The Middle East

www.meeda.me

MEEDA, based in Lebanon is a non profit organisation aimed at raising awareness prevention and providing support to those suffering from eating disorders in the region. NCFED trained the founders of MEEDA & we have had a mutual relationship since it began. Founder:  Jeremy Alford  (PHD) Clinical Psychologist, hypnotherapist and Neurofeedback Therapist  who has relocated to Bali (see our Indonesia page).

Telephone: +971507425368   Email:  anajwan@gch.ae
Dr. Najwan Al-Roubaiy is a UK HCPC registered clinical psychologist; Canadian CRPO registered psychotherapist; Swedish licensed psychologist; & UAE DOH licensed psychologist. He is also a Chartered member (CPsychol) & Associate Fellow (AFBPsS) of the British Psychological Society (BPS) with more than eighteen years of clinical experience. He holds a BSc (Hons) in Psychology from the University of East London; an MSc in Counselling Psychology from the London Metropolitan University; a Diploma in Practitioner Skills for treating Eating Disorders from the National Centre for Eating Disorders; the Specialist Qualification in Clinical Psychology from the Swedish Psychological Association; a Postgraduate Certificate in trauma-focused CBT from the University of Oxford; & a PhD in Counselling & Psychotherapy from the University of Leicester. He works primarily with adults struggling with various mental health issues including anxiety disorders (phobias, social anxiety, panic disorder, GAD, OCD, and PTSD); depressive disorders; personality disorders; substance abuse; & eating disorders.

Telephone 00971 434 94880 / 00971 504 545522 Email carole.chidiac@groupgmc.com

Carole has been taking care of multi-national families in cosmopolitan Dubai since 1998. She is a medical doctor trained to work with eating disorders & she believes in evidence based medicine & psychotherapy, influenced of course by patient-informed decisions & needs. She has wide experience of all common medical disorders & mental health issues, in particular body image & weight concerns, which has led to her gain specialist qualifications in working with eating disorders. She works as part of a specialist eating disorder team alongside a psychologist & a nutritionist. Carole works with children, adolescents and adults. At the present time Carole is mainly seeing patients via Zoom.

Telephone 00971 431 41000 Email carine.elkhazen@gmail.com

Carine el Khazen is a clinical psychologist with a Masters’ Degree in Clinical & Psychopathological Psychology (University of Saint Joseph, Lebanon, 2000), post-graduate degree (DESS) in Clinical & Psychopathological Psychology (University of Sorbonne, Paris V, France, 2002) & diploma in Profound Studies (DEA) in Clinical Psychopathology (University of Jussieu, Paris VI, France, 2004).
Carine  joined the American Center for Psychiatry & Neurology in Dubai in 2011 & as an eating disorders & obesity specialist (Practitioner’s skills diploma in Eating Disorders from the National Center for Eating Disorders –NCFED – Enhanced Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for the treatment of Eating Disorders -CBT-E & Personalized Cognitive- Behavioral Therapy for Obesity –CBT-OB, training in MANTRA & FBT .
She is Director of a specialized multi-disciplinary out-patient Eating Disorders & Obesity program supervised b Dr Riccardo Dalle Grave, Italy). Her team of clinicians help children, adolescents & adults recover from their eating disorders & overcome their obesity. Carine is the VP & head representative for the UAE of MEEDA (the Middle East Eating Disorders Association) which is the Middle East chapter of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED) & also P.C.A.C.  (Partner, Chapters & Affiliate Committee at this Academy). She oversees the association’s daily operations dedicated to raising awareness, supporting sufferers & training the general public & professionals about eating disorders & obesity.
Carine gives professional trainings on the latest evidence-based treatments  in the UAE & Lebanon to health professionals in the region.

