Dr. Dalea Alawar

I am a licensed clinical psychologist with more than 10 years of experience treating individuals who are struggling with their mental health. I have expertise with issues ranging from depression and anxiety to trauma and addiction. I also work with couples struggling with conflict, infidelity, and distrust in their relationships/marriages. 

In therapy, I base treatment on psychodynamic, insight-oriented, and attachment-based theories as well as the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) approach known as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). I am also trained in EMDR, which I utilize to help clients work through and overcome events in their past that have greatly impacted them. 

To learn more about me and my treatment approach, please visit my website at www.drdaleaalawar.com. 

My Philosophy

Many people enter therapy because they have trouble dealing with difficult emotions such as:

• sadness & hopelessness
• vulnerability
• anxiety
• guilt & shame
• anger & resentment

One of the main aims in therapy is to guide my clients to understand themselves better, handle their emotions more thoughtfully, and, in turn, feel more in control of their own behavior. I spend time guiding my clients in finding where their emotions live in their bodies, teaching them how to make room for them, to learn from them, and to stop fighting with them. This is a somatic approach to therapy.

I also use Trauma-Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (TFACT), an exposure-centered approach to address a range of traumatic experiences. TFACT addresses issues such as:

• emotional numbness
• dissociation
• trauma-related anxiety
• panic attacks
• depression
• suicidality
• shame
• anger
• attachment-related trauma
• issues with trust

I integrate EMDR into my treatment whenever my client and I would find this helpful. EMDR helps you resolve issues from your past that you find yourself feeling stuck on and not knowing how to move forward with. Symptoms of trauma, anxiety, depression are examples of what can be treated with EMDR. 

Overall, I aim to provide my clients with a treatment approach that is tailored to their needs. Regardless of the approach I use, my priority is to create an environment of safety, understanding, non-judgment, and compassion. Without this, I do not believe change can happen.

Background

I dedicated the first five years of my career to helping individuals struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and their co-occurring disorders (trauma, depression, anxiety) in both residential and outpatient facilities. I also worked in psychiatric hospitals during this time, helping those with severe mental illnesses and addiction. From 2017 to 2023, I worked in jail settings with individuals suffering from severe mental illness such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia as well as those with addiction, depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and adjustment disorders. From 2021 to 2023, I primarily evaluated inmates in jail for their competency to stand trial (CST).

In addition to the above, I have owned a private practice in California, U.S.A. since 2015. I have treated individuals with issues such as depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, relationship issues, addictions (sex, food, drugs, alcohol, etc.) , anger management, problems managing emotions, ADHD, personality disorders, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.

In 2023, I moved from the U.S.A. to Dubai where I now work full-time in private practice.

Educational Qualifications

• B.A. in Psychology from the American University of Beirut
• M.A. in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
• Psy.D. (Doctorate of Psychology) from Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Licenses and Certifications

• California Board of Psychology, California, USA
• Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Dubai
• EMDR Certification, EMDRIA-approved program