Fiona Yassin is the International Program Director at The Wave, holding multiple credentials including being a registered Psychotherapist and Accredited Clinical Supervisor in both the U.K. and UNCG (Registration number #361609 National and International Council of Psychotherapists). She is EMDR trained (EMDRIA) and practices as a Trauma therapist (Registration number #10000054651).
Fiona’s expertise includes being a member of the International Chapter of IAEDP, with training in CBTe (Oxford Group), FREED (King’s College, London), TF-CBT, RO-DBT, and GPM. Her specializations cover the treatment of Eating Disorders and Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as families in High Conflict Divorces and Psychiatry across the female lifespan.
Additionally, Fiona holds the distinction of being a Fellow of APPCH, a senior accredited Addiction Professional, and a member of The Association of Child Protection Professionals. She is also trained in MBT (Child and Family and Adult) and Reflective Parenting with The Anna Freud Centre for Children and Families, and is a Member of The Australia and New Zealand Eating Disorders Association.
Fiona holds an MSc in Neuroscience and Mental Health awarded by King’s College London, where she received The Dean’s Award. She is currently completing an MSc in Psychiatry at Cardiff University Medical School and is a PhD Candidate in Mental Health Research at Lancaster University. Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys spending time with her three cats, going for long walks on the beach, and appreciating the beautiful animals in her garden.
This blog offers parents some advice about how to speak to young people about drugs and what they can do to keep them safe. It also provides some information about drug use in the Gulf region and the consequences of substance abuse for adolescent mental health.
Parents or other caregivers play a huge role in a child’s development, especially in their early years. They continue to influence their emotions and behaviours during adolescence and into young adulthood.
Emotions are a huge part of the human experience. They help us to understand and react to situations quickly, before we have time to logically process what’s happening. They pull us towards certain things and push us away from others.
The Wave Clinic offers specialist mental health support for children, adolescents, young adults, and families. Our programs are trauma-focused, emphasising the role that past and present experiences play in shaping young people’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Teenage girls may experience these conflicts face-to-face, but they can also happen online. Gender norms that discourage girls from open conflict can push teenagers towards online animosity. These conflicts may often remain confined to social media and never be properly addressed or resolved.
Young people in the UAE may also be confronted with mental health stigma among friends, family members, and even health institutions. This stigma can discourage young people from seeking help and limit the provision of effective mental health support.
This guide explores the way that parental affairs impact the family system and young people’s mental health. It outlines the different forms of support available for young people after an affair to protect their well-being and help prevent harm.
A review of eating disorder research in the Arab world presents several factors that different studies have associated with eating disorders in the region. However, a lot of eating disorder research in the region focuses on the role of westernisation in the rise of eating disorders, rather than considering the full range of factors.
Our self-concept plays a huge role in our mental health. When we don’t feel good about ourselves, we’re more likely to feel anxious, guilty, scared, or sad. We may worry more about past mistakes, feel like we’re unable to do the things we want to do, or struggle to believe that we are loved or lovable.
While the internet can bring many positive things to the lives of young people, it can also be dangerous, with a real risk of cyberbullying, sexual victimisation, and harassment. Despite the ubiquity of the internet in adolescents’ lives, young people are often unable to navigate the internet safely.
Parents play a huge role in their children’s lives, and, consequently, can play a big role in violence prevention. Positive parenting, through role-modelling, warmth, and responsiveness, nurtures secure attachments where teenagers can learn social and emotional skills from their parents. Engaging in specific conversations about violence – and how to avoid it – is also key.
In some cases, the stress caused by mental health disorders can cause conflicts and tensions that rebound in the workplace, paralysing decision-making and teamwork. Yet, with resilience, flexibility, and commitment to one another, families can reorganise and restructure to accommodate and support a loved one, both at work and at home.
This blog offers some information about what causes sleeping problems among teenagers and the impact on teen mental health. We also outline ten tips that can help teenagers sleep longer and more deeply.