Telephone +961 1 682 666:  Email  TBA Office Bellevue Medical Centre Mansourieh POBox 25

Carla is a CBT/Schema Therapist with many years’ professional experience. Qualifying in psychology at McGill University, Montreal, she has an Advanced Diploma in Hypnotherapy from the London College of Clinical Hypnosis, a Masters in REBT from Goldsmiths University, London,; an Advanced Diploma in Schema Therapy from the USA & the NCFED Practitioner Diploma in Eating Disorders. She worked in the UK in private practice, Harley Street,  as well as at the Priory, Roehampton, before moving to Beirut in 2011 where she became Head of Psychotherapy at Belleview Medical Center & where she also has her private clinic.

Carla sees adolescents, adults & couples for a wide variety of issues, including eating disorders.

Telephone 056 7899538:  Email sandra.swords.w@gmail.com

Sandra brings 25+ years of professional experience, including an extensive background in social work, psychology & trauma. Her educational achievements include an Masters in Psychology & Social Administration, a post graduate Diploma in Applied Social Studies & Certificate of Qualification in Social Work. She has gained further qualifications in Traumatic Stress, Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR), Clinical Hypnotherapy, Transpersonal Regression Therapy, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), CBT, Observed & Experiential Integration (OEI) Therapy (a neurological approach to trauma) & The Eating Disorder Practitioner Diploma from NCFED, UK. Sandra is now working in private practice under the licence of Personal Development Solutions.

Telephone 00971 4 342 5208:  Email maria.abihanna@gmail.com

Maria is a licensed clinical dietitian with a B. Science in Nutrition & Dietetics from the AUB. She works in a Nutrition Centre in the UAE counselling a wide range of clients,helping them to make positive changes to their lifestyle & diet. Her main interests are eating disorders, weight management & sports nutrition. She adheres to a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure maximum benefit to her patients, working with a team that includes doctors, psychologists & nutritionists.

Maria shares her passion & expertise in this work by being actively involved in the community,; she conducts workshops in schools & in businesses, emphasising the importance of healthful eating & active lifestyles. Maria holds the Eating Disorder Diploma from NCFED, UK.  

Telephone +965 2535 6444  Email jmustpic@warpmail.net

Jelena is an experienced Gestalt Therapist and Psychologist working in private practice. She is passionate about helping women & men to overcome their difficulties with eating, weight & body image issues & to lead happier more fulfilling lives. She has experience with different cultures & has worked with depression, anxiety, eating disorders & compulsive eating, as well as trauma, loss  & bereavement. She holds a Ph.D. in Biomedicine & Health Sciences and the Master Practitioner award in Eating Disorders & Obesity from NCFED, UK. Office: Kuwait Counselling Centre, Clover Centre 14th Floor Block 1A Street 1 Jabriya 13007 Kuwait City

Telephone 00961 3 136 056:  Email joyakhoury@gmail.com

Joy is a licensed dietitian working in a private practice in Beirut, Lebanon. Her main goal is to help her clients achieve a healthy relationship with food & with their body image, providing a more holistic approach in treating her patients to reach their optimal well-being.  Joy has expanded her area of study into the domain of eating disorders, their intricacies & implications. She currently holds the Practitioner Diploma in Eating Disorders from the National Center For Eating Disorder (NCFED), UK.  She graduated from the University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Lebanon with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition & Dietetics. She then earned her master’s degree from Aix-Marseille University in Nutrition and Vascular Physiopathology, in France. She has worked in several hospitals across Lebanon & is now specialising in disordered eating.

Telephone 00961 301 7667  Email: zoulnawal@gmail.com

I am a licensed Dietitian working as head of the Nutrition Department at Dallaa General Hospital since September 2008, & also at Well Care Clinics- Saida, Lebanon in cooperation with a team of professionals (GP, Psychiatrists, Psychotherapists…). I use a multidisciplinary, comprehensive & motivational approach to help clients optimize their health. I focus on encouraging clients to earn skills & attitudes in order to maintain weight change & improve well-being. My passion has led me to expand my area of study into the domain of Eating Disorders and I have a Practitioner Diploma in Eating Disorders from the National Centre for Eating Disorder (NCFED), UK.

