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Dubai

Priyanka Bhatia Mahendru

Counseling Psychologist

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ABOUT ME/BIO

I am a CDA-licensed psychologist with over a decade of clinical experience, working with individuals and couples across a range of emotional, relational, and life-transition challenges. My work is grounded in creating a safe, non-judgmental space where clients feel heard, understood, and supported in exploring their inner world.

I take an integrative approach to therapy, drawing from Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems–informed work, psychodynamic perspectives, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). In my work with couples, I integrate the Gottman Method, Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and psychodynamic approaches. This allows therapy to be tailored to your needs and goals, rather than following a one-size-fits-all model. I am currently undertaking an advanced three-year training in somatic work to further support clients with complex trauma, nervous system regulation and chronic stress.

In individual therapy, I support clients in understanding unhelpful patterns, processing past experiences, and developing a more compassionate and empowered relationship with themselves. In couples therapy, I help partners improve communication, navigate conflict, and strengthen emotional connection. I am also a certified coach, and where appropriate, I can work in a more short-term, change-focused way, supporting clients with clarity, decision-making, and goal-oriented work alongside or separate from therapy.

Clients often describe therapy with me as collaborative and containing, offering both insight and practical tools that support lasting change beyond the therapy room.

I hold a Master’s in Counselling from Amity University, Noida, India, and a Master’s in Counselling Psychology with a specialization in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute, California, USA. I am licensed with the Community Development Authority (CDA), Dubai.

General information

CLINIC NAME

BRITISH PREMIER PSYCHIATRY AND PSYCHOLOGY CENTER L.L.C

CLINIC ADDRESS

Kia Flagship Building - Office 110 Sheikh Zayed Rd - Al Qouz First - Al Quoz - Dubai

COUNTRY

United Arab Emirates

LANGUAGES

EnglishHindiPunjabiUrdu

INSURANCE

Yes

PRACTICE

Both In-Person & Online

ABOUT Priyanka Bhatia Mahendru

PROFESSION

Counseling Psychologist

CREDENTIALS

M.A.

LICENSING AUTHORITY

CDA

TYPES OF SERVICES

Therapy

THERAPY

IndividualsCouples

YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

12

SPECIALIZATIONS

AdoptionAgingAngerAnxietyBody ImageCodependencyCommunicationDepressionDifficulties with Eating and FoodDivorceEmotion RegulationFamily ConflictGriefInfertilityLife crisisMen's IssuesMood SwingsObesityOncologyPalliative carePanicParentingPersonality DisordersPregnancy, Prenatal, PostpartumRacial IdentityRelationship IssuesSelf EsteemSelf-HarmingSexual AbuseSexual IssuesSleep or InsomniaSpiritualityStressSuicidal IdeationTrauma and PTSDWeightWomen's Issues

APPROACH

Acceptance and Commitment (ACT)Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)EclecticEmotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodInternal Family Systems (IFS)PsychodynamicSomatic

AGE GROUP

16 to 1819 to 2122 to 6465+

WORK HOURS

Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri- 9am to 4pm / Sunday- 9am to 1pm

APPOINTMENT WAIT TIME

Less than a week from time of contact

HOW I CAN HELP YOU
Individual Therapy
I work with individuals who are facing challenging life experiences, emotional distress, or periods of transition. Therapy focuses on helping you understand your inner experiences more deeply, develop healthier ways of responding to stress, and build greater emotional resilience and wellbeing. My approach emphasises awareness, meaning-making, and the impact of relationships and attachment, while also integrating mindfulness-based practices and trauma-informed work to support healing and growth.

Fertility & Reproductive Mental Health
I work with individuals and couples at different stages of the fertility journey, including trying to conceive, undergoing fertility treatment, pregnancy after infertility, and decision-making around treatment continuation or closure. Therapy offers space to process complex emotions such as grief, anxiety, shame, and loss of control, while supporting emotional resilience, self-compassion, and relational connection.

Adoption & Family-Building Support
I support individuals and couples considering adoption, in the midst of the adoption process, or adjusting to life after adoption. This includes exploring identity, attachment, grief, expectations, and the emotional transitions involved in building a family through adoption, with a focus on strengthening emotional and relational foundations as well as helping parents build attachment with adopted child,

Couples therapy
When relationships feel strained, disconnected, or caught in repeated cycles of conflict—often intensified by major life transitions—I help couples understand relational patterns and emotional dynamics. Together, we work on improving communication, repairing trust, and strengthening emotional connection to support long-term relational wellbeing.

Parenting Support (Psychodynamic Approach)
I work with parents who want to better understand how their own histories, emotional patterns, and relationships shape their experience of parenting. Using a psychodynamic and attachment-informed lens, we explore the conscious and unconscious dynamics that emerge in parenting—such as emotional triggers, relational patterns, and intergenerational influences. This work supports greater emotional awareness, reflective capacity, and more attuned, responsive relationships with children, rather than focusing on techniques or behavioural strategies alone.

Coaching
Through coaching, I support clients who are seeking clarity, direction, or change in specific areas of their lives. This work is practical and forward-focused, helping you identify goals, navigate decisions, and build momentum toward meaningful action. Coaching is well suited for work-related challenges, personal development, confidence building, and periods of transition where structure, accountability, and perspective can support progress. The focus is on strengthening insight, aligning actions with values, and creating sustainable change.
WHY I AM SPECIALIZED IN THIS FIELD
Trainings and Certifications

- Somatic Experiencing® practitioner (in training)
- Circle of Security Parenting™ (COSP) Program
- Acceptance and Commitment therapy
- Brainspotting Phase I and II
- Emotional focused Couples therapy - Core skills training and Externship training
- Foundation - Fertility Counsellor ( British Infertility Counselling Association, U.K.)
- Radical self compassion
- Gottman method Couples Therapy, Level 1 & 2 ( Gottman Institute, Seattle. U.S.)
- Mind Body program for Infertility (Domar Centre, Boston IVF, U.S.)
- Professional Certified Life Coach ( International Coaching Federation)
- Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (Beck Institute, Philadelphia, U.S.)
- Strong Interest Inventory Certification
- FIRO B Certification
- MBTI Certification
WHAT I SAY TO PEOPLE WHO FEEL NERVOUS OR HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THERAPY/ASSESSMENT
You are here, that means things have been hard and you have tried to make it better in the way you know how and you feel stuck! That is understandable, all of us (yes, including me), need someone who is trained, compassionate, non- judgmental and accepting that will help us through when things get really challenging and when we do not know a way through. It is normal to feel anxiety around sharing your vulnerability with someone, take your time and find the right person who can help.
WHAT MEASURES I USE IN ASSESSMENTS
Assessment is a continuous, collaborative process that evolves alongside the therapeutic work. Insights gained over time help refine focus and direction, ensuring that therapy remains aligned with your experiences and goals.

Individual therapy:
Assessment is a collaborative process rather than a set of tests or scores. At the beginning of therapy, we spend time understanding what has brought you to therapy, what feels difficult right now, and what you hope to gain from our work together. We may explore earlier attachment experiences, significant relationships, and recurring emotional or relational patterns. Together, we explore how you relate to yourself and others, using this understanding to guide the goals and pace of therapy.

Couples Therapy
When working with couples, assessment focuses on understanding your relationship dynamics and areas of distress. I meet with you together to observe communication patterns and emotional interactions, and I also speak with each partner individually to understand personal histories, attachment experiences, and how these influence the relationship. This helps clarify how patterns develop between you and where change is possible.

I would love to connect with you!

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