The unrevealed trauma - Dubai Women's College - Higher Colleges ...

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Conference held in Abu Dhabi
warned about the increasing
number of women becoming
depressed in the Gulf generally,
and the UAE specifically.
Do you know what happens
in a counseling session?
You enter a nicely decorated office
with a quiet atmosphere where
a friendly person welcomes you,
offers you coffee, and invites you
to feel comfortable. After a few
minutes s/he gently asks, “What
brought you here today?” You
start talking, continuing until you
feel that you have nothing else
to say; then the person replies
quietly and helps you sort out
your problems. Finally, you leave
hoping to come back again and
talk to this person who not only
gave you her/his time, but helped
you reform certain ideas. Yes, this
is counseling; a very direct, fluid
and confidential experience with
someone new, who happens to
be a counselor.
Counseling in Islam
Islam encourages counseling
and considers it a treatment that
humans might need in their lives.
Muna Tarish, a counselor and
Islamic scholar at the Department
of Islamic Studies-Sharjah, explains
that people who seek counseling
are not patients who need medical
treatment. This is contrary to
society’s view which believes that
people who need counseling are
considered suspicious or “Mowaswesine”:
those who are in constant
stress and have the impression
that something or someone is
questionable, dishonest, or
dangerous which results in
mental instability and stress.
Tarish explains there is a
difference between a psychologist
and counselor and she does not
encourage everyone to seek the
help of a psychologist because
they are more for medical
purposes and severe psychological
complications that need medical
treatment. Counselors help their
clients deal with problems like
stress, depression and lack of
self-esteem. Tarish is also a
counselor at the Department
of Family Affairs in Sharjah and
counsels people from different
genders and age groups. The key
to her success as a counselor
is her ability to understand the
needs of her clients and guide
them so they can solve their issues
independently in the future.
Conclusion
In this modern, busy, fast and
stressful life, we all encounter
certain personal or professional
issues that can prevent us from
accomplishing our goals. Call
it counseling, therapy, career
counseling, couple counseling,
or advice, whatever you like;
they all fall under one category.
The focus is not on the titles but
the mission, which is, with the
help of an expert, to live a peaceful,
productive, emotionally stable and
healthy life.
Work in Abu Dhabi?
ABDULLA BUFAROOSHA
I am going to work in Abu Dhabi. Abdulla Bufaroosha/DWC
“As soon as I graduated with
a Bachelor degree in Electrical
Engineering, I started applying
for jobs in Dubai, where I live.
I was advised by my colleagues
to apply for a job at ADNOC in
Abu Dhabi. To my surprise, I was
accepted with an unbelievable
offer. Thus, I chose to work in
Abu Dhabi,” narrates 24 year
old Ahmed Al Falasi.
In the past couple of years, many
fresh graduates from other emirates
in the United Arab Emirates
have accepted jobs in the capital.
This career movement has
become a trend these days. What
are the driving forces behind it?
It is customary in the UAE for
people to live close to their
families. Local people prefer to
stay in their parents’ houses even
after marriage and may not leave
until they have many children.
In the past, the houses of local
people were big enough to gather
the whole family, including
grandparents. Because of this
tradition, it is difficult for the new
generation to separate themselves
from their families, even within
the country. Thus, some of the
locals who work in Abu Dhabi
choose to commute on a daily
basis between the capital and
their hometowns.
Ahmed Abdulrahman, a 32 year
old from Sharjah, shares his story
of working in Abu Dhabi. “I was