Mobile number: +971505446535

Email: Nadine_andari@hotmail.com

Nadine is the Head Clinical Dietitian at Novomed Clinics in Dubai, she works as part of a multidisciplinary Eating Disorder team. She is passionate about her comprehensive approach that encompasses physical, mental & spiritual well-being. Nadine started her nutrition career twenty years ago in Dubai after graduating with a Master’s Degree in Clinical Nutrition from the American University of Beirut.  She currently holds the Master Practitioner Diploma in Eating Disorders from the National Center For Eating Disorders, UK.  She is an opinion leader & nutritional consultant on Television, print & social media, & has been involved in many wellness programs across various sectors.

Nadine has been providing a wide variety of nutrition counselling services in preventative health, bariatric surgery, chronic disease, emotional eating and weight management education.  She has developed skills & a special interest in working collaboratively with psychologists & physicians regarding disordered eating, anorexia nervosa, bulimia & binge eating disorder recovery. Nadine has a trusted ability to encourage her clients to eat more intuitively & improve their relationship with food & their body overall.

Mahmoud is a psychotherapist graduating from Cairo University &  with a master’s degree in psychology from the University of Westminster, UK. He completed a diploma in addiction, behaviour management at the Net Institute in the USA,  an Advanced Diploma in Schema Therapy from the USA, & the NCFED Practitioner Diploma in Eating Disorders.

He conducts support, psychoeducational & CBT groups & also integrative cognitive-affective therapy (ICAT) – an approach that integrates CBT with emotional focus therapy.

Mahmoud is passionate about treating eating disorders.  In addition to his experience as a clinical psychologist with adults at Nile Sanatorium in Egypt, he also works as an adolescent and adult therapist for depression & anxiety.’Bartaman Nutella’ and ‘1/4 Gram Sokar’ are two books written by Mahmoud that are about mental health in Arabic.

His contact details;

Email: Mahmoudzaki91@gmail.com

Website: http://www.exist-counselling.com

Rita is an Egyptian/Canadian clinical psychologist, earning her PhD at the University of Edinburgh under the Eating Disorders and behaviors research lab. She completed her Master’s degree in Psychology from Harvard, & her bachelor’s degree from the American University in Cairo. She is a member of the BPS and the APA.

Rita has strong passion and expertise in assessing & treating mental health conditions specifically Eating Disorders, as she has gained her Master Practitioner Diploma in Eating Disorders from the National Center for Eating disorders in the UK (Eating Disorders, Obesity Management and Nutirtional interventions). She has worked with a wide array of eating disorder presentations through incorporating multiple psychotherapy techniques to help her patients build resilience, work on their body image concerns, help with weight management & address other comorbid mental health conditions.

Living in Egypt, Rita is raising awareness on eating disorders through social media with the aim of providing more accessible eating disorders awareness & education in the MENA Region. As a fluent English, French & Arabic speaker, she can conduct psychotherapy sessions in all 3 languages.

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Email: ritakallini@maadipc.comPhone Number: +201223936784

Hello, my name is Carine & I have a BS: Human Nutrition & Dietetics (USEK) & MSc: Nutrition & Public Health (USEK).  I have worked as  Head of Dietetic Department in Hospital Sacre Coeur, Baabda for several years & I have been a Clinical dietitian since 2017 at Yaacoub Polyclinic.  I discovered my passion for working with eating disorders with MEEDA & ever since, this specialty has become my main interest.
My mission is to help to change people’s eating behaviour & improve their relationship with food & with their body image, to have a better lifestyle & reach their optimal well-being through motivation & new skills.

Telephone: +961 76 873 091

E-mail: carineyaacoub.ld@gmail.com

Dr. Nayla is a licensed Consultant Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist with 10 years of experience.  She practices at The Behman Psychiatric Hospital in Helwan, Egypt, Maadi Psychology Center, Cairo, & the International Clinic in London.  She is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, & the Arab Board of Psychiatry.  She has an Approved eating disorder qualification & is the Founding Director of the Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program at The Behman Hospital.

