Clinical Department
Naeema Jiwani
Child Development Psychologist
Focusing on child development from birth onwards, Naeema specializes in areas of a child's development with respect to their social, cognitive, language, motor and emotional development adapting her programs to a variety of age groups. Naeema delivers therapeutic and preventative programs which cater to parents with children of ages 0 - 3, 3 - 6 and 6 – 12 as well as teachers' and childrens' programs addressing a comprehensive range of issues. Some of these include: tackling aggressive behavior, motivating children academically, teaching children how to problem solve and self regulate, as well as encouraging positive discipline and behavior management. She also conducts interventionist treatment programs to prevent language, reading and cognitive delays, and limit the development of conduct disorders, attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD), and anti -social personality disorder. In addition, several of Naeema's programs focus on normal development, noting that child psychopathology (or disorders) can be prevented through programs that support and coach parents of children at an early age, before the brain loses its plasticity and disorders or difficult behaviors become more ingrained.
Having worked in the UAE with a variety of nationalities and age groups, combined with her UAE upbringing, Naeema brings a profound level of cultural awareness to her treatment programs. A Canadian national, she completed her high school at the International School of Choueifat Dubai, going on to obtain two undergraduate degrees, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (with Distinction) and a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing (with Honors) from Queen's University, Canada. She subsequently worked in the UAE for 3 years and obtained her Master's of Science degree in Psychoanalytic Developmental Psychology (with Distinction) from one of the UK's leading universities, University College London, in collaboration with the Anna Freud Centre.
Naeema is a member of the British Psychological Society in the UK and has also completed studies in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mentalization Family Based Therapy. Naeema's experience includes developing and conducting a comprehensive Child Development Education Program, in the UAE over 2 years, providing support in the form of parental education. During this program, she undertook the supervision of over 50 families and their children from a variety of backgrounds assessing multiple facets of development and identified problematic areas with a view towards providing guidance on corrective measures.