Best Psychologists in Dubai Marina Walk - دبي مارينا - دبي - United Arab Emirates

Andria Calicchio graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honours in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology from the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, in 2008. Soon after graduating, she worked for a government hospital in South Africa as part of her community service, where she set up both a NICU feeding clinic and audiology out-patient clinic.  

After working within a private practice in South Africa for 2 years, where she saw both paediatric and adult patients, she decided to move to Dubai. Andria worked at a private medical centre in Dubai for 4 years, focusing on paediatrics and school-based therapy. She has provided one to one sessions, group sessions as well as multi-disciplinary sessions, and classroom-based activities. She has experience in oral-motor therapy, stuttering therapy, auditory processing therapy, visual-auditory based therapy for hearing impaired, and language therapy. She is also certified in interactive metronome and completed levels 1 – 3 of the Orton Gillingham dyslexia program.

Andria’s main focus and passion are on early intervention therapy and inclusion of children with learning difficulties and developmental disorders within mainstream schools. She previously held a position of Head of Schools in which she oversaw all therapy-based interventions within schools, assisted schools with the training of staff and helped develop therapy within mainstream schools within Dubai. Andria’s focus was also on training both teachers and parents in childhood disorders, as well as provided workshops where needed.

Andria bases all therapy and intervention within the importance of the patient’s triad within their life: school/work/environment, family and therapy. She strongly feels that all aspects need to work together in order to fully assist any patient. With a passion for inclusion, Andria is currently completing her masters in inclusive education in Dubai schools, focusing on early years and hearing-impaired learners.

Zoe moved to Dubai in 2015 and provides clinic-based applied behaviour analysis (ABA) therapy to children with developmental delays. Since then, Zoe has gone on to supervise home-based and school-based ABA therapy, for children aged 2-14, and run a behaviour analytic centre in a GEMS school. She has also supervised candidates for RBT, BCaBA and BCBA board certification.

Zoe is highly specialised in teaching language, communication and pre-academic skills to children, using Skinner’s analysis of verbal behaviour. Using the evidence-based and data-driven methods of Applied Behaviour Analysis, Zoe conducts assessments, and designs, evaluates and supervises individualised teaching programmes to best support the children. Zoe assesses language and communication skills, pre-learning skills, play skills, school readiness skills, functional living skills, independent living skills, social skills and some academics. She provides training and supervision to the team of Registered Behaviour Technicians (RBT), who deliver ABA therapy. Zoe can also train parents, teachers and paraprofessionals how to teach communication, play and leisure skills, social skills, self-help skills and daily living skills.

Majel Padilla is a Behavioral Therapist who graduated from UP-Dr. Jose G. Tamayo Medical University with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy. She then developed a keen interest in Behavioural therapy for children during her professional working career and has subsequently cleared her Registered behavioral therapist exams.

Before joining Neuropedia, Majel served as a Behavioral Therapist in the Philippines and joined Austism UAE in January 2011. She handled children with the Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD/ADHD, Learning Disabilities, Cerebral Palsy, Global Developmental Disorder, Down Syndrome which uses Behavior Modification Techniques and Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).

Majel's clinical services include center-based, home-based and school setting therapies, focusing on targeting auditory comprehension, social skills, using visual strategies to help children with a communication problem.

Her teaching interest and knowledge was strengthened by experience, seminars and trainings conducted for both ABA and Physiotherapists.

Reine has made it her priority in life to serve the community. She established Talking Brains Center FZE in DSO, Dubai. She has over 19 years of experience in the Speech Therapy and Neuropsychology professions, while holding several degrees including Masters in Neuropsychology (Clinical psychologist) from Angers University in France, Graduate Diploma in School Psychology from the Lebanese University, Master in Speech Therapy from the Lebanese University, and French Baccalauréat (Biology) from Notre Dame de Jamhour in Lebanon. She took part in numerous internship hours in Toulouse and Albi in France.

Reine has extensive clinical experience as a Trilingual Speech Therapist (Arabic, French and English) and as Neuropsychologist. She gained this experience by working for distinguished organizations such as Medcare Medical center in Dubai, School of Notre Dame Jamhour in Lebanon, School of Saint Gregoire Achrafieh in Lebanon, Geriatric and Rehabilitation Center of Notre Dame Hadeth in Lebanon, The Lebanese Army Medical Hospital, Lebanon, and her own private clinic in Lebanon.

Reine’s clinical experience includes Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Attention Deficit Disorder, Stuttering and the evaluation of cognitive functions (language, memory attention, agnosia, apraxia), the planning and the administration of therapies to patients from all ages suffering from CVA, aphasia, brain injuries, swallowing disorders, speech and language delay, dyslexia, dyscalculia, stuttering etc.

She has attended many seminars and conducted several trainings in the following areas: Rehabilitation in Neurological Dysarthria, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Stuttering, Swallowing Disorders, Autism, Cognitive Education and logical reasoning.

Reine is dedicated to continuing education which includes:

·      Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (LSVT) for neurological Dysarthria treatment 

·      It Takes Two to Talk - The Hanen Program certificate to address families of children with language delays

·      More Than Words - children with social communication difficulties

·      Autism Talkability Program- program to develop the Theory of Mind

·      Makaton - An alternative way to communicate and stimulate language using gestural communication (sign language)

Reine is a co-founder of the Emirates SLP Society and a member of the Lebanese SLP Association (ALO).

Over than 20 years of experience in Clinical Psychology and pathology (private practice) while holding a Masters and high studies degrees (DESS) in clinical psychology and pathology from the University of Saint Joseph Beirut.

After having obtained a university degree in Family Therapy (systemic and psychoanalytic approach) in Saint Joseph University Beirut, she then got a specialization in Couple Therapy (systemic approach) by the IFATC, Lyon in France after which she co-founded “Espace Famille” where she works in a multidisciplinary way with qualified colleagues with couples and families.

She has clinical experience in the educational field by working in the sector of schools (College Notre Dame de Jamhour, College Saint Grégoire affiliated to College Notre Dame de Jamhour and Jesus&Mary School). This experience reaches children and adolescents with academic and behavioral difficulties.

Ami Graves, MS, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist from the United States who has over eleven years of experience working with individuals across the lifespan with complex communication needs. 

Her clinical experiences include providing AAC evaluations in schools, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, clinics, and vocational settings. Amanda has applied knowledge in a variety of AAC tools and techniques including iPads, eye gaze systems, dedicated speech-generating devices, and low-tech communication books and boards. She has been fortunate enough to work within interdisciplinary teams including fellow speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, teachers, and vision intervention professionals. 

Ami is dedicated to continuing education and continues to both participate and provide in trainings for the following AT and AAC tools:

• Eye gaze systems, including Tobii-Dynavox 
• Apps for communication, including LAMP WFL, Proloquo2Go, Grid 3, TouchChat with WordPower, Tobii-Dynavox Snap + Core, GoTalk Now, and many others. 
• Dedicated speech-generating devices
• Alternative access support using switch scanning, auditory scanning, and partner assisted scanning
• AAC assessment, report and goal writing

• Over 10 years of UAE experience in practicing psychiatry.
• Director of the training and residency program at Rashid Hospital in Dubai.
• Specialist Psychiatrist at Al Kuwaiti Hospital.
• Specialist Psychiatrist Al Amal Hospital’s Mental Health Services.
• Consultant Psychiatry | Deputy CEO at the American centre for psychiatry and neurology.