Family Therapist (Arabic) – Addiction & Mental Health

Abu Dhabi, UAE

We are supporting the development of a flagship, large-scale addiction and mental health facility in Abu Dhabi designed as a centre of excellence delivering world-class, evidence-based care within a highly structured, multidisciplinary environment.

This is a rare opportunity to be part of a greenfield project where family systems therapy is positioned at the core of treatment, not as a supporting function.

The Role

As a Family Therapist, you will play a central clinical role in addressing the relational and systemic drivers of addiction, working closely with psychiatrists, psychologists, and medical teams within a fully integrated model of care.

You will work with complex family systems, including codependency, enabling dynamics, intergenerational trauma, and relapse risk, contributing directly to patient outcomes and long-term recovery.

This is a clinically rigorous, senior-level role not suited to general counselling or wellness-based practice.

Key Responsibilities

Deliver family, couples, and systemic therapy within structured addiction treatment pathways
Conduct family assessments and relational risk formulation, particularly in relation to relapse prevention
Lead family psychoeducation programmes (boundaries, addiction dynamics, recovery frameworks)
Work as part of a multidisciplinary team (MDT) including psychiatry, psychology, and medical services
Support family involvement across admission, treatment, and discharge planning
Manage high-conflict and emotionally complex family systems with clinical authority
Contribute to clinical governance, case reviews, and service development

Required Qualifications (Licensing Critical)

Bachelor’s degree in Psychology
Master’s degree in Psychology, Family Therapy, Systemic Therapy, or Clinical Psychology
Formal postgraduate training in Family Systems / Systemic / Couples Therapy
Eligibility for DHA / DOH / CDA licensing (or clear pathway)

What We Are Looking For

Strong grounding in Family Systems Therapy
Experience in addiction, substance use, or dual-diagnosis environments
Ability to manage complex family dynamics and relapse-related risk
Experience working within structured clinical or hospital-based MDT environments
Arabic-speaking candidate
Experience working with Middle Eastern / collectivist family systems is highly valued

Who This Role Is NOT For

This role is not suitable for:

General counsellors or therapists without systemic training
Wellness practitioners or coaches

The Opportunity

Be part of a first-of-its-kind addiction treatment model in the region
Work alongside internationally trained clinical leadership
Contribute to building a scalable, high-impact healthcare platform across the Middle East
Practice within a highly governed, clinically credible environment with long-term vision

If you are a clinically grounded family therapist with experience in complex systems and addiction-related work, we would be keen to hear from you.