Laura Bashraheel
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Children, youth and parents often need extra support if they are finding it difficult to deal with or understand their emotions, behavior and other personal problems. In April of this year, ACT (Adult and Child Therapy Center) opened a multidisciplinary mental health care private practice in Jeddah that offers a multitude of therapeutic services to the communities of the Western Province. The center was formed as a partnership corporation by a group of five psychologists and is registered with the Ministry of Health.
The center aims to provide different services to those who need help through its specialists. Services include psychiatric and psychological assessments, individual psychotherapy, couples counseling, family therapy, child therapy, art and play therapy, parenting classes, seminars, occupational therapy and training.
Reem Al-Harthy, ACT general manager and an adult psychotherapist, said the center is a place where family and children find the services they need. “The center deals with parents, siblings, children and anyone who needs help inside one place. We work by the ethical code of the American Psychological Association. We respect people’s privacy and none of our therapists reveal any confidential information about our clients as we have all signed confidentiality agreements,” she said.
Visiting a counselor is still a new concept in Saudi society but people are gradually opening up to the idea of seeking professional help. “Going to a therapist provides better life and better mental health. We try to help people become better whether in parenting, marriage or any related matter to our field of expertise,” Al-Harthy added.
One of the issues the center deals with is domestic violence. The National Society for Human Rights (NSHR) reported 1,998 cases of abuse against women out of a total 2,293 domestic abuse cases between 2004 (when it was established) and 2011. NSHR said husbands accounted for most of the abuse at 43 percent, followed by fathers at 30.9 percent, brothers at 11.2 percent, ex-husbands at 7.8 percent and finally sons at 3.7 percent.
Al-Harthy worked with post-abuse cases where the perpetrator was in jail and the victims had to deal with the aftermath. “Dealing with children after the abuse depends on the child and the case. If the child has strong moral support from family and people around, then he/she could come out of it. If the environment is stressful, then it takes longer and is an experience that is more difficult for some people to recover from,” she explained.
Rola Ashour, youth and adult counselor and psychotherapist and Autism specialist at the center and partner, said the center is active in the community to improve people’s lives. “We work with schools and we can also work with clients and if a child is being abused, we can speak to the child and parents,” she said.
When asked what is the most common problems among children in the Kingdom are, Ashour said problems are universal such as aggression, which are caused by bullying, negligence, sibling rivalry or parental issues. They also deal with cases of ADHD, behavioral issues and anxiety.
The center also helps newlyweds with marital problems. Tala Al-Soleiman, psychoanalytical developmental psychologist, deals with such issues and also holds workshops for young couples and those who are about to get married.
Al-Soleiman believes that lack of communication is the most common problem among couples in Saudi Arabia. “Some people here believe that marriage is all about living together and that’s it. They don’t realize its compromise and communication; they don’t share their needs and feelings. After a while, they have kids and they become parents and they forget that they have a relationship too. Their lives evolve around the kids so they neglect their needs. Also, sexual problems are another issue because there is a misunderstanding why it happens and how it should happen,” she explained.
