources. After all, it’s difficult to focus on business or organizational growth if you must keep training new employees to bring them up to speed.

What is transformational leadership?

Transformational leadership refers to the style of leadership that inspires positive change in people, in this case, employees or members of the organization. Transformational leaders are passionate, energetic, and enthusiastic. They help each staff or team member to succeed while being involved in every step of the process of the organization’s success.

How does TL impact employee retention?

As mentioned above, having a great leader is crucial in motivating the members of your team to do their best, as well as in giving them a reason to stay. For this reason, many organizations seek leadership coaching in Dubai to find out what they can do to increase employee retention through effective leadership.

Here’s how TL can affect employee retention:

Inspires positive change in behavior

Changing or improving one’s behavior is tough, especially when it is forced. However, it becomes easier if the person is motivated to do better because they are inspired by the passion or work of the people around them, especially by their leader.

Lead by setting an example for your staff. Motivating them to do well will be much easier if they can see that their leaders value their work and are pouring the same amount of effort/work to achieve the organization’s goal.

Prioritizes the staff’s well-being

Employees and staff members feel more motivated to do well when they feel that their leaders care about them. After all, it is much easier to perform one’s tasks when they are in peak condition, both physically and psychologically.  These leaders also make sure they properly communicate with their staff, especially when it comes to critical matters. They make their staff aware of their mistakes and help them correct them and avoid making the same error in the future.

Encourages improvement and growth

Transformational leaders are willing to help the members of their team to improve and grow. Whether it’s personal or professional growth, it is highly encouraged, especially when it can contribute to achieving the goals of the organization.  While not all of them do so, these types of leaders take the necessary steps to educate and help their team members grow. If you are planning to lead the bigger team or want to learn more about how you can improve your team through effective leadership, you may take lessons for executive coaching in Dubai.

There is no “one size fits all” type of leadership for every organization. Even if an established style has been proven to work, it may change over time as the business or organization grows.

If you are struggling with your current style or wish to become a better leader, you may visit a psychotherapy clinic to help you understand the issues and guide you in working things out.