“I believe living authentically and honoring your values and what’s important to you is part of your wellbeing”

Ms. Shaikha Alhemeiri is a compassionate Emirati psychologist with over 6 years’ experience working with children, adolescents and their families on different issues including but not limited to anxiety, depression, OCD, first episode psychosis and adjustment with chronic and medical conditions. 

Being a homegrown psychologist, she gained the unique experience of understanding the importance of valuing the local culture and the role of families to a child/adolescent wellbeing while still delivering and adhering to evidence-based psychological interventions. She values catering to one’s psychological needs, providing a safe space without compromising who they are and what they value in life. 

Prior to joining Sage Clinics, she worked at Al Jalila Children’s Speciality hospital, covering outpatient and medical inpatient wards, providing support to families and their children with psychological needs or/and adjusting to medical and chronic medical conditions

After obtaining her Masters in Clinical Psychology from UAE University, she pursued advanced training in CBT for various anxiety conditions. Ms. Alhemeiri has a strong interest in working with first episode psychosis and at-risk populations. She is a trained CBT for psychosis provider as well as a certified SIPS (Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk) assessor from Yale University, trained under Dr. Barbara Walsh, a pioneer in her field. 

She is an active researcher with multiple publications in various peer reviewed journals. Her research interests are: early interventions for psychosis, cultural adaptation of CBTp, understanding risk factors of psychosis, all within the Arab population. Ms. Alhemeiri is keen in developing early intervention services for psychosis in the United Arab Emirates. She also hopes that this would serve an opportunity to further understand at-the risk youth in the Arab population to develop culturally appropriate interventions and treatment.