Sabina Mustafa, psychologist in Dubai

Anxiety · Burnout · Motherhood

Calm, practical
therapy for adults
and mothers in Dubai

Support for anxiety, burnout and every stage of motherhood.

Trained with
  • Beck Institute
  • Seleni Institute
  • COPE Institute
  • Northumbria University
A woman smiling softly as she looks out of a sunlit window

Holding it all together, but tired inside?

Many of the people I see are capable, dependable and doing well on paper. Underneath, they're anxious, exhausted or stuck, and few people guess how much they're carrying.

Therapy is a calm, confidential space to put it down, understand what's keeping you stuck, and leave each session with practical tools that help.

Warm · Practical · CBT-informed

Feel steady in life, work & motherhood

My approach is CBT-informed and grounded in research. We make sense of what you're feeling, understand the patterns behind it, then work on small, practical changes that last. I pay close attention to culture, family and the pressures of life in Dubai.

Explore specialties
Sabina Mustafa, psychologist, in her consulting room in Dubai

Hi, I'm Sabina.

Listening first, always

I'm a psychologist in Dubai supporting adults through anxiety, burnout, low mood and life's big transitions, with specialist training in perinatal mental health.

Before psychology I spent more than 15 years in senior leadership roles in Dubai, so I understand workplace pressure, performance and identity from the inside.

Education
MSc Psychology (Distinction), Northumbria University
Training
CBT (Beck Institute) · Perinatal mental health (Seleni, COPE) · Grief & loss
Languages
English · Hindi · Urdu
Licence
CDA eligibility approved
Common questions

Who I work with

01 · For men and women

Adult mental health

One-to-one therapy for adults who feel anxious, burnt out, low or stuck, often while still functioning well at work and at home. Many are professionals, parents or high achievers carrying more than they show.

  • Anxiety, stress & overthinking
  • Burnout & perfectionism
  • Depression & low mood
  • Grief, relationships & life transitions
02 · For women and mothers

Perinatal & maternal mental health

Specialist support through one of life's biggest changes, from trying to conceive to the early years of parenting. My MSc research focused on burnout and perfectionism in mothers in Dubai.

  • Trying to conceive & pregnancy anxiety
  • Postpartum depression & anxiety
  • Pregnancy & perinatal loss
  • Parental burnout & returning to work
“Therapy gave me space I didn't know I needed. I came in exhausted and anxious, and I'm leaving calmer, clearer and with a plan.”
– Asma D.

Specialties

Therapy for adults, men and women, and specialist support for mothers, in Dubai and online across the UAE.

Book a discovery call

01 Maternal & perinatal mental health

Pregnancy, postpartum depression and anxiety, perinatal grief and loss.

02 Anxiety & stress

For constant worry and a mind that won't switch off.

03 Burnout & perfectionism

For high achievers coping on the outside and exhausted inside.

04 Depression & low mood

For heaviness, flatness and losing interest in life.

05 Parental burnout

For mothers and parents running on empty.

06 Life transitions & identity

Motherhood, relocation, career change and finding yourself again.

07 Relationships & family

Shifting roles with partners, parents and extended family.

08 Grief & loss

Bereavement and the losses that don't always get named.

09 Workplace mental health

Wellbeing workshops and one-to-one support for teams and working mothers.

Online & in person

Sessions

45-minute sessions in Dubai or by secure video anywhere in the UAE, in English, Hindi or Urdu. Start with a free 15-minute discovery call to see if we're a good fit. Babies are welcome when you need to bring them.

Find an available spot

Your questions, answered

Not sure if therapy is right for you? Start here.

How do I find a therapist for anxiety in Dubai?

Look for a qualified psychologist trained in an evidence-based approach. I hold an MSc in Psychology (Distinction) and trained in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with the Beck Institute, and I see clients in Dubai and online across the UAE.

What is CBT and how can it help?

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings and behaviour keep each other going. Together we map what's happening, learn how it works, and practise tools you can use between sessions. It's one of the best-researched therapies for anxiety, stress and low mood.

What are the signs of burnout?

Feeling drained most of the time, detached or irritable, and less effective at things you used to manage well. I support many high-functioning adults with burnout, drawing on 15 years in senior leadership roles and my current work as a workplace mental health consultant in Dubai.

Can therapy help with depression or low mood?

Yes. I use CBT-informed therapy for depression and low mood, with specialist training in CBT for depression, grief and loss from the Transformation Institute.

Do you offer grief counselling?

Yes. I support bereavement and other losses, including pregnancy and perinatal loss, with specialist training from the Transformation Institute and the Seleni Institute.

Can therapy help with perfectionism?

Yes. My MSc research studied perfectionism and parental burnout in mothers in Dubai, and found the pressure of others' expectations to be the strongest predictor of burnout. CBT can help loosen that pressure.

How do I find a perinatal psychologist in Dubai?

Look for specific training in perinatal mental health. I'm trained with the Seleni Institute and the COPE Institute, and support women from trying to conceive through pregnancy, postpartum and the early years.

Baby blues or postpartum depression?

The baby blues usually ease within two weeks of birth. Postpartum depression lasts longer and feels heavier: low mood, anxiety, guilt or numbness that gets in the way of daily life. If it's been more than two weeks, it's worth talking to someone.

Is it normal to feel anxious during pregnancy?

Some worry is very common. If it's constant or keeps you up at night, therapy can help you feel calmer and more in control.

Do you offer workplace mental health support in Dubai?

Yes. I run wellbeing workshops for teams in high-pressure environments and offer one-to-one support for employees, including working mothers.

Do you work with men?

Yes. My adult mental health work is for men and women, including support for anxiety, stress, burnout, low mood, grief and life transitions. Perinatal support is my specialist area for women and mothers.

Do you offer online therapy in the UAE?

Yes. Sessions are 45 minutes, by secure video anywhere in the UAE or in person in Dubai.

What happens in the free discovery call?

A relaxed 15-minute chat about what's bringing you here. No pressure to book.

Which languages do you offer therapy in?

English, Hindi and Urdu.

Is this an emergency service?

No. If you're in immediate danger, call 999 in the UAE or go to your nearest emergency department.

Your next step

Ready when you are

Book a free discovery call or message me on WhatsApp. I reply within 24 hours.

sabinathepsychologist@gmail.com

Send an enquiry

Please don't share anything urgent here. In a crisis, call 999.