Leading Psychiatrist in Dubai
Struggling with your mental health? Our expert psychiatrist in Dubai can help. We provide comprehensive psychiatric care - including evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment - to people in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and throughout the GCC.
Our leading psychiatry team works closely with other professionals to help you improve your mental wellness. This page will explain how a psychiatrist can help you, what a psychiatrist is, the conditions that a psychiatrist treats, and some of the frequently asked questions about starting with a psychiatrist. You will also find the profiles of our British-Board Certified psychiatrist below: Dr. Ash Shishodia. Please note that you can meet a psychiatrist while you are doing talk therapy - but it is not required.
Our top psychiatrists are here to help
Whether you need to heal or want to thrive, we have top psychiatrists to provide customized care. Get in touch to find out how we can help you. Contact us however you feel most comfortable, for example Whatsapp message us, or feel free to call us on +971 56 895 2347. You can also email or simply send us a query via our online form. Instagram message, Facebook chat… whatever works best for you!
Our goal is to make you comfortable.
How can a psychiatrist in Dubai help me?
People seek support from a psychiatrist to deal with a range of mental health concerns. These can include constant feelings of unease, low mood, inability to concentrate, panic attacks, thoughts of suicide, hallucinations, or other problems that get in the way of your ability to function in your everyday life.
At Thrive, a psychiatrist can help you with:
Burnout syndrome
Dyslexia and learning disabilities
Neuropsychiatric disorders (epilepsy, dementia)
Personality disorders (borderline personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder)
Psychotic disorders
Schizophrenia spectrum
Substance misuse
What does a psychiatrist do?
Psychiatry is a medical speciality that helps people cope with a wide range of mental health conditions. Psychiatrists are medical doctors specializing in the treatment of mental health. This means that they attend medical school and earn a medical degree, with education and training focusing on psychiatric disorders. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication to help people manage, treat, or recover from mental health conditions. As a medical doctors, a psychiatrist considers both physical and psychological aspects of your wellbeing. A psychiatrist works alongside other mental health clinicians (e.g., a clinicial psychologist or counseling psychologist) to provide a comprehensive care plan that considers your mental health needs. This means you may undergo therapy, including cognitive therapy like CBT with a clinical psychologist or counseling psychologist, while you are under the care of a psychiatrist.
Psychiatry is divided into three broad categories:
Evaluation: Assessing the physiological and emotional aspects of mental illness. Your psychiatrist will do this in a number of ways, including gathering information about your history and background, ordering and interpreting medical tests, and conducting psychological assessments.
Diagnosis: Identifying the nature of the problem and distinguishing it from other related conditions. Your psychiatrist will do this through a thorough evaluation and on the basis of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) which contains diagnostic criteria for all psychiatric conditions.
Treatment: Developing and implementing a treatment plan based on the severity of symptoms and the extent to which they disrupt daily life. Your psychiatrist may prescribe medication, refer you to a licensed psychologist for psychotherapy, and/or suggest medical interventions and lifestyle accommodations.
The Best Psychiatrist Services in Dubai
Psychiatric Consultations (50 minutes)
We always start with a psychiatric consultation in order to understand what you are currently experiencing, as well as your individual history and family background. Your psychiatrist will ask specific questions about your current symptoms, general physical health, any recent changes or stressors that you have experienced, and your family (the one you grew up in and/or the one you are living in presently). Then, your psychiatrist will incorporate this information into a treatment plan, which can include medication and/or psychotherapy.
We pride ourselves on having the best psychiatrist in Dubai, with a team of experienced and compassionate professionals who can provide the dedicated care you need.
At Thrive, we have 22 specialist psychologists who can support you if psychotherapy is recommend. In this case, your psychiatrist will provide you with a letter that you can share with your insurance provider (if you are covered for psychiatry and psychology services).
Medication Review (20 minutes or 30 minutes)
You meet with your psychiatrist at predetermined intervals to touch base about your medication. Specifically, your psychiatrist will ask you about how it is working and whether the dosage needs to be updated. Your psychiatrist will write you a new prescription if required.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I reach out to a psychiatrist in Dubai?
We all face difficulties in our lives, but some of them last longer and are more painful than others. A mental health professional - whether it is a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counsellor - can help you reduce your symptoms and learn strategies to help you cope with whatever you are experiencing.
Most people find it relatively easy to reach out to a medical doctor when they are feeling physically unwell, but hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional when they are struggling. Please know that it is ok to reach out for support and that there are evidence-based medications and treatments to help you through your challenges.
Mental health is like physical health - the earlier you seek support, the better (but it is never too late).