Dr Nayla has a special interest in all the eating disorders & how they relate to underlying issues such as borderline personality disorder & emotion dysregulation.   She has extensive experience in treating high risk, multi-problem young adults with self-harm & suicidal behaviors, depression, anxiety & eating disorders.  Dr. Nayla works holistically with all clients with eating disorders & body image disturbances, using both medication & psychological treatments to meet their needs & promote a return to wellbeing.

Contact information:

Email: n.grace@behman.com

Mobile: (002) 01003561116

Hana Abou El Nasr is a clinical dietitian & food scientist with a Bs. in science from the American University of Beirut, as well as the eating disorder diploma from NCFED, UK. 

With many years experience with weight change, she founded The Nutrition Clinic, a private clinic aiming to help those who need help with  their eating habits. Hana has always been interested in eating disorders & mental health as they are essential in improving one’s relationship with food.  

Hana’s main focus is to help those who suffer from eating disorders. She works in a multi disciplinary team along with psychiatrists & ED therapists to ensure the best outcome for her clients. Hana is fluent in three languages (Arabic, French & English) & can direct the sessions in all of them. 

She is passionate about raising awareness through her instagram account @thenutritionclinic.eg 

How to reach Hana:  

thenutritionclinic.eg@gmail.com 

+20155 4991931 

Joumana is a medical doctor who specialises in metabolic diseases, medical nutrition, obesity &  bariatric medicine.  She is also trained to work with eating disorders: holding the NCFED Practitioner diploma & a Certificate in CBT-E from Oxford.

Joumana is the executive director of MEEDA (the Middle East Eating Disorders Association) which is the Middle East chapter of the Academy of Eating Disorders (AED). She gives awareness workshops in schools & to the general public plus trainings to professionals about eating disorders, nutrition & obesity.

She works with people of all ages, in French, English & Arabic . Her clinic is based in Lebanon & she also works online with clients.

Contact details: cell phone: 009613442403 – Email: joumyw@yahoo.fr

Aya Serhal is a clinical dietitian with a Masters’ Degree in Clinical nutrition & dietetics from Saint Joseph university, Lebanon.
She is the lead dietitian at the American hospital in Dubai. Aya is a part of the multi-disciplinary out-patient team at the Diabetes Center of Excellence at the American hospital.
She helps adolescents & adults to control their diabetes, metabolic syndrome, chronic diseases & obesity through personalized weight management programs & lifestyle modifications. She is dedicated to raising awareness, supporting sufferers & training the general public about obesity, health and lifestyle.
By earning the Practitioner Diploma for Eating Disorders, Aya has expanded her expertise in eating disorders & obesity management in order to help her patients in building a positive relationship with food & with their body image & to reach their optimal well-being.
Telephone : 00971528974579
Email : aya.serhal@hotmail.com

Tala Mustafa is a licensed clinical dietitian with a BSc in clinical nutrition & dietetics from the University of Sharjah in UAE, as well as the Master Practitioner Diploma in Eating Disorders from National Center for Eating Disorders, UK.

Tala works as a part of multidisciplinary eating disorders team in Aman Lil Afia private clinic in Dubai. Tala has a profound understanding of the relationship between nutrition, mental health, & overall wellbeing.

Throughout her career, Tala has spent time working within the demanding environment of inpatient care settings including acute, post-acute, & long-term care while she focused on providing personalized nutritional intervention of chronic diseases, bariatric surgery, ICU nutritional intervention, and pregnancy-focused nutrition.

Tala’s experience led her to develop the passion towards eating disorders & the psychology of eating which is the focus of her current work to help individuals build healthy relationships with food and their body image. Tala has made it her life’s mission to guide and empower individuals in their journey to recovery.

Contact: Talamustafa95@gmail.com 00 971505057907