Our psychiatrists are medical doctors trained to combine pharmacological treatment with psychotherapy and lifestyle interventions when appropriate. We work closely with other members of the BPS Clinic multidisciplinary team – including psychologists, psychotherapists, and family therapists – to ensure a coordinated care plan.

Overview

At BPS Clinic, our psychiatrists provide comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide range of mental health conditions. We integrate medical expertise with a biopsychosocial approach to deliver care that addresses biological, emotional, and social factors – because mental health is complex and every individual’s needs are unique.

What to Expect

Initial psychiatric consultations involve a thorough assessment of medical history, psychological background, and current concerns. Following diagnosis, we collaborate with you to develop a personalised treatment plan. This may include medication, therapy, and recommendations for additional support services when needed.

What Is Psychiatry?

Psychiatry is a medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Psychiatrists are Medical Doctors who have completed a degree in Medicine, followed by specialized residency training in Psychiatry.

This extensive medical education allows them to understand the complex interplay between the body and mind, enabling comprehensive assessments and integrated interventions.

A Whole-Person Approach: The Biopsychosocial Model

At our clinic, we adopt a biopsychosocial model of care, which considers the intricate interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors affecting each individual’s mental health.

This model, first introduced by psychiatrist George L. Engel in 1977, recognizes that health and illness are not only the result of biological factors but also the outcome of a dynamic interaction between biological, psychological, and social dimensions.

Engel’s model transformed medical thinking, inviting clinicians to integrate clinical findings with an understanding of the patient’s experience, encompassing both psychological and social contexts [1].

Taking into account all the factors that influence a person’s mental health is the only way to ensure meaningful and lasting outcomes. This perspective allows for more accurate assessments, tailored interventions, and a more effective therapeutic process [2–5].

Integrated Psychiatric Expertise

Our psychiatrists, in addition to their medical qualifications, have completed educational and training programs in psychotherapy. This dual expertise allows them not only to provide pharmacological interventions but also to integrate these with psychotherapy, allowing for a therapeutic approach that combines medication with psychological insight and interventions. This integrated method has been shown to offer greater efficacy across a range of psychiatric disorders compared to either treatment alone [6–15].

Their psychotherapeutic background also fosters effective collaboration with psychologists, allowing for well-aligned and coordinated therapeutic strategies.

Their medical training, on the other hand, enables integrated collaboration with neurologists and pediatricians. Psychiatric, neurological, and developmental disorders often intersect, especially in childhood and later life, making diagnostic and therapeutic pathways more complex. The presence of other medical specialists within the team ensures comprehensive, multidisciplinary evaluations and allows for the development of cohesive treatment plans.

This integrative approach enhances diagnostic accuracy, promotes continuity of care, and supports each patient in achieving meaningful and sustainable improvements in mental health and overall well-being.

The Impact of Relocation and Life Transitions

Relocating to a new country—such as moving to Dubai—can mark the beginning of an exciting chapter. However, it also brings with it a complex mix of emotional and psychological challenges.

Adapting to a new culture, adjusting daily routines, managing unfamiliar professional expectations, and coping with the absence of established support systems can all impact your mental balance. These transitions often give rise to stress, anxiety, uncertainty, or a sense of disconnection—especially when they coincide with other major life changes such as parenting, career shifts, or starting over in an unfamiliar environment [16–18].

In these moments, psychiatric and psychological support can play a key role in helping individuals and families navigate change, restore emotional balance, and strengthen resilience.

Area of Focus

We provide care for a wide range of psychiatric conditions, addressing various levels of complexity and severity. These include:

• Adjustment disorders

• Bipolar disorders (type 1 and 2)

• Eating disorders

• Mood and anxiety disorders

• Neurodevelopmental disorders (Autism spectrum and ADHD)

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

• Personality disorders

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD

• Psychotic disorders and disorders of thought

• Somatoform disorders

What to Expect from Your Care Process

Taking the first step toward mental health support can bring uncertainty. We aim to offer a clear picture of what to expect throughout your care process. Our approach is personalized, respectful, and grounded in both clinical expertise and human understanding.

1. Initial Psychiatric Consultation

The first consultation is a comprehensive session lasting approximately 45 to 60 minutes. During this session, the psychiatrist conducts a full assessment of your emotional, psychological, and physical well-being. This includes personal, medical, and family history, current concerns, and any previous treatments. The aim is not only to understand symptoms but also how they affect your daily life, functioning, and relationships. At the end of the consultation, the psychiatrist will provide a clinical impression, a summary of initial diagnostic considerations and a proposed care plan. If the clinician judges it appropriate, this plan may include the prescription of psychiatric medications. Modern pharmacological treatments are supported by robust scientific evidence and are generally well tolerated. Multiple large-scale analyses have shown that psychotropic medications, when appropriately prescribed, are associated with low dropout rates due to side effects, indicating good overall tolerability [19–21]. Each treatment plan is carefully optimized to achieve the best possible outcomes with the fewest side effects, always considering your individual needs, lifestyle, and long-term well-being.

2. Pharmacological Monitoring

If medication is indicated, regular follow-up appointments will be scheduled to evaluate progress, monitor side effects, and adjust the treatment as needed. These follow-up sessions typically last 20 to 30 minutes.

3. Combined Treatment: Medication and Psychotherapy

In many cases, the most effective approach combines medication with ongoing psychotherapy. They allow time for both medication monitoring and meaningful psychotherapeutic engagement. Far from being routine check-ins, they are opportunities to explore what is happening in your life, including emotions, thoughts, behaviors, and relational dynamics. This deeper work supports insight, growth, and sustained change. By combining medication and psychotherapy, this approach addresses both the symptoms and the underlying emotional patterns, enhancing the overall effectiveness of treatment.

Wherever you are in your life, and whatever challenges you may be facing, our team is here to walk alongside you with empathy, respect, and the highest standards of psychiatric care, always centered on your dignity, needs, and well-being.