Khulood Al Asmawi
About Me
I am an Emirati psychologist licensed under Community Development Authority (CDA), practicing as an Allied Psychologist at The Psychiatry & Therapy Centre in Dubai. I’m passionate about giving back to my community and de-stigmatising mental health issues within the Middle East. I care deeply about supporting people of all ages in reconnecting with themselves, making sense of their experiences, and finding meaningful paths toward healing and growth.
My Approach
My work is integrative and tailored to each individual. I value creating a safe, collaborative space where clients feel genuinely seen and heard. I work with children, adolescents, and adults, and my focus is always on building a relationship grounded in trust, warmth, and mutual respect.
I take a trauma-informed and culturally responsive approach, and I aim to meet each person with compassion, curiosity, and care. Whether someone is navigating overwhelming emotions, identity questions, or past experiences that still feel present, my goal is to help them feel more connected to themselves and their inner strengths.
Research Interests
My research interests include looking at the impact of social factors on mental health and investigating loneliness in different diagnostic groups (including; psychosis, personality disorders, and common mental health disorders). I am also interested in cross-cultural relationships, particularly in the West vs Middle East. I am a published author and have presented research in international conferences.
Special Interests
- Anxiety Disorders: Generalised Anxiety Disorder, Social Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Specific Phobias, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Trauma and PTSD: Complex Trauma, Childhood Trauma, Intergenerational Trauma, Relational and Sexual Trauma.
- Neurodiversity: ADHD in Women and Sensory Processing challenges
- Early Intervention and Child-Focused Support: Emotional difficulties such as Low Mood and Anxiety, Developmental concerns, Attachment-related challenges, Parent–Child Relationship difficulties, ADHD, Tourette’s syndrome and/or Tics, and Selective Mutism.
- Identity and Life Transitions: Identity and acculturation issues; navigating major life changes such as moving countries, job loss, relationship or marital changes, illness, or caring for a loved one with illness
Therapeutic Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)
- Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) for Adolescents
- Trauma-Focused CBT for Children and Young People
- Expressive Approaches (Art and Play therapy)
- Chair Work and Parts Work
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Brainspotting
Education / Training:
I was educated and trained in the United Kingdom where I am a graduate member of the British Psychological Society and hold a:
- BSc in Psychology awarded by University College London
- MSc in Clinical Mental Health awarded by University College London
