Dr. Reem Abu Hweij
Services Offered
Individual therapy (18+), couples therapy
Available in-person & online
Accepting new clients from May 23, 2026
Languages spoken: Arabic & English
Dr. Reem Abu Hweij is a DHA-licensed clinical psychologist based in Dubai, with over 10 years of experience in psychotherapy, teaching, research, and clinical supervision across multicultural and humanitarian settings. She holds a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) from The Wright Institute in Berkeley, California, with advanced certification in psychoanalytic psychotherapy and trauma treatment.
My Approach to Therapy
I view therapy as more than symptom reduction — it is a process of understanding the deeper meanings behind suffering, recognizing recurring relational patterns, and developing a fuller relationship with oneself and others. My experience has taught me that psychological pain is rarely shallow or simple; more often, it connects dynamically to our early environments, family systems, cultural and socioeconomic contexts, and to the ways we come to understand and hold our reality. I am committed to creating a therapeutic space that is thoughtful, compassionate, and grounded in genuine human connection.
Psychodynamic & Trauma-Informed Psychotherapy in Dubai
My clinical training is rooted in psychodynamic and relational psychotherapy, with advanced certification from the Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies in Los Angeles and the Advanced Master Program in the Treatment of Trauma at NICABM. I work with clients navigating complex trauma, PTSD, and the long-term effects of early relational wounds, drawing on both depth-oriented exploration and evidence-based trauma interventions to support meaningful, lasting change.
Anxiety, Depression & Emotional Regulation
I support adults living with anxiety, depression, chronic stress, and burnout, as well as those struggling with emotional regulation and self-esteem. My integrative approach draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and mindfulness-based interventions, allowing me to tailor treatment to each client's unique needs and goals.
Severe Mental Illness, Personality Disorders & Addiction
My clinical experience spans a wide range of presentations, including severe mental illness, personality disorders, and addiction and substance use concerns. I bring specialized training in psychoanalytic frameworks and mindfulness-based treatment of addiction, alongside experience working across diverse clinical settings — supporting clients through some of the most challenging chapters of their lives with steadiness, depth, and respect.
Culturally Responsive & Meaning-Centered Therapy
As a bilingual Palestinian psychologist with experience across multicultural and humanitarian contexts, I bring a deeply culturally responsive lens to my work. I make space for broader existential questions related to meaning, identity, purpose, and the human experience — recognizing how culture, history, and lived experience shape the inner world. I consider psychotherapy not simply a profession, but a vocation rooted in curiosity, compassion, and a deep respect for human complexity.
Treatment Specialties
Trauma and PTSD
Severe mental illness
Addiction and substance use concerns
Adjustment and life transitions
Identity concerns
Relationship difficulties
Emotional regulation
Meaning and existential concerns
Women’s issues
Stress and burnout
Treatment Techniques
Psychodynamic Relational Psychotherapy
Trauma-Informed Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy
Existential and Meaning-Centered Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Interventions
Education
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Clinical Psychology — The Wright Institute, Berkeley, California (USA)
Master of Arts (M.A.), Clinical Psychology — The Wright Institute, Berkeley, California (USA)
Bachelor of Arts (Honours, First Class), Psychology — University of Glasgow (Scotland)
Advanced Training
Advanced Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy — Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies, Los Angeles
Advanced Master Program in the Treatment of Trauma — National Institute for the Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICABM), Connecticut
Additional Training: Consciousness and the Id, Lacanian Therapy, Mindfulness-Based Treatment of Addiction
Professional Memberships
Member, Palestinian Syndicate of Psychologists and Social Workers
Graduate Member, American Arab, Middle Eastern, and North African Psychological Association (AMENA-Psy)
Member, University of Glasgow Alumni Association
Licenses
DHA Licensed Clinical Psychologist — Dubai Health Authority (UAE)
Licensed Clinical Psychologist — Palestinian Ministry of Health (Palestine)
Selected Publications
Abu Hweij, R. (In Press). Between Actionality and Meaning: Group Therapy as a Site of Liberation Madness. Group Analysis: The International Journal of Group-Analytic Psychotherapy
Abu Hweij, R. (In Press). Besiege Your Siege with Madness: Transcendence and Liberation. Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society
Abu Hweij, R. (2024). The Colonizer Within: Exploring Facets of Internalized Oppression in Palestine. Cairo Studies in English, 2024(2), 79–98.
Ghrayeb, F., AlRifai, A., & Abu Hweij, R. (2024). COVID-19 Vaccine Motivation, Willingness and Hesitancy of Health Majors University Students in Palestine. Medical Research Archives, 12(7).
Abu Hweij, R., Ghrayeb, F., Marzo, R., & AlRifai, A. (2022). Palestinian Healthcare Workers’ Mental Health Challenges during COVID-19 Pandemic. Medical Research Archives, 10(10).
