Identifying Licensed Social Care Professionals in the UAE: A Foundation for Developing Psychological, Counseling, and Social Work Practices

Document Type

Article

Source of Publication

International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling

Publication Date

1-1-2025

Abstract

The mental health system in the United Arab Emirates is in its early stages of development, and there is limited information about the professionals licensed as psychologists, counselors, and social workers—collectively referred to as Social (Care) Professionals. This study aimed to identify these licensed professionals, providing a foundational understanding to support the advancement of psychological, counseling, and social work practices in the UAE. Out of 382 licensed Social (Care) Professionals in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, 71 participated in a survey sharing information about their educational background and current practice. Most respondents were expatriate Asian nationals, female, Muslim, and English speakers. Implications of the findings are discussed in relation to engaging the growth of mental healthcare systems in the UAE by addressing training and professional identity challenges impacting Social (Care) Professionals, promoting the profession, and preparing for future challenges in the field.

ISSN

0165-0653

Publisher

Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Disciplines

Life Sciences

Keywords

Licensed counseling, Licensed psychology, Licensed social work, Mental health systems, Survey, UAE

Scopus ID

105008385726

Indexed in Scopus

yes

Open Access

no

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