Woman This Month speaks to Asna Ahmed, a leading counselling psychologist, about her career and her upcoming seminar in the Kingdom.
Tell us about your background in counselling psychology and what first piqued your interest in the subject?
I did my undergraduate degree in psychology in Delhi and then completed my postgraduate training in rehabilitation psychology in Kolkata. I then started working in the UK within addiction services, qualifying in 2012. It’s an extremely long and difficulty journey, but I’ve always had a fascination with understanding humans, people and behaviour.
What are you currently working on?
I work for a private hospital focussed on rehabilitation and recovery, so essentially I work both directly and indirectly with patients on their overarching goal of recovery. This includes designing a recovery path for the client with them. In private practice, I meet clients who come to me with myriad issues from addiction, depression, stress and trauma to self-esteem and relationship problems. At the heart of every case is to establish a therapeutic alliance and understand the client’s ‘model of understanding’ even if it clashes with my understanding.
What’s your history with Bahrain and the GCC?
I love Bahrain! Manama reminds me of my childhood memories of growing up in Dubai, which was very different to the Dubai of today. Bahrain appears to be at a perfect meeting point between being the megacity of the Middle East and a unique cultural sanctuary that is raw, untouched and undiscovered. I have enjoyed the overwhelming shopping arcades, talking to the locals at Haji café in Manama Souq or just absorbing the different culinary smells in Juffair. Bahrain seems to have it all without the arrogance! I do have family in the Kingdom, which is an added bonus for me to love the country and revisit it often.
Can you give us a taster of what subjects will be approached in your upcoming seminar in association with Woman This Month?
With the current coronavirus situation, it would be ironic to host a conference on well-being! My seminar in Bahrain, which will raise awareness of mental health, is planned for summer post-Ramadan, all being well. I believe and strongly advocate the need for raising awareness about the significance of mental well-being. Most of us, including me, spend so much time being independent that, through fear of feeling like a failure, we are hesitant to ask for help. Mental health is not something that is visible, so the world goes by without realising or offering support. My main purpose is to break the barriers and encourage the conversation.
Do you feel enough is being done within Bahrain and the Middle East to combat mental health issues?
Talking to my colleagues in the Middle East has provided me with some insight that although Islam speaks about psychological well-being and advocates its significance, many practicing Muslims are not as aware or open to conversations. I have a few clients who raise the issues of spirituality in sessions and how divided they feel in admitting their psychological vulnerability in their culture. Interestingly, psychology as a field recognises the strength of religion and is starting to encourage the use of spirituality in recovery. My fundamental belief is that raising awareness, honest conversations and a non-judgemental attitude can make a difference.
Finally, can you tell us about your ‘Therapy Cup’ idea? Would you like to bring sessions like these to Bahrain?
Therapy Cup was born, unsurprisingly, over a few thousand cups of tea that I have shared with individuals from London to Rome to Bahrain. I noticed that most individuals would talk endlessly and more openly over a hot drink, subsequently associating that cup of tea with a feeling of post-catharsis calm. I am definitely intending to bring my skills (and hopefully pick up some new ones!) to Bahrain.
Asna can be contacted on [email protected]
www.thetherapycup.com