We suggest keeping an eye on the following and reaching out for help if you notice any of them:
Difficulty regulating emotions or thought patterns
Trouble controlling emotions
Unexplained health issues or physical illness
Marked decrease in efficiently or performing less effectively at work or school
Abrupt changes in sleep patterns and/or appetite
Excessive fears
Extreme and constant worry
Struggling to build and maintain relationships
Increased self-isolation and loneliness
Unhealthy changes in sex drive
Engaging in risky and impulsive behavior
Recurrent and distressing nightmares
Detachment from reality - delusions, paranoia, or hallucinations
A life-changing trauma
Grief
Increased substance abuse to alleviate symptoms (drugs, alcohol, prescription medication)
Having suicidal thoughts or self-harm
Continuous or frequent anger
Threats to self or others
Do I have to take medication?
No. At Thrive, we believe in meeting our clients where they are. Your psychiatrist will discuss your treatment options with you after the psychiatric consultation and you can decide together whether medication should be a part of it.
If you are considering taking medication, your psychiatrist can help you weigh your options by explaining how a medication treatment can benefit you, any side effects you may experience, and any potential risks associated with the treatment. He will answer any questions you might have. It’s then up to you to decide whether you want to take medication.
How long will I need to take medication if I decide to go on it?
It depends. Your psychiatrist will discuss your treatment with you after the psychiatric consultation. He will continue to monitor your progress during medication reviews, including whether you want to and need to continue on your medication. Usually, people take medication for several months to a year. However, some chronic conditions may require longer-term medication.
How long will it take the medication to start working?
It can take 4 to 6 weeks for your medication to become fully effective. Talk to your psychiatrist if the medication doesn’t work or if you are experiencing bothersome side effects. Keep in mind that finding the medication that works for you can take time and involve some trial and error. It is important to take your medication as prescribed by your psychiatrist and only make changes after consulting with him. In the meantime, if you experience a mental health crisis and need urgent help, contact Rashid Hospital on 04 219 2000.
Can I meet with a psychiatrist online and, if so, how will it work?
Yes. You can meet with your psychiatrist using our secure, HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform. We offer online psychiatric consultations and medication review.
Why should I choose to see a psychiatrist at Thrive?
We are well-known for our quality of care. Our psychiatry services meet the standards that make us proud to serve the community. Each psychiatrist at Thrive has over 15 years of experience in Europe and the UAE, as well as many years of training.
Where can I go to find out more about mental health medications?
It is always best to contact your psychiatrist as he is specialized in this and can answer any questions or concerns you have about your medication. Do not rely on the information that you find online and always check with your psychiatrist as he knows your full history and background and can guide you accordingly.
My psychiatrist and I decided that I should receive psychiatric medication. What happens next?
Your psychiatrist will prescribe your medication based on his evaluation of your needs. When you start taking your medication, you will meet with your psychiatrist regularly to observe how effective it is and to monitor for any bothersome side effects. During these follow-up sessions, your psychiatrist may adjust your medication based on how you are benefitting from the treatment.
What can I expect from my first session?
Your psychiatrist will conduct a thorough evaluation by asking questions about your current challenges, history, and background, which can lead to a diagnosis. The treatment plan will be shaped by the diagnosis, including the severity of symptoms and current level of distress.
How can I prepare for my first session?
It is normal to feel nervous before your first visit - especially if you have never met with a mental health professional before (but even if you have). Here are some points to help you prepare:
Have a running list of issues you would like to bring up to the doctor
Discuss the physical and emotional symptoms you have been experience
Disclose all medication, smoking and alcohol habits to the doctor, this is of utmost importance for them to understand any interactions that may occur with medication
Highlight any family medical conditions
Ask for feedback from those close to you on what they may have observed about you
Remember, there are no stupid questions - ask questions and clarifications about medications, symptoms, or anything that are not entirely clear
How much does a psychiatrist cost in Dubai?
We have a fixed fee structure for initial psychiatric consultations and follow-up medication review sessions. Please get in touch with us to find out more.
Dr. Ash Shishodia
DHA-Licensed Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr. Ash Shishodia is a Western-trained General Adult Psychiatrist (Addiction Psychiatry endorsement) and Neuropsychiatrist with over 15 years experiencing working with an ethnoculturally diverse population. I am comfortable working with mild, moderate, and severe cases, including major mental illness, and neurological disorders with mental health.
Dr. Lara Foresi
DHA-Licensed Specialist Psychiatrist
Dr. Lara is a European-trained General Adult Psychiatrist with extensive experience in mood disorders and substance misuses. She is both trained and experienced in working with people from diverse ethnocultural backgrounds. Dr. Lara works with mild, moderate, and severe cases of psychiatric disorders, neurodiversity and mental health..
