At Compassionate Minds, we place great value on the wellbeing of young people, treating each child and teenager with respect, empathy, and care. Children need sensitivity, nurture, and playfulness to thrive. Our primary goal is always to help them feel safe and understood, so they can begin to explore their thoughts and feelings with curiosity rather than fear. Whether attending for a cognitive assessment to better understand their learning profile, or seeking therapeutic support for the challenges of childhood, every child is welcomed with compassion and supported by a team deeply attuned to their needs.

Our Children’s Team

Our Children’s Services are led by Dr. Amy Bailey, a UK-trained Clinical Psychologist with over two decades of experience supporting children, adolescents, and families. Dr. Amy is one of the most experienced psychologists in the UAE in providing psychological assessments, and she not only supports families directly but also oversees the delivery and reporting of assessments by other psychologists in the clinic, ensuring ethical rigour and clinical validity.

She is complemented by a team of highly skilled psychologists specialising in work with young people, each specifically trained in therapies and assessments for children and adolescents. Together, the team fosters understanding, builds resilience, and enhances development.

Types of Support

Therapy for Children & Teenagers

Our therapists support children and young people through both everyday worries and more complex difficulties. Each clinician is trained in age-appropriate methods, adapting therapy so it feels engaging, relevant, and effective. Where helpful, we also work with families and schools to create a wraparound system of care.

Why Therapy Helps

Therapy gives young people the chance to understand themselves and their relationships with family, friends, and the wider world. Academic pressures, friendship difficulties, and changes at home or school can often feel overwhelming. Therapy provides a safe, confidential space to process feelings, build resilience, and develop healthy coping skills.

When to Seek Therapy

Therapy is not only for times of crisis. It can also help children and teenagers build confidence, learn strategies to manage stress, and approach challenges in healthier ways. With the right support, young people feel more secure, more capable, and better able to navigate the ups and downs of growing up.

Common Reasons Children & Teenagers Come to Therapy

• Anxiety, including panic, overthinking, or social worries
• Performance pressures such as exam stress, test anxiety, or sports and music performance anxiety
• Perfectionism and fear of mistakes
• Low mood, sadness, depression, or hopelessness
• Friendship or peer relationship difficulties, including bullying or loneliness
• Family stress, transitions, or bereavement
• Coping with change, such as moving schools, countries, or adjusting to new environments
• Low confidence, fragile self-esteem, or identity struggles
• Understanding and supporting neurodiverse experiences
• Unhealthy or harmful habits
• Building resilience and emotional regulation

Parent Support and Training

We provide guidance to parents on effective strategies, communication, and behavioural management to support their child’s development. In addition to one-to-one support, we run parenting workshops, discussion groups, and online sessions. (See our Workshops and Programmes section for more information.)

Family Therapy

Sometimes challenges affect the whole family system. Family therapy creates a space to build understanding, strengthen compassion, improve communication, and resolve conflicts, helping families move forward together.

School and Educational Support

With parental consent, we liaise with schools to provide educational planning, recommend accommodations, and advocate for the child’s needs. This collaborative approach helps ensure children are understood and supported in their learning environment.

Psychological Assessments

We provide comprehensive evaluations covering intellectual functioning, academic attainment, attention and focus, emotional wellbeing, behavioural challenges, and social-communication skills. These assessments help children, parents, and teachers understand how a child thinks, why they might behave in certain ways, what excites them, and what may be difficult or overwhelming. Just as importantly, assessments highlight a child’s strengths, helping families and schools respond with greater acceptance and compassion, while building on areas of potential.